Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

So far the bottom right is the first photo (captured outdoors) after 9 hours working at the studio, and over an hour working on it at home.  The second photo was the beginning part, 6 hours. We were very lucky for having this beautiful and inspiring model, she is an artist herself, and going to study at the Rhode Island School of Design next semester.   Also, there were several Chinese masters painting this model with us together.  We were able to watch and learn their process how they start and finish their paintings.  They shared their experiences, gave us some guidance.  And they gave a little demo for correcting our work.  I am very grateful for this live-model session, though I was a little bit too greedy - I used an 18"x24"canvas panel, the largest allowed for painting a live model, and it was challenging in duotone.   (February 7 and February 9 2022)

Tonight's drawing class was fully booked.  The model's pose was classical and stable, very professional. I am very sure that she wasn't only my favorite model, everyone likes her.  Changed to use the soft kind charcoals, but they break so easily.  I have to change my habits to draw, usually I draw with my energy, now I have to hold my energy to draw.  So much to learn and practice!  (February 8 2022)

It is the first day of our Chinese New Year.  After my hesitation as to whether I should go painting, I finally decided to follow my passion and go paint.  Though in our culture we celebrate new year for 15 days usually, lifestyle has to be adapted to living in a different culture.  Our model was a very tall and beautiful professional African American model, she was from a very artsy San Jose family.  She sat very still and had kept her facial expression too.  I'm still trying to work on my duotone style in oil, struggling through for 3 hours.  Our model liked the result, it made me happy. (February 1 2022)

Today is our Chinese New Year, I was hesitant as to whether I should go painting. In China, we celebrate our new year for 15 days, it is our culture... After a second thought I went to an afternoon portrait session and evening figure drawing session. Both were 3 hours, there was a one hour break in between. I felt a little tired already when the evening drawing session started. Usually I stand up paint and draw, but I chose to sit down and save my energy. Several other Chinese artists were there too. Truly we all work hard, even on our new year's day. I tried to use different charcoals to get a different result. (February 1 2022)

Tonight's 3-hour drawing session went fast. I drew as fast as I could, but still couldn't get this former ballerina model's movement the way I expected. Looked at my neighbor Eric, his beautiful lines and shapes on the paper full of rhythm, everyone could tell the strict training he had. Appreciate that I have met all these local Chinese artists, it helps me to learn and improve. I believe that it is easier to communicate in our mother language. (January 18 2022)

It was the first figure painting session I managed to go to. I thought that new year with a new start and I should fucus on a style to paint. I had no idea how I could overlook the time, I was late. Rushed into the session started my sketch loosely which I liked. Supposed to continue painting that way. After each break, I realized that my painting was going back my old style. (January 13 2022)

Monday I just had my vision surgery done, then I told myself that I must go to draw if I could drive.  Magically, I made it and enjoyed the drawing from the live model so much, just wish my eyes won't cause me any trouble for the rest of my life, pray for it!  (January 11 2022)

One of my favorite drawing exercises is face study. I prefer studying on different people and try to express the character of each one. Most models are trained to not showing emotion, but with people you know or are getting to know express their feelings while they are chatting or talking, that is what I try to catch. Today most of them they were talking about their kitchen tools. In few minutes I tried my best to draw them, challenging and fun! Maybe these are my last drawings in 2021.

Always wanted to join this small group of artists to practice on a portrait. Finally I made it before the New Year. The good benefit was to get feedback immediately when each of us got stuck at a certain point. Because we stare too long at our own work. Like today, I could not tell why my painting didn't work the way I painted it. One of the artists told me that the value wasn't correct. So I worked on values, then I saw the improvement. Liked her gesture, but it wasn't in the same position after each break. Painted on an used canvas 12"x16". Upleft was captured outdoors.  (December 20 2021)

It was the last studio session of the year, and we all brought some snacks to the studio for a symbolic party during the break outdoors. Our model was Rita, she was another good one too! We all have painted her many times, I think I've painted her at least three or four times. Her mask was on during the session.  (December 16 2021)

