William J. Rushton, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, following his BA in psychology at Colorado College, studied for five years at the Charles H. Cecil Studios in Florence, Italy, learning the sight-size method of drawing and painting. The technique originated in the practices of 16th and 17th century European painters such as Titian, Velazquez, and van Dyck and was employed extensively by Sargent and his contemporaries. Using only live models and natural light, this approach allows for an unencumbered visual relationship between the artist and his subject and facilitates observation and selection. As a result, the portraits bear a notable likeness to the models. Viewed at close range, the portrait is somewhat impressionistic, but viewed from afar it gains strength and clarity.