Mary Cassatt was the only female artist Degas ever credited with drawing abilities and the only American to exhibit with the Impressionist circle, which included Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Sisley, Van Gogh, and Degas, among others. Cassatt, famous for her maternal portraits, began her studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, where twenty percent of the students were female and valued art as a social skill. Few were determined to make a career of art, as was Cassatt.

Having been recently criticized for an incredibly simple 2 stage learn how to paint watercolors course, I have to admit that the critic was absolutely correct...