About the Artist

Why did he become an artist?
Creating was always a part of his life. His mother was a teacher and also a talented artist. Drawing and making things were a part of his everyday life.

His mother died young and when his father died when he was sixteen, his uncle invited him to Mexico where he was comptroller of a U.S. commission. There, one night at a piano recital, feeling restless, he sketched the pianist on some stationery. After the concert he showed the sketch to his uncle's friend, the artist Enrique Asunsolo who said he had talent and that he should consider making art his career.

This became his defining moment. Until then it had never occurred to him that drawing was anything special. Over the years he often said if that incident had never happened he had no idea what career path he would have taken.

After attending Art School, early career art director positions at design firms were followed by becoming National Director over 4 International Paper Company design studios. His last staff position was Revlon's Director of Package Design.

He then opened Joseph Marcou Design Inc. specializing in graphic package design, logo and brandmark development, corporate brochures and annual reports. Over the 30 years the company was in business they designed for companies like Gorton's of Gloucester, Johnson & Johnson, American Home Products, Fahnestock, Perillo Tours, and many others. You probably have had packages he designed sitting on your shelf. Throughout his career he continued painting for enjoyment.

Stepping away from the business of design has allowed him to return full time to the sheer enjoyment of creating art. His paintings and commissioned paintings are in many private collections both national and international. Although he has painted in several genres,he is particularly known for his extraordinary floral paintings, capturing their essence with drama and unusual style. He is inspired by what nature in its limitless imagination and whimsy creates..