From 1883, he along with his brother lived and worked in Abramtsevo where he fell under the influence of Vasily Polenov.

He was a member of the Association of Travelling Art Exhibitions (Peredvizhniki) from 1899, and an academician from 1900.

Vasnetsov's father played an important role in the upbringing and education of his sons, teaching them to love nature and to become familiar with the life of birds and animals.

He created a great number of his sketches during this period, including: In 1890, Vasnetsov made a journey across Europe, visiting France and Italy, where he studied the works of famous masters.

At the beginning of 1920, the Committee of Archaeology (the predecessor of the Community for the Saving of Art Monuments) invited Vasnetsov and several other painters (including Vikentii Trofimov) to draw the old places of Voronezh.