Joseph's early education was very versatile and included both the performing and visual arts. Despite his obvious talent his parents decided that there was no future in painting as a profession and in 1967 enrolled him into university to study languages and literature in order to pursue a teaching career.

This was interrupted in 1970, when due to political unrest, they decided to emigrate from Yugoslavia to Australia. There he continued his formal education at Deakin University, Melbourne. He graduated in 1974, gaining a Diploma of Art majoring in Industrial Design. During this course he discovered watercolour as a medium and began to paint again, achieving instant success at art competitions, winning his first major art award in 197...