Charles Burchfield, Journals, May 21, 1963

May 21 – Tuesday

A day of clear blue skies, a bracing air; only at evening did it cloud up, with rain at times and distant thunder.

Most of the day in the studio –

Completed a letter to a seventh grade girl (in Ebenezer) who wanted me to define my idea of “success”; and how to achieve it.

Studied the “Summer Solstice” and “Grain Elevators” both of these I wish to enlarge, the first perhaps to 52 x 60 [inches] and the latter entirely new (from oil to water-color) about 45 x 68 [inches] – (the oil is 40 x 66) – I have some misgivings about going to larger sizes –

Cut the card-boards for enlarging, and started on the 45 x 68 mount –

Early P.M. – called John about various pictures I wish to keep.
Late P.M. – Dr. W [Winebrenner] called to announce that the van would be out tomorrow to return our pictures. He also asked about “December Storm” – which Peter C. Andrews has purchased. So I had to call John again to find out where they should send it.

Why do I record all these meticulous details? They are not as important as the fact that today I heard for the first time this year, the song of a wren.

I never thought that I would reach the point where I would get nervous about selling too many pictures. Somehow it seems vaguely disturbing.

About 6:30 – Martha + Dave in for a visit they had walked all the way from Ebenezer – Mart had some catalogues for me to autograph for friends. Hand came by shortly and picked them up.
The wonderful pageantry of May goes on, and my mind is dulled by so many earthly matters.

Evening music – part of Berlioz’, “Highlights of the Damnation of Faust” and a Concertante by J. Christian Bach.

Charles Burchfield, Journals, May 21, 1963