The Watercolour Bible has arrived

Today I received my copy of Joseph Zbukvic's 'Mastering Atmosphere and Mood in Watercolour'.
For those in the know, this book is rare an heavily sought-after. Some have fetched up to $900 online in recent times. Amazon's current listing is $200-odd for a ratty, beaten-up copy. So how did I come by this?

About a month ago, I did a search for 'Zbukvic' on eBay. I was looking for brushes. What I saw was like a mirage. A desert oasis shining at me like bright afternoon sun hitting my eyes from glare from the surface of my painting water-bucket. The listing had the book's condition as 'USED' but in decent condition. I struggled to come to terms with what was in front of me. I couldn't quite believe it. It was listed at $69.99 AUD.  WOW! Holy WOW! 

I decided just to go for it. If it was a scam, then I'd lose my cash and go home with my  tail between the cheeks, but if not, then I'd be ecstatic. This book is the holy grail of watercolour art instruction. If Tuner could have written an instruction manual, I don't think it'd be as comprehensive as this one. 

So, 3 weeks passed. I'm sad and cranky. No book. Even though it had been 'shipped' a day after I'd 'won' it, no signs of the bible. I endeavoured to contact the seller. No luck. I tried to get a tracking number. No luck. When I did hear from them, their response was heartbreaking. "we can only assume that it is lost in the post. Would you like to select another title"? I had been scammed. For sure and certain. I sulked for a few days and ended up finding where I could try to maybe download a sub-standard PDF copy. DAMMIT!!!!!

So, a few more days went by. I had come to terms with my loss. Grief had well and truly set in. I had begun to paint to try to relieve the tension that was building up between my slumped shoulders. I did a few good paintings while in that funk for a few days. So that was good. :) 

Today I got a tap on the shoulder at work and from behind me appeared a package that could only have been one thing. COULD IT BE? Damn right it was! hahah

WOOOOOHOOOOOO  It GOT HERE!! 

It wasn't lost in the post. It wasn't being used as kindling on a desert island by Tom Hanks. It was MY book. MINE. ALL MINE!

So, anyway..... Here it is. Please join me in thanking the sweet sweet lords of painting for having this crazy luck land in my lap. Had I not looked on eBay that day, I, no doubt would still be on a quest for the book that has not only changed my luck, but will be sure to change my life. My artistic life at least. 


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Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings. :)

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