Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Stuck at home, still shocked by the breaking news. What has happened to this country? It seems confused and unprecedented in at least American history and reminded me why I came and became a citizen of this country in the first place. What I learned about the Constitution of United States of America 1789, "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."... tears in my eyes, I missed my family and friends back to my home country, covid-19 has made us further separated, don't even know when we will be able to see each other.. Sun came out in the afternoon, so I escaped all of the mayhem and ran out the door to paint. Found this unusual subject and layout for my composition. Quite a busy area, besi...

Challenging weather to start my first Plein Air painting of the year. Gray, cold and wet, my hands were frozen when I was drawing and painting. Not sure it effected my brain too, I didn't follow my small sketch to paint. And I moved things around, liked the trees, etc. A student passed by, took a photo while I was struggling with my painting on the campus on such a wet cold day. Glad that I left earlier though as I caught a glimpse of the sun which appeared briefly. Finally it rained but I had already packed up and left. (January 6 2021)

Raining Monday morning, back to work. Could not paint outdoors, but joined zoom minute drawing sketch. Sharing several drawings I did.

Dec 31 2020 Happy New Year to you all !新年快樂 !Wishing all of you a safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous 2021! Many thanks to those who support and encourage me as an artist daily! A like and/or a comment can make a difference! And thanks especially to all collectors of my work. My last painting in 2020. Another beautiful day, rain made the distant hills turn greener. I came to one of my favorite painting spots. Many people were at the park, not easy to find parking. Walked around a bit, saw fishing boats and instantly set up my workstation. Took exactly three hours to finish this work. But don't forget I am a longtime artist, started as a part time, then being a full-time artist for over a decade now. Practicing painting outdoors for three and half years already. I've learned so much from nature, from the great artists both living and no longer with us, and from myself. I have to 100% focus when I paint. So that means being in solitude is the way I work best. Though I enjoy pain...

Planned to join an online drawing with other artists. Rushed and got everything ready this morning, then found out it was already over. Hadn't painted outdoors for ten days, really missed it. Sunny day today, so came back to paint this unique architecture in a residential neighborhood. Overdressed, it was still feeling warm in the sun. Started with a little sketch study. Looked at the surroundings and stood cross the church, I felt fascinating by so many things hanging in the air and stuff on the ground; I never paid attention each time passing by. The longer I drew, the more things I discovered. Every object looked more interesting under the winter sun, because of the contrast between light and longer shadows I guessed. It was getting busier around noon. Spending almost an hour to finish the basic drawing. Even I knew that I shouldn't add too many details into my Plein Air works, but they were the parts of the local life, maybe the reason they attracted my attention. Brought p...

Christmas day was rainy. I tried to refresh my blog, and spent almost the whole day to fix it and relearn everything, just because I clicked a wrong button without backing up my site. Because of covid-19, and the "stay at home order", we only went out to Half Moon Bay for Christmas Eve morning. Saw a long queue of people waiting to buy rock crabs from one fishing boat at Pillar Point. Many fishing boats with stacks of crab nets were parking inside the dock - waiting. A couple of fishermen loudly saying "Fair Price!" again and again on the dock. Not hard to understand what was going on. Not an easy year for anyone, and of course including all the fishermen. We usually would enjoy eating the Dungeness crabs from San Francisco Bay Area starting in November, and it would be one of main source of income for the fishermen, but whales came earlier, and commercial fishing season was delayed to the middle of December, then to the next year. Wish all the fishermen and their ...

Dec. 18 What a beautiful day after a couple raining days, colder for sure. Came to Franklin Square to paint, just because there were more people hanged around during the weekends, for shopping at the Farmer's Market, or other activities. Usually it was a quiet place, might be people going to the post office for sending the Christmas gifts. Several people stopped by and talked to me, a couple of times I was shocked a little bit. I just loved to see the winter light and shadow. Back to home and worked on the high lights, and the water on the fountain. Holidays are coming, not sure what I should prepare, be healthy and stay safe!

Dec. 14 Earlier this year, I started figure and portrait study.  Only did it several times, then covid-19 locked everyone at home.  Really I miss it a lot. One of the artists I met helped me to substitute for another artist  in a class today.  There were only five artists, a small private group, including me that painted in the studio.  We kept socially distant, and all had masks on.  One of us brought her dog along too.  First she sat in front of the model Clarie while we were painting.  After the second break, she found out Clarie's cloths were warm and laid down on them.  One break later, her good sense of smell guided her to Clarie's snack in a zip lock bag near by.  Then, she started chewing on Clarie's jacket, which was on the floor she was on it.  Hahaha, such an entertaining dog.  Got to love her.  Fortunately, it was the last section of this year and I got to attend it.  I will try to finish this painting bef...

Dec. 13 It was Sunday,  I woke up a little bit late than usual. Our raining season finally came. Sounds quite poetic just looking at the gray clouds and listening to the rain drops, right? Painting outdoors for several years nearby now, I thought that I had already become an expert to know local weather well. I checked the weather report a couple of times, it said that there was very high chance to rain. I didn't believe it, instead I went to the location, started my small study sketch. It was misty, no big deal. After laying my first wash down, it really started raining. I had to pack as quick as I could, ran into my car, my rain jacket was full of the rain all over. Only half way home, rain stopped, I wanted to turn back badly, but I didn't, finished this one at home.

Dec. 10 I was excited to receive my orders from China - a new set for outdoor painting which I waited almost two months for. Went to paint this church, a gothic revival structure built in 1904. The winter afternoon light made it look so unique and interesting. The new painting set is much lighter in weight, but I have to get used working on two levels to paint. It is supposed to have more space, but felt like not enough space for keeping my stuff handy. The sun set before five pm - too early, so I only had a chance to lay down the first layers of color before I had to wrap up and leave. I checked my work through my smart phone's black/white photo feature and surprisingly the contrasts worked well. By the time I got home, it was already dark. The next morning, I resumed work on the painting, adding more details and darkening certain areas. Really liked working on solid, stable table to draw the light posts and lines better. After the painting was finished, I realized that I didn...