Jerry Bennett Bennett was born in Buffalo, New York. His experience in art started when he entered into an art competition drawing a portrait. He won the contest that gave him a one year scholarship at the Art Institute of Buffalo. Bennett preferred the charcoal concepts at that time. During his college years he began working with his father. His father was the first to start the manufacturing of cultured marble. This enabled Bennett to use artistic abilities to create and duplicate the characteristic of marble using a modified polyester system for bathtubs, sinks and wall panels. In 1968 Bennett’s father pasted away and he continued to carry out his father’s dreams of seeing their business go to the top. He opened a small manufacturing plant in Dania, Florida. Three years later he out grew this shop and opened a large factory in FT. Lauderdale. Eight years later he sold the business. In 1982, Bennett began painting animals and landscapes in oils and acrylics. At approximately the same time he started a finishing business which specialized in boats, kitchens and restaurants. He started creating artwork for tables and bars on mica and wood to simulate the look of granite and marble with a top coat of epoxy resins. This technique was perfect for use in restaurants, bars, and night clubs. Bennett finally retired in 2004 and then began pursuing his first love which was painting. He enjoys painting portraits, animals and landscapes in a variety of mediums which include oils, acrylics, and watercolor. “Art is my life and my love!”