Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, August 15, 1952

Up late and prepared leisurely to go out sketching. There was no hurry today because the sunlight would not be right until afternoon. Mounted 30 x 40 for the sketch. Off by 10:30 –

A hot muggy day – took the hill road (Trent & Moore) to Springville – Distances almost obscured by the steam-like mists that arise from the meadows.

Reached the grange–hall by noon. With plenty of time before the effects would be right. I ate a leisurely lunch, this time on the bank above the road to the east, where were four of the locusts, a gentle wind blowing.

As I was setting up my easel, the caretaker of the cemetery which was on the east side of the road and south from the hall came, and started a huge bon-fire of some grass that had been out previously. The thick creamy smoke came exactly in my direction, blinding me with its stinging acrid odor – a not unpleasant sensation. I knew it would not last long.

A long hard afternoon – I was not yet rested from yesterday’s effort – and my legs ached. I found it hard to emphasize sometimes, the sun was obscured by large masses of clouds.

However – I persisted and finished about 6:00, - by which time I was exhausted.

Altho I had told Bertha to fix just one lunch for me, at noon I had divided it evenly, and I now, after a rest, ate the seemed half after which I lay for a long time, listening to the late-summer sobbing of wind in the great black trees. By sun-down, thick cloud masses were spread out from the south, and the cool wind had the feel of rain in it. It is impossible for me to express the joy I felt as I lay under these huge old trees – as tho I had come home from a long absence somewhere.

On my return, I took a dirt road that led eastward to save the distance of going back to Otto – it did indeed run into the E. Otto road about five miles over.

Home after dark – when I got home it seemed as if I had been too violent in my treatment of the locust trees, into which I had introduced many cicada motifs. However, only time will tell. Completely exhausted. 

Charles E. Burchfield, August 15, 1952