Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

20. delighted with them – for the first time in my experience of looking at the work of young artists, I felt a desire to see more of it, and asked him to bring his summer’s work around next Fall.

              Friday - May 11, 1934

A.M. to Chestnut Ridge Park – the general public does not think of going to a park until it is fairly summer & all the trees are in leaf, a condition that pleased me immensely today, as I had the place practically to myself.

The day was one of those when I suddenly find myself completely in tune with Nature; when each moment is a delight, an unceasing succession of happy events. I spent practically the whole time in exploring the large hollow that skirts the west & south edge of the Park, starting at the lower end, to the N.W. The cold north wind, and the brilliant sunshine that flashed at times thru the blanket of gray cold “layer” clouds, combined to produce a feeling of late March or early April and down in the hollow, whose banks are still solidly matted with dead leaves, the feeling was increased. Once a crow flew past overhead, cawing noisily.

There are few delights more engrossing than following the course of an unknown ravine in early spring. As I proceeded, the vista kept changing rapidly seeming to grow more interesting – fallen trees, great masses of roots torn up, sprawling on the hillside