Original Art Stories - Xueling Zou

“What i like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”   ― Karl Lagerfeld As much as I enjoy painting, photography is one of my favorite things to do.  Not because I have to collect enough images for my original art, also I think digital media gives us more creative space, with such a wide range of tools available for self-expression, we should update our skills, and be creative as much as possible.  So get your camera ready. During shopping time, I carry my camera sometimes too.  I asked this young lady if I could capture a photo of this cute puppy Chihuahua in her hand, of course she was happy and I was able to keep this lovely photo. (Please click the image to enlarge) I was looking for a laundromat when I traveled in Mexico.  These two dogs suddenly were running in front me.  I captured their adventure by holding my camera with one hand, the other hand was still carrying my dirty laundry... (Please click the ima

"An artist is a dreamer consenting to dream of the actual world." ― George Santayana "In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine." ― Ralph Waldo Emerson "The principles of true art is not to portray, but to evoke." ― Jerzy Kosinski "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." ― Aristotle "The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection." ― Michelangelo "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." ― Vincent Van Gogh "Art in Nature is rhythmic and has a horror of constraint." ― Robert Delaunay "Fine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together." ― John Ruskin "Art begins with resistance - at the point where resistance is overcome. No human masterpiece has ever been created without great l

"To touch, to move, to inspire. This is the true gift of dance." ― Aubrey Lynch “Ballet is a dance executed by the human soul.” ― Alexander Pushkin “Ballet discipline: only the true believer would suffer the rigors it demanded.” ― Author Unknown  "My hope is to shed light, provoke thought, entertain, and move through dance." ― Dwight Rhoden "Dancers are not great because of their talent...they are great because of their passion" ― Unknown "Striving for connection with the audience is essential because you are in the moment; it is a give and take relationship. Catching someone's eye during a performance makes it more special" ― Aubrey Lynch "The ballet embodies the notes of music. And sometimes you almost feel like you can see the notes dance up there on the stage." ― Robert Caro “You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls and maybe hang

I've always loved snow since I can remember. After living in California over 11 years. I don't think I can bear the coldness any longer. As deep as I try to hide my emotion, the often this imaginary perfect winter night haunts me. Because of the fairy stories, novels and poems I had read, so there was always a beautiful European style architecture instantly came to my mind, white snowy roofs, peaceful streets, maybe a white night, still could see outside the snow. Every family had a warm cozy house, enjoying a home made delicious dinner together in front of the fire place, with happy music at the background, should be full of joy and love with parents, grandparents all together. We didn't have to grow up or older, just stayed in that perfect night forever... I had been dreaming this painting for a very long time. There might be some missing part in my life, might be a rootless feeling that urged me to create this piece. It was based on a black and white photo taken in 199

Being an artist not living in my motherland, family has become the most tender treasure hidden deep inside my heart! Every single door I pass by has brought me so much imagination and curiosity unconsciously. And creativity craftsmanship stimulates my artistic sensibilities. Some of them witness centuries of history and others wear the character of the natural disasters they have lived through, making them all the more interesting to share. This gallery is full of documentary images in which I focus on the doors and door decor, including some windows that caught my eye, especially in the different cultures I have been exposed to. (Please click the image to enlarge) In Peru, there were so many beautiful craftsmanship work. I would love to share some of my captures. Welcome to visit my Door And Window Collection Art Gallery: http://xueling-zou.artistwebsites.com/art/all/photography+-+door+and+window+collection/all "The doors of wisdom are never shut." ― Benjamin Frankl

(Please click the image to enlarge) Machu Picchu is located in the Cusco Region of Peru, South America, which is 2,430 meters (7,970 ft) above sea level. It is situated on a mountain ridge above the Urubamba Valley in Peru, which is 80 kilometers 50 mi) northwest of Cusco and through which the Urubamba River flows. Most archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built around 1450, at the height of the Inca Empire. The construction of Machu Picchu appears to date from the period of the two great Incas, Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui (1438-71) and Tupac Inca Yupanqui(1472-93). It was abandoned just over 100 years later, in 1572, as a belated result of the Spanish Conquest. It has become the most familiar icon of the Inca World. (Please click the image to enlarge) (Please click the image to enlarge) (Please click the image to enlarge) (Please click the image to enlarge) (Please click the image to enlarge) Breath taking scenes I saw at each angle I turned

That was one of my favorite trips in Peru, though it was too short. I love Peruvian culture and people. Their unique architecture, beautifully designed traditional textiles... So much to learn and appreciate. Next one I will post photos I captured from one of the most famous ancient landmarks - Machu Picchu, I feel proud just having been there... This piece memorializes a moment from one of my travel experiences. Although we only spent a few days in Cusco, Peru before we headed to Machu Picchu , my impression remains vivid - the expression of this little girl whose mother carried her without complaint up and down the endless uneven steps in this beautiful but ancient city built of millions of stones, and thousands of steps... At the altitude it was hard enough to even breath let alone carry the extra weight of this child who was 4-5 year's-old, not a young baby. Her curious glance captured my attention and I was so touched by the mother and daughter' s relationship and their de

Artistic depictions of butterflies have been used in many cultures including Egyptian hieroglyphs 3500 years ago. The ancient Greek word for "butterfly" is ψυχή (psȳchē), which primarily means "soul" or "mind". The Russian word for "butterfly", бабочка (bábochka), also means "bow tie". It is a diminutive of "baba" or "babka" (= "woman, grandmother, cake"), whence also "babushka" = "grandmother". (Research from Google,  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butterfly ) (Please click the image to enlarge) In our Chinese culture , two butterflies flying together symbolize love. Also, Butterfly Lovers is a famous Chinese folktale. In some old cultures, butterflies also symbolize rebirth after being inside a cocoon for a period of time. My birthday again, and I would love to share my butterfly story and captures with viewers, also I feel reborn as well:)! When we were kids, of cou

San Francisco is an international landmark city which has its own charms attracting visitors from all over the world. It is only about 40 miles from Silicon Valley where I live to the city - about a 45 minutes drive without traffic. There are not enough train lines here like on the east coast, so, most of us have to consider about the highway traffic. This is the main reason that the life style in Silicon Valley has totally changed me. Living in the valley for over 11 years now, I have been to San Francisco countable times. Each visit, I felt that I never had enough fun, though the weather was never predictable. There are many houses - like painted ladies and skyscrapers; there are many advertisements, signs going up and down, following the hills. I love to visit museums, MOMA, De Young, Legion of Honor, Asian Art, even the California Academy of Sciences. I enjoyed the shows in the Opera House, all kinds of delicious food, a rich variety of restaurant choices. Walking around Lombar

Summer almost has gone. May be it is over already in some other states, but I live in California, and still can enjoy it a little longer - "Indian Summer". I created a series call "Summer Delight" by expressing how a joyful female feels in French impressionist style, mostly using palette knife. They are all smaller size 20" x 16" ( about 40cm x 50cm ). Hope my viewers like them as much as I enjoyed painting each one of those... They really are delightful expressions, imaging what the result could be if they hang up on your wall, bringing happiness and joy to your daily life:)!