“I was an avid athlete,” he says, “But I found that playing sports didn’t give me the same satisfaction as drawing sports.” But what started as a hobby for this self-trained artist soon became something more when he caught his first glimpse of realistic pencil drawings. “I thought they were black-and-white photos. I couldn’t believe how realistic the drawings were.” He sought out the artist of those pieces, Milwaukee-based Elwin Broughton, and flourished under his tutelage. As Broughton took Joseph under his wing, Joseph continued to refine what is today his signature style using acrylics, oils and occasionally pencil.

The honors have been many, including Major League Baseball’s commission for Joseph to paint three commemorative home plates for the 2004 World Series.

Showing an intense diversity, Joseph also brings his passionate style to city scenes and landscapes. But whatever his chosen subject, each piece allows the collector to be part of a moment that may never happen again. And so it seems that with Michael Joseph, life will never pass you by