Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Glowering Trees at Twilight (Sultry Vista), 1960; watercolor, pencil, and crayon on paper, 13 x 19 1/2 inches; Image from the Burchfield Penney Art Center Archives.
Charles Burchfield, Journals, June 14, 1915
Monday, Jun 14, 2021
Brilliant Morning – windblown clouds appear and go by all day –
Evening To Three Trees to see sunset – Red orange glow in a stormy sky – As I watched a wonderful thing happened – As I sketched, ideas for paintings slowly evolved in my mind until all at once I realized the power of the whole thing – I saw an idea that was so strange & powerful that I was overwhelmed – almost unconsciously I lay down in the grass, flat on my back, where I remained regardless of time, going over & over again the vision & dreaming of the wonderful things I was to create. So tense was I that I never moved – and almost before I knew it, darkness had fallen – I had lain about an hour, yet it seemed but a few minutes – Afterwards as I walked homeward, I had a feeling of exhaustion –
Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June 14, 1915