Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

There were many rainy days this spring, Gave me lots of good excuses to not paint outdoors and instead use the home studio.  Thought it would be a good day to paint out with other artists, but it was gray and cold all the time there until we were leaving.  Because it was cold, the watercolor paper wouldn't dry fast enough to paint on. Saw people started hiking, caught up with several other artists.  Retouched the painting at home, added a figure, can you see him?☝️ (March 20 2023)

Went to Portola Vineyard, my car GPS still directed me to the wrong spot, had to make a three-point turn on such a narrow road. Glad that I went there and met several other artists. Except for one artist who was at the Alameda Plein Air Paint Out last week, the others I hadn't seen for a long time. My subject was the pool house, because the grape vines have not changed colors yet. It was nice to see other artists, and make a little progress as well, though I felt burnt out after Alameda Plein Air event. (August 10 2022)

My husband had a work event to join. I thought it was a beautiful place to paint. Gorgeous hot afternoon, couldn't fine any shady spot to paint. I had to use my Plein Air umbrella which was quite small. Every brush stroke I put it on the paper was drying so fast. Bees kept hanging around me, I think they were attracted to honey in my paints, but finally I had to spray myself with organic bug spray so I could continue uninterrupted. Not really sure if I liked the way it turned out, but my practice is was counts. (June 25 2021)

Dressed very warm to paint at this lovely winery, because it was only 50ish degrees. Looked like a lovely garden with beautiful blooming flowers. Found the subject and a spot, I talked a little loud that I wished the sun would come up, so I could capture the contrast of the light and shadow in the landscape. But my painting spot wasn't in the shade,  and when the sun really came out, it shone onto my extra white Fabiano Artistico 140b Cold press watercolor paper. I had to follow the light to keep moving. After I moved under a tree, the sun hid under clouds. Back and forth a couple of times, it might be the sun was playing game with me since I asked for it? Such a nice place, and I wanted to come and paint for a long time each time I was passing by on the way to Half Moon Bay. Certainly, I will be back soon again. (June 2 2021) I went to the same location to Plein Air again a week later, they had the major construction going on surround the fountain...

A long term friend of my husband's invited us over to stay during this memorial weekend in Sonoma county. They bought a 20 acre property in Cloverdale 10 years ago, and moved in a couple years back. They love the country lifestyle and fit into it so well. We live in a suburban area. It is hard to imagine the hard work and many projects that have to be done out there. After our personal tour, we were super impressed by their great clean up job and endless efforts. Michele is a fabulous cook, and she is fond of Julia Child so we were in for a treat. We enjoyed her cooking, barbecued food, and her husband Raul's cocktail refreshments. We ate, hiked, wine tasted, watched TV shows, watched birds visiting all of their feeders, played games, chatted and laughed as we caught up on years of friendship. During our visit, I had a little time to squeeze in two very fast works. One was of the corner of their house, I saw the beautiful light coming through the fence in the morning...

I really did not want to stay indoors on such a gorgeous autumn day. A new location I just discovered on Skyline Blvd in Woodside was on my mind, and had to give it a try. It was challenging and fun driving on the winding Moody and Skyline roads. A couple of sharp turns were about 300 degrees. Tasting room was closed on Tuesday, but that special deep dry grape smell was with me while I was painting in a very peaceful spot in front of the pond. Just love this harvest season! Will be back to paint again!  (November 5 2019)

Drove to Guglielmo Winery in Morgan Hill this morning. The air was chilled, temperature suddenly dropped down 20 plus degrees, though felt the summer only the day before. Excited to try my birthday present Escoda brushes bought in Barcelona. Said "Hola" to a worker looked like a Mexican guy, he responded in English. I laughed at myself to use one of the few words I knew in Spanish not to the right person. Did two quick watercolor sketches, and if possible to take a longer time to get to used to the new brushes I believe. Left around noon, it was still feeling dry and hot in the sun.  (October 28 2019)

It was gray, windy and cold at the location, felt like winter already in the morning. My first time coming here. The vineyard is almost 100 years old since 1925, can you believe it? Painted one 14"x11" and I kept reminding myself to paint loosely. Sun came out, it was getting warmer near noon, then I did a couple of sketches for future projects. (August 27, 2018)

Napa Valley is considered one of the premier wine regions in the world, with hundreds of vineyards set amid rolling hills. I have been there many times, but not every time I could capture the scenes I love, sometimes I was in a rush, other time the weather or lighting wasn't right. Just like wine tasting, not each time you could experience the most delicious taste. Autumn is always my favorite season. It is still warm, colorful everywhere with harvest, and I usually can get the most of inspiration. Once I saw a perfect wine country scenery just in perfect timing during autumn in Napa, but I forgot to charge the battery in my camera. I guess it is one of the reasons I have to go back. Ha ha ha... It wasn't easy for agriculture in California since it hasn't rained enough for years. I saw colors are different this year through the incredible scenery, the layering of lines and patterns in the valley. It had built up more ochre yellow all over, especially in those war...

Actually this painting was created inside my head for a long time. I really saw the picture with my minds eye. Finally, I painted it on canvas while I was listening Don McLean's "Starry, Starry Night" Vincent (song) over and over. The result that came out was nice, of course it has the Van Gogh feeling for sure. But this was the first time I was stuck with naming my own painting, what should I title it? Glad that I have this artist community to ask.. In such a short time, there were many great ideas suggested. Siesta, Intermezzo, Guitar Break, Melody of Dreams A Perfect Day, All Played Out, Passing Time, dreams of Van Gogh, Perfect Ending , Little Dogie With Shades, Dog Day Melody, While My Guitar Gently Weeps , Six Strings, Four Feet and Sweet Dreams, A Cowboy's Melody, The end of the howling blues, All we need, California Dream Interlude, The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Howling, The Sun's Comin' Down On Me, On The Road Again, Acoustic Aphasia, Cool...

This title was inspired by a Beatles' song. I was introduced to many Beatles songs since I came. This is one of them inspired me, so I had decided to create a piece where this song guides me... Here is the link of The Beatles - All My Loving ( Close Your Eyes ):   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWvurnpKjE4 Living in California for twelve years now. Eleven years ago, I started painting, but seldom felt desire to paint the scenery where I live. Not long ago, I made a decision that I had to make myself feel happy about living here, accept it and being accepted. Two Weeks ago, I was so stuck by this piece I was creating, I painted over and over again... it was about 11pm at Friday night, I didn't even want to eat my dinner, still searching for idea how to create this piece to express my own feeling about the half-surreal, California scene in summer. Suddenly, I received an email from a FAA member.  It was the first time she emailed and asked me if I was looking for ...

Wine tasting is always an excitement for my husband, so he signed up for one with his company. Any alcohol makes me feel extremely thirsty, I am not as huge a fan as him, so, it is not a big deal to me.  I'd rather enjoy and always am inspired by nature!  It was only Wednesday, usually he works long hours. But today's event made both us in a very light mood. Byington is a family-owned winery, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the South Bay, California, only about 30 minutes drive from Silicon Valley where we live, if there is no traffic. There are 95-acres of estate owned by the Byington family, and it is the home of their Italian-style chateau winery and vineyard operation. While my husband enjoyed the wine tasting with his co-workers, I had a tranquil moment walking up the rolling hills between the rows of grapes and taking footage by myself, far away from the noise and busy life. What a perfect day in autumn visiting a winery, with a wonderful dry...