Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 53, May 14, 1952

[Burchfield marked this entry with red pencil in the left margin to highlight its significance.]
     To Gowanda painting —
     Partially cloudy, but clearing weather —
     Very tired – a job to drag my stuff to the place where I wanted to work –
     Set up my easel, then ate lunch. A fine spot here – at some time it must have been a huge orchard or estate – many large apple trees, gone wild, as well as arbor-vita & barberry bushes – also pines.
     The birds in full chorus – wood-thrush, robins, chickadees, crows etc. – I “called up” two red-birds, and thereafter they sang all day.
     At times I had to rest – and lay on my back on my portfolio –
     Finish at late afternoon – took a little stroll westward to inspect a large dogwood tree – in full bloom, and a mass of bloom.
     On the return, I decided to do a quick sketch of a purple-violet – at the spot I had chosen, I startled a robin from her nest which was in a cedar tree, about shoulder high – three beautiful eggs – she would not return to the nest, so I dug up the plant I want to paint & moved to another spot –
     A quick sketch, but the work went well. I used the theme “Shy as a Violet” to determine the mood.
Charles E. Burchfield, May 14, 1952