Growing up in farm country, in southern Michigan Gary spent most of his waking hours outdoors, either working with the local farmers or exploring in the wooded areas that surrounded the farmlands.  Nights and rainy or stormy days were spent laying on the floor with pencils and a roll of butcher paper, drawing, drawing, drawing.

After a long career as an illustrator in New York, Detroit, and Atlanta,  a plein air workshop in Provence, France was the catalyst to leave illustration behind and paint full time.