Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Between the end of May and the early of June of 2019, I joined one of the international Plein Air groups organized by professional Chinese artists. It was located in southern China in a 2,500 year old, ancient Canal-town near Suzhou, call Luzhi 甪直. Several great artists were invited to do demos and lectures. About 40 artists attended, most of them were Chinese professional artists. The event also included some American and Australian artists Billyo O'Donnell, Joseph Mcgurl and Kasey Sealy. We painted, listened to demos and lectures in the evening, ate food and partied for te days... We had a great time together, exchanged knowledge, not only about Plein Air, but also art and history, etc.. Food was great, we had more than 12, sometime 15 dishes each lunch and dinner, and meals included wine and beer. It was the first trip to China for Billy, Joseph and Kasey. Weather was nice and a little bit steamy, but it was gray most of time when we were there. There was one watercolor dem

Saturday April 13, California Watercolor Association organized to paint out at the park on the Earth Day weekend, otherwise I wouldn't know about this place and drove more than 70 miles to come. Very pleasant spring weather, I was instantly attracted by the surroundings after short greetings with other artists, I painted an old falling apart house in the morning. After a lunch break, the volunteers and a docent Ed Lai - one of the founders - gave us a very knowledgeable introduction to China Camp where there used to be about 500 Chinese people living, running a shrimp-fishing business in the village started in nineteen centuries... Part of history was cruel, just liked many Chinese labors who built the railways in old days here. Mr. Lei's eyes turned red with tears, so did mine... The rest of afternoon I did another painting, but felt very emotional, thought about all immigrants' life, who hadn't gone through all the low-paid, longer hours work, racial unfairly

Drove down to the location, I was attracted by the red barn for my landscape plein air. It was on a private property, so the best I could do was drag my outdoor painting stuff through the grass making a fresh spring trail. It was a beautiful sunny breezy day after days of rain. I saw the cows grazing off in the distance on the rolling hills, and could hear their lowing. There were rosters and hens song drifted by from the nearby villages, What a peaceful morning in the countryside in California! I enjoyed painting the trees and the red barn I liked and ignoring other things I didn't want them in my work. Yes, I'm proud that I am able to have the freedom to be a creative artist instead of copying others, or copying what have been seen in exact sense. My painting went smoothly, I didn't have to retouch much after returning home.

Really forgetful these days, I didn't bring my brushes, only an old rough one in my new tool box. So, I used my pallet knife and the #8 rough flat brush working on a small panel 8"x10". I was OK, I guess the Chinese Calligraphy training at young age did help me. The only issue that we had experienced a gorgeous 70 degree day yesterday, so i did not bring enough clothing for painting out, especially painting in the wind feeling chilly. And there was no bathroom at this location. Hahaha, the rest story depends on your own imagination.... My original artwork @ https://xueling-zou.pixels.com/galleries.html    OR you can find me @ https://about.me/xuelingzou

I just want to share my landscape paintings of snow in watercolor, hope the beauty of snow brings you fond memories...

That was one of my favorite trips in Peru, though it was too short. I love Peruvian culture and people. Their unique architecture, beautifully designed traditional textiles... So much to learn and appreciate. Next one I will post photos I captured from one of the most famous ancient landmarks - Machu Picchu, I feel proud just having been there... This piece memorializes a moment from one of my travel experiences. Although we only spent a few days in Cusco, Peru before we headed to Machu Picchu , my impression remains vivid - the expression of this little girl whose mother carried her without complaint up and down the endless uneven steps in this beautiful but ancient city built of millions of stones, and thousands of steps... At the altitude it was hard enough to even breath let alone carry the extra weight of this child who was 4-5 year's-old, not a young baby. Her curious glance captured my attention and I was so touched by the mother and daughter' s relationship and their de

I really love boats and architecture as well as nature, though I love to paint portraits too. I believe that I just cannot separate them from our life and emotions. Italy's architecture and the lifestyle of the are one of my most favorite subjects. I would love the introduce some of my oil paintings here, hope you will love them as much as I do, thank you! This piece won the 1st place in the Contest - Impressionism and Post Impressionism Influenced Masterpieces on January 22nd, 2013.  Please visit my Oils - Landscape And Still Life Art Gallery at:  https://xueling-zou.pixels.com/collections/oils+landscape John Orley Allen Tate's poems (November 1899 to February 1979; was an American poet, essayist, social commentator, and Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congressfrom 1943 to 1944.), who wrote this beautiful poetry about "The Mediterranean". Here is the link:  http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15304

“This was Venice, the flattering and suspect beauty - this city, half fairy tale and half tourist trap, in whose insalubrious air the arts once rankly and voluptuously blossomed, where composers have been inspired to lulling tones of somniferous eroticism.” I am not sure who wrote it, but I felt the same when I was there. There are some my watercolor paintings to express the beauty of Venice: Here is link for viewing my watercolor gallery:  http://xueling-zou.artistwebsites.com/art/all/watercolors Or join me at: FaceBook Instagram Twitter Pinterest