Walter Russell maintained a lifelong affection for children that is seen in his work throughout his career. His artistic career began as a child portraitist. Among his sitters, he lists the children of Teddy Roosevelt as well as the children of Governor Ames of Iowa. He first gained attention for his sculptural works, a large group of which were related to Mark Twain and his fantastic tale Huckleberry Finn.

Russell was also thought of as an accomplished writer although his true talent remained in the illustration of childrens books. In 1898 Russell was writing and illustrating for Collier's Weekly although At the Seashore seems to have no connection to any of Russell's children's books of the time. The painting's plein-air approach suggests that it was not done as an illustration, but reflects the artist's spontaneous pleasure in the activities of children at play.