About the Artist

I was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, John Nicholas Sacalis, but as far back as I can remember, everyone has called me Jack. Upon graduation from Bayonne Vocational and Technical High School, I enlisted in the Army, and was sent as part of the Army Specialized Training Reserve Program, to Princeton, to study Engineering. It was an accelerated course in which we were given a year and a half of college engineering in nine months. After the Princeton Program, in which only a third of us finished, we were all sent to active duty. It was at the tail end of WWII, and the war ended just as we were about to sail for Japan. I spent a year in Japan as part of the first troops to enter, as the Army of Occupation.After my Army discharge, I earned a BS in Floriculture from Rutgers University, and following my graduation joined my familiy's florist business, in which I became a partner. In 1969, I left the florist shop and studied for a PhD in Plant Physiology, and taught two undergraduate courses at Rutgers University. After 42 years of research and teaching in the area of Plant Science I retired in January of 2010.

I am now a volunteer at the Hunterdon Medical Center, working as a patient liaison Ambassador. My passion for watercolor painting developed in the mid 1990's, when I studied under the well-known watercolorist, Ron Lent. Soon my paintings developed an individual style, blending realism with painterliness. I am a signature member of the National Watercolor Society and am also a member of the Hunterdon Watercolor Society, where I have been called upon to demonstrate my technique to other artists.

My wife Anna, and I sold our home in the picturesque hamlet of Sergeantsville, New Jersey, close to the state's only regularly used authentic covered bridge. I now have a home in 'a new 55+community in Flemington, New Jersey. Both of us enjoyed the new home and fine neighbors at the new community. Sadly, Anna passed away in April of 2020, and she will be missed by many people. I have three daughters, Joy, Jill, and Christina, and six grandchildren, Charlie, Andrew, Ben, Olivia, Emmett and Ila and I enjoy spending time with all of them. My youngest daughter, Christina, and her family, recently bought a 40-acre farm in Cabot, Vermont. Daughters Joy and Jill live near Princeton, New Jersey.

There are some old family photos at this link: OLD PICTURES

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