He showed precocious talent, winning a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago at age twelve.
He was featured in the 1976 television series Journey into Art with Ben Stahl, 26 half-hour programs consisting of lectures and painting demonstrations by the artist.
In 1986, he guest-starred on Season 7 of The Joy of Painting wherein artist Bob Ross referred to him as, "a fantastic painter.
[3] Norman Rockwell sent Stahl a letter dated June 3, 1968, which read, "Those Museum of the Cross pictures are absolutely fabulous.
[4] The investigation into the theft was reopened in 2013 by the Sarasota County sheriff's department and Interpol Washington,[3] but as of 2023[update] it had yielded no success.