After a 3 hour portrait study session, we had to wait at the art center for one and half hours for the evening short pose session. Some other artists brought their own dinner, I only had a banana and some seaweed snack. Though I was tired, it was worth the wait to draw one of my favorite models, Emily. Her skin tone and classical poses remind me of Greek statues. She is very still and cares position of every finger.  It was very good session and also the last one of the year. During the break we had little celebration, I had cheese, figs and a glass of beer. Will miss this class during the break for sure. (December 14 2021)

Finally it started to rain! No one could ever complain a little bit, because California is desperate for it. I wanted to join my favorite morning sketch group. It took me more than twenty minutes to reset it up, that was a little annoying, but I was happy to draw with old and new friends. I could see myself that I have made a little improvement after practicing drawing with live models. Definitely I will try to catch up more.  (December 13 2021)

Because I am Chinese, thought it could be easier for me to draw an Asian female live model. The result was that I knew it was not as easy as I thought. Fewer minutes enjoyed drawing and struggling through for each pose, hahah... (December 7 2021)

Time flies, already December of the year!  It has been over one month since I did a three-hour session of an oil live model study.  The same model from the previous session.  I painted her from a different angle.  Tried to remind myself to paint loosely without too much care.  I like the new gray paper I just bought, the tones came out very efficiently.  (December 2 2021)

Short Pose drawings last night. Different model had a different body language. Challenging to draw fast and express the differences. Always enjoy Tuesday evening live model drawings.  Felt like I want to catchup for decades' of practice, lol...

Happy Thanksgiving! "The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see."— Mary Davis Checked my emails in the morning, one of my retuning collectors said "Thanks again! The painting arrived already today. It’s really lovely!!! My husband loves it. We haven’t decided yet where exactly in our living room to hang it but for now it’s visiting the other one (attached)" Wow, it only took five days in the mail for this painting to travel from Silicon Valley to England. I was very happy to see my two old works next to each other.  The small piece was not created yet when the larger one had moved to its England's home.  The larger piece she frame perfectly to fit my vision when I created this contemporary painting.   She reminded me that tomorrow would be the Thanksgiving Day. Decided not to go out painting, though it was a nice day. Cleaned up the house, prepared a duck instead of turkey for tomorrow. Went out and had a simple sandwich lunch with my husband. We chatted abou

I was tired after driving and painting in Capitola last week, decided not going to Plein Air in the morning. Besides to clean up the house, only went to the 3 hour session short-pose live model drawing session in the evening. I liked this female model, her pose was very classical, wish I can paint her as a longer pose model. Her sweet dog was accompanying her while she was modeling licking her feet occasionally.  (November 9 2021)

The first 3-hour session female live model work in progress... 16"x20" canvas panel. #2 Another artist suggested to stop. #4 was captured outdoors. Hours chatting with another long time artist friend we didn't really see and talk to each other, arrived home after 9pm, and discovered that I am invited to the Capitola Plein Air Event next week. Wish me luck!  (October 28 2021)

Continued to paint this long pose from last week yesterday, Oct 21. Our model was required to wear a mask, so were we... Corrected a little bit of the shape.  Found out that her head wasn't "plugged" onto her body well, so her face had to be erased this morning, lol...  I didn't paint the model's head at first as she was wearing a mask, and I don't think she looked perfect as a female holding onto that long stick as well.  I got to practice painting anyway.  The first three hours Oct. 14 went smoothly, I was happy with the most of body work.

Two sessions of live model study in oil, each session is three hours. September 30 and October 7 2021. Working on 16"x20 canvas panel, the angle of the model was super hard to work with. During the first session I measured the model carefully from the "real" prospective, and I wasn't happy with the result. It didn't look artistic with a big head in front. Art is not about mathematics measurement, it is about an Artists own expression. Went back to work on my painting next session, I focused on my whole design, followed my own understanding of beauty to correct and created my painting - my visual language. At least so far I felt the painting had a big improvement. Still need to work on her hand and values...