I watch a star low in the east. Sparkles with red, green & blue lights. Wonderfully. As I watch it I entertain thoughts of "art for art's sake." It is clearly fixed in my mind what I shall do.
Yesterday morning while on my way to school in the rain, I marked that the color of autumn seems to have come all at once—Walking under the trees I felt as if the color made sound—
Got out the 1947 ‘Fading November Sun” (Center St. Rd.) and realized the picture would be helped by cutting off 4” at the left. I did so and it transformed it – Made a few other changes
Mounting the Niagara St. Picture – Studying the “New-Fallen” leaves. The latter suggested studies needed of witch-hazel bushes...
"A windy grey morning. Cold remoteness of the wind suggests Autumn. Trees partially bare. Grounded speckled."
In studio – remounting two of the 1917 water-colors then got to work on the 1922 drawing in water-color of a tree in late autumn, finishing out the tree (which was incomplete) and putting newly fallen leaves on the ground.
Sunrise awoke me. Brilliant streaks of orange. Breeze.
Do not see design in Nature but see Nature—Or—Do not look for yourself in Nature, but see Nature herself—
– Peggy surprised us on our return from the corner, sitting on the back porch we persuaded her to stay through the Gurney’s visit, and afterwards to have supper and watch TV a while –