Master watercolor artist Joseph Zbukvic offers this painting wisdom:
“Water is the kiss of life in watercolor,” says Zbukvic. “It’s the oxygen.” [When he needs to reactivate a section of the painted surface, he hits the area with a spritz of water.]
“Never paint the object. Don’t paint the apple. Don’t paint the cow. Paint shapes that look like an apple or a cow.”
“My friend once said that painting is a 25 year long apprenticeship. He was wrong; it’s closer to 50.”
“Your brush should move like an orchestral baton. A brushstroke is part of a full movement, like a ballet or fencing move.” [He wants to banish small, tentative brushstrokes.]
“When I first started out, I painted from photos like everyone else, but when I discovered plein air, my career took off. More important, my painting improved 1,000 percent.”
“You must believe in yourself, and you must believe in watercolor. It’s the boss. It’s telling me what’s necessary.”
[Of this demo piece] “They’re not lamp posts; they’re vertical, harsh marks against softness that create contrast — a little staccato, a few notes of the flute.”
Joseph Zbukvic received a lifetime achievement award at the 8th Annual Plein Air Convention & Expo in San Francisco. This May, he’ll be back to hold a pre-convention watercolor workshop in Lake Tahoe-Reno. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to study with a master!
Such an inspiring article! I love Joseph’s use of music to create an analogy for marks made in painting.