“It is as difficult to take in all the glory of a dandelion, as it is to take in a mountain, or a thunderstorm.”
—Charles Burchfield
“Paint directly—do not fill in outlined patterns.”
—Charles Burchfield
As a child, Charles Burchfield was interested in nature and the changing seasons. When he was about fourteen years old, Burchfield began to draw the wild plants and fruit trees of Salem, Ohio, the small country town where he grew up.
Burchfield read a lot, particularly books about the natural world. As a teenager, Burchfield began to keep a journal of writing, drawing, and poetry. He continued to keep journals throughout his adult life.
Burchfield was also inspired by Chinese art and Japanese prints, especially images of nature. He loved classical music, which, he believed, also had a connection with nature.
