Joseph grew up working with his father, James McGurl, who is a muralist and his most influential teacher. He graduated from Massachusetts College of Art and also studied in England and Italy. After college, he worked for a period of time as a yacht captain, sailing the east coast from Maine to the Caribbean while continuing to observe and interpret in paint the natural world. In search of a more solid training in drawing, he sought out Robert Cormier, a devotee of the French Academy methods, and for two years studied sight size figure drawing under him. Joseph synthesizes academic figure drawing skills with sight-size landscape painting resulting in a new and unique approach to addressing the landscape. Joseph McGurl is one of America's leading landscape painters. He has been designated a Living Master by the Art Renewal Center, is a signature member of the Plein Air Painters of America, an elected member of the Guild of Boston Artists, was a Copley Master with the Copley Society of Boston, a past fellow of the American Society of Marine Artist, and has won significant awards for his artwork. He is represented by some of the finest galleries nationally, and his work hangs in prominent museums and collector's homes. Additionally, he has been the subject of numerous book and magazine articles, and he conducts workshops and presents lectures throughout the country.