It is difficult to explain this lapse in my journal of over nine weeks – Perhaps when boiled down, it all comes to this – when one is busy and really doing a lot of work, there is no necessity for writing about one’s activities – In other words, keep a journal is partly creating something to fill an empty space. For the sake of record, when the inclination to write is lacking, a brief notation of events should be kept— However, I did not, and so must briefly mention a few of the more important items.
Feeling seedy, grimy and hungry—And in very low spirits, feeling that my trip to New York was a complete failure. But the welcome I got from my family made up for everything—
To Market… Attracted by a stall that seemed to specialize in gourd. I went inside. Here I saw a curious object, that seemed as if it were someone’s prank...
"A light zenith night, but not so awesome as strange – a train whistle reechoes to infinity – it is wonderful lasting perhaps several minutes."
A mild morning, with vague misty clouds in the sky – contrary to yesterday’s barren-ness I “see” pictures in every direction, full of significance.
Cold – a heavy frost – sunshine and clouds – beautiful clouds, cumulus in character, large and simple, but arranged in the long horizontal bars typical of November. When the sun shown forth from a wide “slit” between the clouds, it was like a long bar of molten silver, so brilliant and blinding as the sun itself –
In studio all day working on the large “November” (Sometimes I consider “South in November” or “November Brooding as alternative titles -) bringing it to a tentative conclusion –
While out sketching this afternoon I wandered down dilapidated Howard Street – All at once (it was after sundown) I came upon a freak of a house; it had the look of insanity about it.
The Metropolitan “Artists for Victory” jury meeting…Many times, when there were long stretches of dull pictures, I had to fight sleep. Of the number we retained —
Altho the stars shone all night (I woke up from time to time, + thought how the sky moved overhead, bringing new scenes of stars every hour) this morning the November Grey fills the air.