Zachary's formative professional years of painting, metaphysical, and anthropological training were spent in the rarefied and esoteric world of famous Mexican Surrealist painters, metaphysical expatriate illegitimate British Royal Family members, and eccentric academic German aristocrats such as artists Pedro Friedeberg, Bridget Bate Tichenor, Leonora Carrington, anthropologist Baron Alexander von Wuthenau, art patron Baroness Maria von Wuthenau, and British art collector Edward James in Mexico.

He received some of his design training working in the studio of the late Cartier Designer Aldo Cippulo and from the I nterior Design team of the late Mrs. Paul Mellon in NYC who taught him classic Trompe L'oiel painting techniques.