Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Besides being caught in not surprising traffic on U.S. Route 101 as usual, it was a nice breezy morning at the location. Walked around and instantly decided to paint those sailboats parked there. Might Be that I didn't paint enough boats at the event in Alameda, it was only ten days ago. It meant that I was physically recovered from exhausted. As an artist, I think that it is very important to be creative. So I decided not to paint all the boats parking in a row, and "moved" the warehouse building behind the three boats I painted. The composition of this painting looked better than exactly what was in front of my eyes. Saw several other artists painted there as well. Only talked a few, they seemed to all have found what they wanted to paint. (August 15 2024)

Went to the same location again. Started with a small sketch, the drawing took me much longer to finish. It was breezy at the marina first, sooner it was getting a little bit windy than I couldn't handle it well. Geese were happy there, a guy was feeding them bread, though I was told that one should not feed the wildlife. Well, they needed more food to grow and fly back to Canada I thought. Kids were excited to learn how to sail. I felt cold in the wind, and had to put on the extra jacket that I brought. Couldn't get the fine lines of the rigging details with all the wind. So retouched it at home.  {June 23 2021}

Beautiful day in the 70s, painted at Redwood City Marina again. All the kids started earlier than me for their summer sailing lessons. Geese were happily enjoying eating the grass nearby. I found a shady spot and painted. Focused my practice on the clouds and remembered to take photos of my progress step by step for some friends' requests. Before I wrapped up, a large group of geese had almost occupied the area where I was standing. They were waiting patiently and watching for their leader's signal I guessed.  The adults were standing still, at the same time, some of the youngest geese in the group were eating or resting with their mothers watching over them very carefully, especially the ones that were very close to me. Will be back soon... (June 22 2021)

It was my first time painting on location since "Shelter in Place". No traffic, great day with fresh air. I enjoyed painting outdoors and my favorite subject. Though the airplanes flying overhead made me feeling sad (I miss my family so much and I don't know when I able to visit them, especially my old mother...). Just tried my best to focus on my work. I didn't follow my study much in my painting. I feel happy now, even though my painting's result wasn't that good... So much going on and I had been feeling depressed. So many times I reminded myself I should go out and paint to avoid reading endless news I feel helpless to change. After a while, I started warning myself that I should not pay too much attention to the news. Since my family is in China... Slowly I have learned how to take better care of myself, my family and my surroundings in a new way, because I don't want to live as a victim of Covid-19, and all the madness and politics that come with. Th

2020 Day7 Over an hour driving instead of thirty minutes on 101 this morning. Sunny day, came to one of my favorite spots to paint boats. There were clouds, air planes flying overhead, boats, birds and reflections in the water, trees and mountains in distance... I thought a boat on the ground being fixed was an interesting subject. Tried wet into wet technique. I know it is one of the tougher parts to master - using the right amount of water to paint spontaneously. I was happy with the study result. Mike, who was fixing the boat, told me that boat would be here next week. So I think I will be back to paint it again next week. Hopefully it only rains during the evening time, California needs it🌧.

My first time came to this park to paint. Planned it for weeks, but there was a chance of rain. Kept checking on the location's weather, finally I made it. Such a beautiful place, there were docks and boats. Though there was some work going on in the park, and there were frequent airplanes flying overhead, I didn't notice. Happy to meet new people. Will be back to paint for sure. It started raining when I was leaving. Not mention there is traffic all day long on Route 101...

Sunny and warm in the morning. Came back to one of my favorite places Halfmoon Bay and painted one of my favorite painting subjects boats. Overdressed again with my down jacket on, but it was always better than having less clothe in winter. Still felf stiff when I drew and painted, really shouldn't stop doing it for two month. Rome wasn't built in one day, art takes lifetime to develop! I will continue creating art for sure. Thanks for all my friends for your support!

I did 3 paintings today. Which one do you prefer? I have been to Santa Cruz countless times, Santa Cruz Harbor is one of my favorite places. Finally, I went to that location to paint today. Of course, I would never feel tired of painting boats, and painted from 9am till 4pm, had a lunch break at the new location of Aldo's restaurant. People were very friendly, talked to me or questioned about my work. A couple of them would like to know how long takes me to finish one painting. Well, it has been a long time, and took 15 years to me painting today's level and speed. Does it make sense to you? (Updating from September 10, 2018)

I just received my new brush I ordered from   http://www.jerrysartarama.com.   Felt excited to try it, and came back to Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay. It was a warm day, not too windy. I didn't like my last boat painting. but the old rusty fishing boat wasn't parked at the position so I couldn't easily see it. Well, many other boats I could paint were here. Dinner time, there was a clever seal swimming around waiting for food he could get from fishermen. Unfortunately the hairs of my new brush (made in Germany) was immediately spread apart on my first stroke. I didn't have time to feel disappointment, the sun started setting down, the temperature was dropping dramatically that I felt cold. The reflection of the boats was so beautiful, but I knew that I had to continue painting, no time for a photo. I am happy with today's result, loose not stiff, that is the way I like. I guess I have to painting during limited time period.

Today looked like a pleasant day, but it was cold and windy at the location, my second time painting here. There were many little flies sticking on to my wet painting. Six hours painting outdoors, light kept changing, but I could finish this 12"x9" small piece painting. Had to wait till it got drier to fix it. Felt starving, cold and tired... (June 1 2018) This original painting and prints are available   @ https://fineartamerica.com/featured/shoreline-lake-boathouse-mountain-view-california-landscape-16-xueling-zou.html

"A work of art is the energy manifestation of the one who created it. It holds the spirit of the artist within its shapes, forms, and colors.... When we observe a painting, the light and energy systems of our bodies and minds meet the energy system of the painting."― Audrey Flack "Art &Soul - Notes on Creating") “Tears are a river that takes you somewhere…Tears lift your boat off the rocks, off dry ground, carrying it downriver to someplace better.”― Clarissa Pinkola Estés (born 27 January 1945; is an American poet, post-trauma specialist and Jungian psychoanalyst) “To put meaning in one's life may end in madness, But life without meaning is the torture Of restlessness and vague desire-- It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid.” ― Edgar Lee Masters (1868 – 1950; was an American poet, biographer, and dramatist) “Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need - a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, s