Principle Gallery | 10/22-11/9 | Alexandria, VA

Inside the Box

Joseph Zbukvic shifts approach and evolution over 45 years

Joseph Zbukvic has been painting professionally for some 45 years, so his approach has shifted and evolved over the years—and still is. “Maybe that young man going out painting in an old station wagon and [using] a card table for an easel is now a few years older. Maybe my career has blossomed and much has changed, but I must say that the enthusiasm and indeed the spirit of that young man has never diminished,” he says. “Each day brings an opportunity to paint and explore new horizons. There are no bad subjects, only bad paintings. I love painting just as much now, if not even more. I couldn’t imagine life without it.”The Red Corner, Paris, watercolor on paper, 20 x 12"

Zbukvic, who was born in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, and now lives in Melbourne, Australia, works with watercolors. His paintings are fluid scenes that don’t dwell in hyperrealism, but rather focus on mood and atmosphere, creating harmony between elements like tone, color and composition. A new show highlighting the artist’s work takes place at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia, beginning October 22.Waiting for Customers, St. Mark’s Square, watercolor on paper, 21 x 14"

Evening Promenade, Venice, watercolor on paper, 14 x 21"

“An art historian once told me that to be creative outside the square of traditional art is actually quite easy because there are no rules,” says Zbukvic, “but to find that last frontier or untouched fissure of creativity within the boundaries of that square is extremely difficult and is reserved for only a few.” He’s a traditional painter, but he’s always remained within those traditional boundaries, explaining, “I find that very exploration [of working inside the box] very exciting and it’s kept me busy for over 40 years.” He continues, “If I look at some of my early work and compare it to how I paint now, the change is very obvious. My technical expertise has grown immensely, and my knowledge of composition, tonal values, brushwork and vision is now far superior from those early days. However if you were to compare this year’s work to last year’s work, the changes are much more subtle and probably only visible to me.”Grand Canal, Venice, watercolor on paper, 14 x 10"Whether the subtle changes in his artwork are discernible or not, Zbukvic hopes that his paintings tell a story for viewers. “Merely painting objects for the sake of it is really illustrating, and not painting. A viewer should be transported into the scene in the painting and feel the mood of the place. If the painting doesn’t communicate with the viewer it has failed in its purpose of being painted in the first place. Every artist has their own way of telling a story, and I include abstract art in this,” says the artist. “To me, that aspect of painting is more important than getting a good likeness of the subject.”