Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 42, July 22, 1939

July 22, 1939 – (Saturday) –
     Days of futility—doubt—I cannot give direction to my thoughts; nor can I generate faith is any one idea, to pursue it to the exclusion of all others the only manner in which real work can be accomplished.
     Had frames for all my spring work made, and have prepared and painted them. This necessitated going over the things I have done, and they seem trivial enough. Three of them are of such doubtful character, that I hope to do new ones of the same size, in the hopes of justifying a frame.
     Got out the notes on “Tower of Babel” the first of the week, and for a few days was filled with a false enthusiasm. It all came to nothing. However, I still think this is a powerful idea, one that some day will enable me to sum up all my ideas on the modern industrial city. At present my notion of its details are too nebulous, — it still is all literary, and not visual. I think that, by the trial and error method, I have proven that the first rough draft I made two years ago is the best, as regards shape and composition. It is exasperating: I look at this sketch and think — “there it is, all ready to start, why can’t I begin.” Am I lazy’ is my life too confused; should I enter into the disagreeable task of gathering loads of material, making false starts etc. etc. – or is it that I am simply not ready to do the work; — have not digested it yet? (I seldom know whether I am lazy, or genuinely not ready to work.)
     I have also gotten out the “Irondale” idea, the “Bearded Hill” and “Heat Lightning.” — Of these, the Irondale is the most complete — in fact, there is little the matter with the 1920 version — except that it suffers from a too-squarish composition.
Charles E. Burchfield, July 22, 1939