From Business Major to the Studio: Joseph Yonke on Oil Paint, Obsession, and the Long Game

In this episode of Stories Art Reveals, Susanna speaks with New York-based painted Joseph Yonke about the path that took him from a business major at Penn State to a full-time life in the studio. Joseph reflects on growing up painting and drawing alongside his grandfather, the moment that studying other artists' careers made a life in art feel possible, and the mentors who have guided him since. He walks through what a working day in his studio actually looks like, and why he believes there is no substitute for sheer hours of painting when it comes to finding a style. He is also honest about the toll that level of dedication has taken, and why he is choosing to take his time before committing to a gallery. The conversation turns to how nature and the landscape of northeastern Appalachia shape his abstract compositions, the collage series built from personal found objects, and why oil paint on canvas remains the heart of his practice. He also shares how his own definition of art keeps widening, and closes with two paintings he keeps coming back to: one by Brice Marden and one by Jackson Pollock. Whether you are a young artist weighing a career in art or simply curious about what it takes to build a life around making work, Joseph offers a candid look at patience, process, and commitment.