Joseph Zbukvic
Patron of the Watercolour Society of Victoria
'I have loved watercolour from the first wash I accidentally produced during my university days in the early 1970s. It has been a journey of discovery since then. It still suprises me and lays me humble whenever I think I can beat it. I will pursue its mysterious ways forever. '
A message from our Patron
My earliest connection to the Watercolour Society of Victoria started when I met Morris Callow at an Art Show in Toorak, where he was a judge, and awarded me a prize for a wildlife section of the show. Not many people know that I stared my professional career as a wildlife artist until I tired of it. He insisted, with his usual endless enthusiasm, that I just simply must join what was then, the Australian branch of the London Old Watercolour Club. I was in my early thirties then, and went went to my first meeting with my long hair and leather jacket. Nobody would sit next to me! However, I persevered because all the current doyens of Melbourne watercolour scene were there: Kath and Stan Ballard, Robbert Miller, Reg Cox and many others, but most of all there was Bob Wade, who became a great mentor and friend, and encouraged my watercolour journey in a huge way.
I was eager and hungry for knowledge about art which was only available in few books and American magazines. No internet then. After the meetings a group of us would retreat to “Pizza by the Metre" now long gone, and talk art. It changed my life from a solitary existence in my makeshift studio at a time, and introduced me to plein air painting. I can say that is the fundamental turn in my career. Friendships grew and painting trips were organised to numerous places.
Exchanging ideas and learning from each other was the only way to grow your artistic skills in those days. There was no internet or on line anything, just hard work and gaining knowledge from people on a personal level. I will forever remain thankful to those people who helped to grow my career in it’s infancy, by simply being around with a friendly advice or criticism.
I’ll always keep those early memories at the WSV, and those painting trips and friendships which were instrumental in paving the early steps of the long road to my current success.
It is indeed my great privilege and pleasure to follow the role of Bob Wade and accept the nomination to be a patron of the Watercolour Society of Victoria.
