Homer liked to paint the way he saw things and with his own style or "voice", not being influenced by  other artists' styles.  He was like his student N. C. Wyeth, in that he started out as an illustrator for magazines.  Interestingly Winslow didn't have much formal training in art, his mother was his first teacher, being a talented amateur painter herself.  After that he was primarily self taught until, ironically, after a number of years first as an illustrator.  He was eventually able to put enough money to go to paint abroad for a year in France.  Winslow got some instruction but primarily did his own thing. Homer excelled at a number of media including: Oil paintings, watercolor, wood engraving, drawing and at one point painting tile for fireplaces.  Winslow Homer never attained the fame or made the money that his contemporaries, such as John Singer Sargent had (even though Homer had his art displayed and sold at prestigious exhibits as well).  He lived in a number of places, growing up in New England as well as visiting the Bahamas and Florida.  Homer became reclusive and didn't like to talk about himself or his methods of art.  He never really taught but gave future great artists some tips.   One of the funny things he told one of them is: "Leave rocks for your old age - they're easy."  Everywhere that he lived inspired Winslow, from his paintings of pastoral scenes of shepherdesses to his love of nautical paintings.  The latter was inspired by his time living with a light keeper's family in a lighthouse. Even though he didn't make a lot of money or become super famous I think he was happier because he was able to do what he loved in the way he wished.