sculptor Cyrus Edward Dallin, N.A. (1861-1944) and painter Ernest Lee Major (1864-1951).  For a period of time after graduation, Packer worked in the family laundry business and in his 30s began his career as a full time artist and art teacher. He opened his first gallery and art school in Marblehead, Massachusetts. In 1952 he traveled to the White Mountains of New Hampshire where he became reacquainted with a college classmate David Baker who had a gallery in Jackson. Encouraged by Baker's success, Packer opened a studio in nearby North Conway in 1953. He taught skiing and gave art lessons until at age 40 when he began painting exclusively. He remained in North Conway for the rest of his life.

Packer traveled extensively, painting in Europe, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, and southwestern United States. His most popular subjects are of New England including the White Mountains, Maine and Massachusetts coastal and harbor scenes, New Hampshire village and maple sugaring scenes.  Packer is a well listed and highly collected artist. A great number of people find his loose style of impressionist painting, and carefully chosen New England scenes, very pleasing to the eye.