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In July of 1888, Harwood was invited to paint at the summer retreat of the Dr. Heber John Richards family. He had been teaching their daughter Harriett to paint for some time and it would be during this time away from the city that he and Hattie would become engaged.
The most interesting aspect of the picture is the image of the artist holding his easel and paint kit heading off to paint a little. He furtively peeks to his left at Hattie who has filled a pail of water. She also clandestinely glances at him. The emotional thrust is direct and poignant. The painting is autobiographical like none ever painted in Utah during the pioneer period.
The painting was entered into the Utah Territorial Fair on the artist's behalf by Dr. Richards, since the artist had left to study in Paris. Harwood learned that his "Richards' Camp" had failed to win any significant recognition. While elements can be criticized, the work was very ambitious, far exceeding the efforts of other Utah artists at the time. It must be considered the artist’s capa d’opera before his studies in Paris.
