 After graduating from Pasco High School (Pasco, Washington), Joseph attended Golden West College in Southern California (1984–1986) where he studied art technique and design while also working in his fathers art studio.He started working exclusively in watercolor in the late 1980s and in 1999 started to paint the steel and industrial subjects that he is known for.Inspired by the Precisionism art movement, Santos cites Charles Sheeler and Charles Demuth as influences.