In spite of his busy schedule, Saffer never stopped painting and exhibiting his works. Several of his shows, sponsored by his restaurants and music associates and favored by the press, sold out. Before returning to the United States in 1970, he completed selected studies at L'Ecole Des Beaux Arts and exhibited in Paris and Brussels, Belgium.

Saffer continued on with his music career in the United States at Warner Brothers Productions where he co-wrote the international hit song, "Look What They Done To My Song, Ma", recorded by Ray Charles, Melanie and other performers. While at Warner he painted a forty foot mural in their Madison Avenue, NY headquarters and exhibited his works in the firm's lobby. Saffer's work in the commercial field is familiar to us all with creations for Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Ford Motor Company, and Michelob among others.

All through this period Saffer's art continued to refine and yet broaden in its scope. In 1981 he began to study the art of Japanese brush painting, Sumi-e. He left for Japan in 1983 to study with Japanese masters adapting his Sumi-e techniques by applying Western styles of painting. He was represented by Galerie Musee and the Artbridge Gallery in Japan, and in Hong Kong by Alisen Gallery and the Kwai Fung Hin Gallery as a resident artist enjoying successful solo exhibits.

Upon reentering the United States in 1994, the artist took up residence in Upstate New York. His style of painting shifted from exclusively works on paper to include oil o canvas. He began melding his Oriental influences with his Western styles in order to create new and different path towards interpersonal visual expression, and his current works are a reflection of this mélange.

H. M. Saffer II has instructed at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, Berkshire Community College, and Columbia-Greene Community College. He currently has gallery representation both in the United States and internationally.