The narrator recounts a long life from childhood in a New England town through collegiate years, western travels, and artistic training in European centers. He describes student life, study trips in Brittany, Spain, Cornwall, and stints among artist colonies, and traces the development of his decorative commissions and portraiture. Interspersed are anecdotes about artistic colleagues, cultural observations on American humor and democracy in relation to the fine arts, and personal reminiscences of friendships and public projects. The book combines practical accounts of technique and exhibitions with reflective essays on aesthetics, criticism, and the social role of art. It closes with retrospective assessments of a creative career and its influences.