 His work has garnered many awards nationally, including the Paul B. Remmey award at the prestigious American Watercolor Society 138th international exhibition in New York City.His paintings have been exhibited in museums throughout the United States, including the Elmhurst Art Museum in Illinois and the Springfield Art Museum in Missouri.His watercolor paintings have also been featured in national publications including Southwest Art, The Artist's magazine and American Art Collector

Joseph Santos was born in Los Angeles, California, where he lived until the age of five when his family moved to Eastern Washington.