Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, January 5, 1962

Jan. 5 – Friday

Warmer in the night – thawing some – the southern horizon a yellow glow, though overhead it is overcast.

A.M. B + I food shopping – then to Chestnut Lodge for lunch.

Early P.M. – Mart over – a good visit –

More and more I like the painting I did yesterday – It has in it all the excitement of a mid-January afterglow that I used to experience on my way home from Mullins – I called such days in midwinter then “January Spring” – the air seemed to open up and reveal infinite space, houses seemed to grow taller and more grotesque – After a day of brilliant sunlight, and streets running with melting ice and snow, an invigorating chill was in the air; water on the streets is suddenly quiet – little spears of ice are beginning to shoot out from the edges of pools, I will go home have supper, and then go up to my room and set down the impression I have received, and call it “Black Houses” – this new one I will call “January Afterglow” – the “Black Houses” still dominate, but they have more space to breath in.

This new way of working (i.e. a tracing of a painting layout, then working it up as watercolor) becomes more and more intriguing. – only from now on, I will transfer the tracing to regular w.c. paper, and then make the drawing in free hand.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, January 5, 1962