Neysa McMein worked as both an illustrator and portrait artist. She was trained at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and at the Art Students League of New York. During WWI, McMein was an entertainer, along with Dorothy Parker, and illustrator for the military and travelled around France, work that awarded her the status of honorary non-commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps.
After returning from the war, McMein illustrated articles, covers, and advertisements as magazines such as McClure's, McCall's, The Saturday Evening Post, and Collier's. The character of "Betty Crocker" was also first designed by McMein. She further painted portraits of several presidents, actors, and writers.
Life magazine published an article on adult party games that featured Neysa McMein's famous New York gatherings, often entertaining the Algonquin Round Table, a group of local artist, writers, actors, and critics known for their wit, at these events.
