Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Dec. 9 Always wanted to paint at this location. Finally I came upon a warm winter day. There was haziness between the rolling hills in the distance, tree leaves were still displaying their autumn colors, horses were hanging around near the barn, people with their dogs were walking on the hill path... Enjoyed the peacefulness, but struggled with my painting. Never thought that it was so difficult to make the right color choices, might be because I tried to only bring limited colors for practice. One thing I noticed that I was able to leave white space for the highlight area. Must come back again.

Dec. 8 This is one of those places I have passed by so many times, and each time I told myself that I should come back to paint. This location wasn't as close as I thought, but it was warm and sunny today. There was no fog or steam rising up so it didn't have that mysterious feeling even though the landscape was still beautiful. Beside a small parking area for several cars, the roads and freeway nearby, cars were driving so fast, it was dangerous to cross the street. I got a spot to set up my painting station. Suddenly saw my socks were not matching on my feet, I was in too big a rush out of door. Hahaha, who cares right? Only two Mexican guys told me that they liked my work from a passing truck window. Otherwise, on the other side fewer vehicles were passing by.

Rainy season keeps delaying in San Francisco Bay Area. I thought that I'd better paint outdoors as the weather allows me. After checking the weather report around, I decided to go to Capitola, one of my favorite charming small towns not too far away. Caught the road work on Route #17, it was about half past ten when I arrived. There were so many subjects I would love to paint at the location, and it was a perfect day, about 70 degrees. Flowers were still blooming, birds were hanging in the bushes. Still felt like during spring... Less people on the pier, of course that was my final decision to set up my stuff and started to work. Met two people, one was Len, he walked on the pier back and forth several times. And Bob was tricycling around with his super large surf board, waiting to meet friends. Got many compliments from people passed by. Walked around and took many reference photos after my work was done. Tired when I returned home but enjoyed such a lovely long day!  (Dec. 7 2020...

Dec 3 Another gorgeous day. My second painting is at this historic location. Almost every angle was paintable, I had tough time to make up my mind. The alter was very old, two centuries old at least I guessed. I tried to design my work to have a strong focal point, painted a mother helping a girl going up the stairs, by combining the alter and people to make a story. Overpainted the alter. Jane, the organizer gave me great feedback. Finally, I had to erase the darker alter to balance the painting, but I am not happy with the result so far.  Painting loosely was not easy.

I really miss painting boats, drove all the way to Pillar Point Harbor this morning.  It was a very warm and beautiful day at the pier.  Got a chance to talk to a couple of fishermen who liked my work.  They had a tough time from covid-19, all the restaurants were closed during salmon season. Now crab fishing was delayed to December 15, a couple of whales were passing by. And they didn't feel it was fair to all the fishermen's lives, because crabbing for sport already is allowed.  On the way back home I kept thinking how I could help them...  (Dec. 2, 2020) The rainy season is delayed for so long - such an unusual year. A perfect day spent in Napa, took many breathtaking vineyard images before the sunset for future reference; a beautiful late fall feeling. Another half-day spent in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Walking over 6 miles among the amazing west coast landscape surrounded by character-full cypress trees. Took the fresh ocean air in as much as possi...

Nov. 19 My first time at this location, and I had no idea the landscape looked so flat, very little to work with. I almost wanted to quit, then I decided to looked around and found this curved pathway winding towards the distant mountains.  The clouds were dramatic.  We don't usually see clouds here, only during the rainy season.  So I focused on practicing painting the clouds, moved some trees from my left to the right.  Added a couple walking in my painting towards the end.   After several years of painting outdoors, I've realized that Plein Air is not only about connecting with, or discovering the beauty of nature, but it also about learning how to address multiple dimensions at once, like being out of my comfort zone, overcoming my unwillingness, and practicing and finding inspiration no matter what nature presents.

Nov. 18 Came to one of our favorite trails to paint at a time when there was predicted little chance of rain. I couldn't make up my mind where to set up. Just because all the angles looked so beautiful at the time because of all dramatic lighting in the clouds. I knew there was no public restroom nearby and so had to limit my painting time. The hills here we had hiked countless times. There are only clouds here during the rainy season so it is particularly dramatic now. Two coyotes appeared on the trail, then disappeared into the grass in distance. It didn't rain, but the light changed dramatically in the short time I was there. Learned my lessons, had to plan what I wanted to paint, watercolor does not tolerate too many mistakes.    

After arriving at the location, I walked around, but didn't see any other artists there. Thought I remembered the wrong day. It was a gorgeous warm day with a breeze. The mist came out of the ocean and made everything look mysterious. Set up my stuff, not sure why my Plein Air umbrella just kept falling down. I tried so many times, couldn't make it work properly. Gave it up, kept painting... Chose this unique angle, there was a lamp post next to the light house. I liked it, and painted it into my painting. By noon, the sun had changed its angle, and more people came. Just love to paint at this location, only a little bit too far away from where I live. (Nov. 16 2020)

Nov. 12 Gorgeous day but cold in San Francisco. Painted at the same beautiful landmark I visited a couple weeks ago. After my work was done, I felt so warm inside my car. Drove through such a charming city. GPS guided me up and down hills. I felt it fun to see the city views, tried to snap a couple of shots at the beginning. Then driving on the Divisadero St, there were a few steep roads, at the first couple of intersections. I felt like the car was going straight up, even stepping on the brake I worried my car would slip backwards. My hands and feet were both sweating. Later, going down, my car stopped at what felt like 45 degrees downhill. The views were spectacular in front of me. I was so nervous, did not dare to take a glimpse. On the way back, a detour guided me to an even steeper road, one seemed like a thirty degree angle looking down. I almost wanted to scream and closed my eyes, but there were people crossing the road, so I had to stop and keep my eyes widely open. What an e...

A gray day painting out on location. Thought I was over dressed when the sun came out. Later I felt so cold, only a few steps from my car, but I didn't want to stop. Still learning how to manage time while painting outdoors, especially doing watercolor. Miracles only come from practicing daily for an artist. (Nov.11 2020)