Born in Weatherly, Pennsylvania, he produced hundreds of drawings and paintings in asymmetrical composition, exaggerated drawing and unnatural colors. His subjects ranged from American history -- Washington crossing the Delaware-- to abstract to still life and figure. His early life was plagued with sadness that included the death of his father and brother and flunking out of the University of Pennsylvania law school. From 1915 to 1920, he was in a mental institution and began to paint. From then on he lived and painted at the family home in Weatherly. He was discovered in 1960 by artist Sterling Strausser.