Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

I don't even remember when was my last visit to the beautiful Hakone Estate and Garden. Especially on a lovely spring day to see all the gorgeous plants blooming. Actually it was quite hot in the sun, 74 degrees, I was fully covered and tried not get pollen attacks, but it was not possible. Used my brush and color palette, to express my feelings about the moment using an impressionist style onto the paper. Keep practicing both my visual language and my 2nd language. I painted myself into this painting. Can you find the figure?

I knew that it was going to rain today, so I was well prepared. I couldn't paint standing up as I usually do, just because it was windy. Arrived earlier, got a chance to sketch the boat and had some wash with watercolors, then it started raining. I painted inside the car for a while. Came back home to finish this rusty fishing boat painting.

Sunny and a warm day at our local nursery. I definitely over dressed with my down jacket on, felt hot in sun. I never thought that there was so much to paint at a nursery, it wasn't easy to make a decision. Time passed by quickly, so I painted this one. Still felt stiff both in my brain and my hand after two months not painting out much. Well, it always is good to get started again, right? Then I used an APP to test the result of today's work by adding a frame.

Do you trust your instant feeling? What a day! I didn't like the paintings I did in Capitola last Thursday, so I had to go again. I checked the weather a few times, wished it would be a lovely day in Capitola. In the morning, Google maps showed me that it would take extra 20 minutes, I thought there was some traffic. Then I realized that I chose to avoid high ways. It was OK, I saw something new through the small road in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It was gray when I arrived Capitola just as the weather reported. I walked around and checked a couple of locations I wanted to paint from last week. But they looked so different today, especially some people working on the roofs which were covered with dark plastic; last week I saw that there were beautiful palm trees and shadows on the brown roots I wanted to paint. And it started tiny drops of rain... I waited for a short while, walked and looked around, just didn't have any feeling to paint. Soon the rain disappeared. I though

Capitola is such a beautiful place to paint.First time painting at the location in a perfect weather condition today. I hadn't been here for a couple of years. Actually I arrived early this morning, walked around, found a lovely spot painting the windmill house across the water. There was a car that tried to drive through, the road was so narrow, I had to stop painting and squeeze all my stuff and myself against a tree, otherwise, we would all fall down the slope into the water. After a lunch break, I painted the colorful houses. I didn't know there was a big hidden garbage bin next to me for collecting all the trash from the restaurant. It was a little bit smelly. Besides, I was kind of blocking the walkway for the customers or people working there a bit. Lucky, it was not during rush hour, I didn't move much. It was already 4:15pm, but my second painting wasn't finished... Long day, I am tired. (Updating from September 20, 2018)

In the morning I went to Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, Palo Alto, CA. It was a beautiful day, felt the fall in the air. I drove around at the location, resided to paint the Bayland Ranger Station. First as usual I did a sketch, then set up my Plein Air stuff. After everything was ready, I realized that I didn't bring my watercolor paper and the support board. Mad at myself, my second time made the same mistake. Took a couple of photos on my smartphone, came home to paint this one since the light and the place I wanted to paint were still vividly in my memory. (Updating from September 13, 2018)

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)

What impressed me was that there was no traffic this morning, and it was a scenic way to drive, though it was quite hot at the location. Not sure why I have only painted a few bald yellow hills, those could be seen almost half of the year here. My first time being here, saw many people go hiking and passing by, thought I should hike here someday, heard this was called "little Yosemite", must be so beautiful deep inside. Two x14x"11" were done at the same spot, only about 120 degree different angle. The Sunol Regional Wilderness is a regional park in Alameda County, the eastern San Francisco Bay Area, Northern California. It is located near the town of Sunol, south of Pleasanton and east of Fremont. (Updating from September 3, 2018)

From gray to sun shine, it was a typical California morning. My first time being here, did two paintings at the location. After one done, I turned ninety degrees, then did the second one at the same spot. There were many geese visiting the lake, they seemed very happy. All of a sudden, there was a remote controlled looking like a toy boat making a loud noises sailing in the water, broke the peaceful morning and scared all the geese away. I didn't think it was a nice thing to do. Later on, a lady passing by told me that the geese were eating the fish growing inside lake, so they used the the little motor to scare the geese away on purpose. (Updating from for August 30, 2018)

It was quite windy. The one I've posted here was the first one I painted at dusk. I tried to loosen up and paint another one, it was the sunset time, I wasn't able to finish. I have been thinking to paint here for so long, finally Robyn and I we made it. Always happy to paint with another artist. (Updating from August 29, 2018)

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)

I really enjoy painting in Alameda now, just because there are so many different kinds of subjects I love to do, one of them is boats, of course. Yes, I painted at Grand Marina again. I did one of the same boats as during the event week, but I was not happy with the result. So I had to come back to paint it before the opening reception. It was much warmer weather than the week before. Actually I felt hot standing and painting in the sun. The big boat had changed its angle since my drawing was done, they were working on fixing it. A couple of nice local people passing by and told me that they liked my work, thought the boat looked prettier in my painting than the real one. Still I got caught in traffic though I left home in the early afternoon. (Updating from August 10, 2018)

Yes, I passed the very intense "Quick Draw" this morning. Finished a 14"x11" painting and framed it totally in 3 hours, including driving to the location and back. I name my painting as "Happy Ending". After having lunch together with the other artists at Frank Bette Art Center. I painted at Grand Marina the rest of day after sunset. A business gentleman invited me to paint on a balcony on the 2nd level of a building on the dock with a full view of Grand Marina. And I painted there in the shade. Luxurious, don't you agree? (Updating from August 1, 2018)

My 2nd time I've come here to paint at this beautiful private estate in the Santa Cruz mountains. The owner lady was warm and energetic! The 20 acre estate has three ponds, a beautiful home, amazing flower gardens, vegetable garden, redwood trees, and sculptures, etc.. She has a new project, there will be another lovely garden for hummingbirds and butterflies. I saw many kids' drawing beautiful cars. But I was struggling from the very beginning of the drawing, till came back home studio to fix this antique car. I kept telling myself that they were only shapes, but not sure why I had such a difficult time painting today. Please view my online galleries @  https://xueling-zou.pixels.com/index.html?tab=galleries