Pruett Carter was an illustrator who worked predominantly for women's magazines and was credited with being one of the few illustrators who was able to keep a creative edge working within in that market. He did paintings in watercolor and oil, and influenced by his childhood and later a move to California, also did western subjects.

Carter was a highly influential teacher of illustration. He was dedicated to professional quality of work and attitude by illustrators and asserted they should take themselves very seriously in what he perceived to be a multi-faceted profession.

He described their role by saying: "The illustrator may be likened to the director of a motion picture, or a spoke...