Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June 24, 1964

All day almost without let-up on the Lightning Bugs, , practically completing the picture (the largest I have done at “one sitting.”  A complicated lighting effect with lightning from a storm in the North flooding the whole picture, as well as numerous lightning bugs “popping” all over the swamp.

It was with almost a childish excitement that at the end of the day, I began to remove the pieces of masking tape — the effect was startling and very successful.

Exhausted by the effort I could scarcely judge what I had done, but Bertha reassured me and before the evening was done, I began to see that it had many good points as well as areas that need working over.

That at seventy-one I am able to sustain a creative impulse long enough to complete so large a picture fills me with the hope of doing my best work from now on , and with gratitude to God for giving me the power.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, June 24, 1964