Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

Celebrating 10 years of my blog today!  https://originalartstories.blogspot.com/2011/09/ Here is my first blog story on September 14 2011: A Dog's Fate - 一条狗的命运   https://originalartstories.blogspot.com/2011/09/dog-fate.html Another gray day, only 57 degrees, super cold at the location. Hiking on the breathtaking coastal trail after Plein Air last week, I discovered this magnificent outlook on the trail, but had to carry my heavy painting gear walking down about 60 big steps. No big deal but the watercolor paper wouldn't dry easily in this kind of weather condition. So I had to paint differently than I normally do. Rocks, waves and trees were difficult to paint. Overall I think my painting result was OK. About 50 miles, but there were about 30 degrees temperature difference at the location and my home. (September 14 2021)

Today's 3-hour live model session. Even a very experienced model still changes position, and the light changed too. I should have followed my original plan to retouch the work I did from last week only. Instead, I tried to correct the painting. But it was great to meet a Chinese master painter. Got some feedback from him, and reconnect my expression of feeling, then time was up. Couldn't finish it, felt frustrated...  

It was very gray and only 60 degrees at the location this morning, my first time painting here. Looking for a public restroom, surprisingly met another Plein Air painter L X (my name's short cut as XL, haha... what a coincidence) So we painted nearby each other. Then hiked after our paintings were done and happily caught up on the time since COVID-19... Very foggy, walked the rocky and windswept shoreline trail,  could not even see the Golden Gate Bridge, but there was a spectacular scene each turn of the trail even on such a gray day.  Definitely will be back and paint again. What an inspirational place!  On the way back, got caught up in a little traffic, and it was 93 degrees at home.  (September 7 2021)

Today's 3-hour session live model oil painting.  Getting better for managing time.  Not sure if I should start a new one for the next section, or if I should work on the same one to add more details? The light indoors and outdoors can make the same painting looks so different.  I like outdoors' lighting, it needs to be retouched.

Gorgeous day after many days of high heat. Decided to go back and paint an unfinished subject. There was some construction going on at the port. Always something new to freshen my mind, than had to change my mind to this beautiful red boat, that a guy was working on or maybe cleaning it. It started breezy, but the wind was getting stronger near noon. I hesitated whether adding some darker ocean blue was needed in the foreground of my painting till the very end. Because of countless times failing, I was afraid to do so. Finally, I added the darker color, my painting instantly looked better with depth. Took a deep breath and headed back home. (September 1 2021) August 17, I didn't manage time well to finish this one, rushed to go a birthday party...

  Today's 3-hour session live model oil painting session. Painted on a previously used panel 9"x12". Managed time better than last time. Tried to take reference photos for the record during each break. Needs some retouch. The light indoors and outdoors can make the same painting look so different.  Or I should say that any different environment can make the same the same thing look different.  Enjoyed doing it!  (August 31 2021)

Miss figurative studio painting so much! Back to real model figure oil study after a long break. Used an old painted panel 12"x12", didn't manage time well... Almost forgot how enjoyable oil painting was, and it was a great way to practice!  (August 26 2021)

08/18/2021 Went to paint at the same location twice in one week. Last week it was hot, I focused on painting the barn and winery. Today was gorgeous, I saw a blue tractor that was interesting, instantly decided to paint it. The owner was very kind to allow us to paint there. Two years ago I painted the fall feeling grapes and vines. Spent a little big longer time for the drawing, actually I really didn't care much for the details, but ended up there was plenty of details in my work. Think I did better last week, and played with the dog after. Not today, I added the dog into my painting later.  Nice practice again!  Which one do you prefer? 08/25/2021

Alameda Plein Air Paint Out 2021 - my 3rd time here Joined the 16th Annual - Alameda Plein Air Paint Out Event from August 2 to 7. It was my third time joining the Plein Air event since 2018. Didn't apply in 2020 as Coivid-19 changed the world. August 1 in the evening, I moved into my host lady Ros' house on Bay farm island. I was so welcome by her, her dog Sparky and three of her bunnies. Not a good first night's sleep, might be the airplanes over head or the new place. Met many artist friends while we checked into the event the next morning. Ross' friendly dog Sparky Always started my first painting at Grand Marina, actually I painted at Fortman Marina at the Alameda Yacht Club. It was a gorgeous morning, met the Club manager Mark. He showed me the watercolor  paintings his grandmother and his mother did in his office and told me that he was an artist too. People were passing by and gave me some compliments. I remembered to give them the flyers inviting them t...