"Ghost ship" fantasy oil painting 11"×14" ©YueZeng2026 Initial thought I found a short video clip one day featuring a giant, old-fashioned sailing ship in heavy fog. It appears to be part of a theme park, as the ship is located right beside the road. The video was taken from an oncoming car.I love that scene,Continue reading "“Ghost ship” Fantasy oil painting"
“Home in a tree” Fantasy oil painting
"Home in a tree" fantasy oil painting 16"×20" ©YueZeng2026 Initial thoughts I saw a reference photo showing a hole in a tree trunk.I had wanted to do something with that hole for a long time. I considered lighting, plants, animals, and more. In the end, however, I settled on the idea of a cozy littleContinue reading "“Home in a tree” Fantasy oil painting"
“Unicorn bathhouse” Fantasy oil painting
"Unicorn bathhouse" fantasy oil painting 16"×20" ©YueZeng2026 Initial thoughts I got the concept of a bathhouse from online games. It is fascinating. Unlike a bathroom, a bathhouse suggests more space and greater luxury.In The Twelve Kingdoms, all Kirin love to bathe, mostly in streams, because they enjoy being ultra-clean. They won’t enter the water unlessContinue reading "“Unicorn bathhouse” Fantasy oil painting"
“Underground shelter” Fantasy oil painting
"Underground shelter" fantasy oil painting 16"×20" ©YueZeng2026 Initial thoughts Perhaps it was because of all the wilderness construction videos I had watched that I wanted to build my own little underground shelter, at least in a painting.The entrance is hidden beneath a giant tree, concealed within a maze of roots. A narrow pathway leads toContinue reading "“Underground shelter” Fantasy oil painting"
“Popcorn cave tree” Fantasy oil painting
"Popcorn cave tree" fantasy oil painting 16"×20" ©YueZeng2026 Initial thoughts In the beginning, I just wanted to paint a tree in a cave, or something inside a cave. The tree came later. Then I considered a regular tree, a tree with mythical crystals, or perhaps some magical orbs or lanterns. My main goal was toContinue reading "“Popcorn cave tree” Fantasy oil painting"
“Fox and rabbit” Fantasy oil painting
"Fox and rabbit" fantasy oil painting 16"×20" ©YueZeng2026 Background Ever since I watched Zootopia with my kids, I have been thinking about a red fox and a rabbit together in one frame. I struggled to find the perfect reference photos for the fox for a long time, while the rabbit was easier to find. Finally,Continue reading "“Fox and rabbit” Fantasy oil painting"
“Crossing road chicken” Fantasy oil painting
"Crossing road chicken" fantasy oil painting 11"×14" ©YueZeng2026 Initial thought My kids love playing the game "Crossy Road" because it doesn't require Wi-Fi. In the game, the little chicken faces heavy traffic, with large cars speeding through every lane. I wondered if the chicken could cross the road more confidently. To do so, it wouldContinue reading "“Crossing road chicken” Fantasy oil painting"
“Marshmallows wonderland-Chocolate fall” Fantasy oil painting
"Marshmallows wonderland chocolate fall" fantasy oil painting, 16"×20" YueZeng©2026 Initial thoughts I couldn't remember when I first had this idea. Perhaps it came to me while making nougat candy with marshmallows. I imagined a wonderland for marshmallows, where they play and jump into a pool of liquid chocolate. Marshmallow Wonderland Rule Number One: They doContinue reading "“Marshmallows wonderland-Chocolate fall” Fantasy oil painting"
“Time in a bottle” Fantasy oil painting
"Time in a bottle" fantasy oil painting 16"×20" ©YueZeng2026 Background Ever since I first saw the kitchen scene with Quicksilver, I have enjoyed the song "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce. I wanted to create a painting to represent the concept of "time in a bottle. I tried placing a pocket watch inside aContinue reading "“Time in a bottle” Fantasy oil painting"
The Algorithm of Art: A Scientific Approach to Finding Your Style
Introduction 2026 marks my tenth year of painting as a primary life goal. Looking back, I realize I haven't just been painting; I’ve been developing a scientific protocol to answer the question: "How do I find my art style?" Here is my 5-step approach to training your brain to paint what you envision. Disclaimer: ThisContinue reading "The Algorithm of Art: A Scientific Approach to Finding Your Style"