The hard part is how to plan a picture so as to give to others what has happened to you. To render in paint an experience, to suggest the sense of light and color, of air and space.

In this Parrish was influenced by Jay Hambidge's theory of Dynamic Symmetry. His daughter Jean Parrish was a noted artist in her own right. Parrish posed for many images that featured male—and occasionally female—figures (see Potpourri 1905).

He is known for his distinctive saturated hues and idealized neo-classical imagery. Maxfield Parrish (July 25 1870 – March 30 1966) was an American painter and illustrator active in the first half of the 20th century.