Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Sifting ashes for holes on drive, & cleaning op the trash pile.; Evening—B & I take “Chopper” for walk. May 31— All day on the “Lavender & Old Lace”—I am changing the whole mood, from a gray day effect, I am making it late twilight, I am adding elements to the house & farm observed on other gothic houses and added two huge elms back of the house, etc. In a work, I have abandoned the idea of a specific house & locale, and making it an expression of all I feel about gothic houses. For most of the morning I fumbled, unable to strike the proper mood, thus, completely subconsciously I made a few impatient [strokes] about the middle gable, and suddenly had the key to the mood. From there the work went more smoothly. A beautiful clear day------- Book in the mail “The Pleasures of Outdoor Sketching” by Clayton Honglend—sent with the expectation that I would say a good word for it for publicity purposes.—A quick glance thru the book, found that I could do so with a clear conscience. A well thought out plan. June 1 – Art’s birth day—we gave him two shirts & $5.00. C—rebelled at continuous Sunday work, & stayed home—the four of us to church—(communion). P.M. B C & I to Art Institute—opening of Prochownik’s show. Evening—Mart & Hank came home. Raining again.June 2— Dark skies—heavy rains—