After high school, Gene McCandless worked for a general merchandise chain store, creating window displays and illustrations. Later he served as an U.S. Army Illustrator for its publications and training aids. After leaving the Army, he worked for the Department of Defense as an illustrator, moving to visual information specialist, technical illustrator, supervisory illustrator, and then program analyst.

After retiring in 2000, Gene decided to create art of his own interest. With a background in water media, (i.e. watercolors, inks, gouache, and designer colors), his current media of choice is acrylic.  Originally from Butler, PA, he currently lives in Waldorf, MD with his wife Patricia.