Charles Burchfield, Journals, June 21, 1952

Summer arrived this morning about 5:13 ½ or some such outlandish time – it seemed most appropriate to go out sketching – Besides, there was to be a huge wedding reception next door & I know work in the studio would be impossible.

A “coolish” cloudy day with only infrequent periods of warm sunlight breaking thru.

I headed towards the spot where several years ago (1948, I think) I painted “Wind–Blown Hay” – and spent such a delightful day – It is reached by Route 78 to the Y in the road just beyond Java Village, taking the right hand fork, to a “Corners” a few miles beyond, & then turning East. At the “Y” I took note of beautiful Elms near the road and thought they would be suitable for the Mourning–Dove picture.

The “spot” I was in search of eluded me – and the whole road proved uninteresting, showing that the former occasion was all a state of mind. I drove on to the junction of 98 & 78, and came around again to the Y, and decided to spend the day here and do the Mourning–dove–idea, and the cloudy day made conditions ideal.

I got out my notes and strove to fit them into the scene before me, but for a time it seemed hopeless then all at once, I saw I had to re–cast the composition, and I set up my easel and had everything in readiness – then I ate my lunch, after which I set to work.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June 21, 1952