Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, August 15, 1946

[Burchfield bracketed the following entry in red pencil, and marked in the left margin “ZIMMERMAN RD”]

Aug. 15 (Thurs.) –
[To Zimmerman Road painting. A late start (I did not arrive there until noon).
A warm day, with bright sun, and a few patches or cirro-cumulus clouds – the air heavy with a portent of change. I determined to paint a picture before eating, so as to able to do another afterwards. A short excursion to the east woods revealed no subject, altho the songs of cicadas and the sun filtering thru the dense foliage were fine. Visit the open swampy tract to the west. Here it is lovely, tall rank swamp grasses, turning with light and heat, and the countless songs of short-horned grasshoppers, whose T-T-T-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z- seemed the embodiment for sound of the whole season, its heat, light and odors.
Work on this theme, until after two.
After a brief relaxation, I ate lunch. Almost before I was finished, the day had changed, heavy masses of cloud spread over the sky and a feeling of Autumn replaced that of August. I was seized [78] almost at once with the impulse to express this mood, using the half open grove & swamp by the road as a vehicle. The basic abstract motive, i.e. the “thrust” of storm into the woods, I had several weeks before worked out. What I needed to give it body and life were the unpredictable accidents that only nature can provide. I was soon at work; it went slowly at first, with many false starts.
I worked until after 7:00, and when I had done all I could and was physically and mentally exhausted, I was not sure that I had not wasted my time effort & materials. I moved the car up to my accustomed spot under the elm, and ate my lunch. The sky became more & more heavy and oppressive; the back depths of the woods glowered ominously; the songs of insects.]
Home by 10:00. B & M.A. like the sketches, the last one the best. I think now perhaps I am on the trail of something new.

Charles Burchfield, August 15, 1946