Cal’s art is in reality a summary of his life. Where he was born and raised, his professional career, military service, childhood experiences and travels have all inspired the subjects he has used in his paintings. He was born and raised in a small rural farming and oil community in southern Illinois similar to the rural areas surrounding his home in Oklahoma City. His earlier paintings were of rural scenes, nostalgic images and of the early oil and gas Industry.

Cal worked for a major oil company as a drafting supervisor and graphic artist in southern Illinois before being transferred to Oklahoma City in 1991. He took early retirement in 2000 to live his dream of being a full-time artist.