About the artist: Gene Shankman was a professional career artist known for impressionistic realism. Shankman was raised in East Los Angeles, served in the United States armed forces during WWII, then enrolled in Chouinard Art Institute (later Otis Art Institute) in Los Angeles. His works are in many corporate collections including that of Bank of America, for which he worked under contract for many years. Mr. Shankman also sold art to celebrities like Sonny and Cher and Eartha Kitts. He was featured in a double spread of the periodical "American Artist." He worked in a variety of media including oils, acrylics, and pen and ink.