Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, November 12, 1963

Cold, partly cloudy & sunny day – rain & sleet at times –
In studio, got to work on a new picture. It grew out of a note made quite a few years ago, an idea that came to mind on hearing the opening bars of the Sibelius Fifth Symphony (The Horn Call). However it developed into an entirely [new] idea – namely a storm day in late autumn – the key to the idea being a black jagged stump surrounded by the blood red leaves of a swamp maple—as if they were the last glowing embers of the fires of autumn – (at present my title for it is indeed “The Dying Embers of Autumn.” From a storm sky white clouds scatter snowflakes to Earth— At the left is a white birch with rich yellow leaves, some of them flying across the sky and earth.
The work did not go as fast as I had expected, most of the morning being taken up with getting the composition in order. At the end of the afternoon it seemed pretty much unresolved; I brought it into the house nevertheless to show Bertha and study it.
Now, after an evening of contemplation, it seems to have possibilities, and I am anxious to work on it tomorrow.
The elements are there—they need only to be knit together–
Bedtime music – Mozart’s Divertimento #17.
Charles E. Burchfield, November 12, 1963