Gary e. Armstrong is a relatively new arrival to Southwest Florida. He says of this part of the country that, “It was love at first sight.” His involvement in the arts has been a lifetime journey, having won his first blue ribbon for his artwork at the age of eight. His undergraduate education includes a certificate in painting from the oldest art school in America, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania. The Vietnam war postponed his pursuit of a Masters degree. However, his talent and good fortune helped him land a job as a graphic artist and exhibit artist in the United States Air Force. During four years of active military duty, Mr. Armstrong worked at Headquarters Command at the Pentagon in Washington DC. There his team designed, built and displayed Airforce exhibits world-wide. This included work at the Smithsonian Institute, Aviation Hall of Fame, and United States Air Force Museum. Following his service, Mr. Armstrong pursued his dream of graduate school and received an MFA in Painting from the prestigious American Bauhaus School Cranbrook Academy of Art. While there, he was a graduate assistant to painter/professor George Ortman. Mr. Armstrong taught art on the college and university level for over thirty years, while continuously producing and evolving his own artwork. He has had numerous art representatives and a plethora of art shows and exhibitions. As the 25th Anniversary Apollo 16 Moon Medallion Artist, his artwork was placed on the surface of the moon by astronaut Charlie Duke. Mr. Armstrong has a strong interest in health, vegetarianism and meditation.