Charles E. Burchfield: A Lifetime of Themes
Burchfield Penney Art Center
White Bicycle worked closely with the Burchfield Penney Art Center and author and curator Nancy Weekly to design this 160 page large-format publication exploring the recurring motifs and evolving vision of American painter Charles E. Burchfield. The book’s generous scale and richly reproduced color plates allow Burchfield’s work to unfold with depth and clarity—mirroring the layered themes it examines.
From editorial structure to typographic choices, every design decision was made to elevate the curatorial voice and immerse readers in Burchfield’s lifelong dialogue with nature, and his evolving vocabulary of symbols, sounds, and seasons.
This project is a strong example of how we collaborate with institutions and authors to produce lasting, impactful publications—where design serves both scholarship and storytelling.
“Every so often, when a new idea for a manner of working comes to me, I have the feeling that I am just learning how to paint. It is as if there is a veil between me and the ultimate in painting, and only bit by bit am I allowed to penetrate the mystery beyond that veil.” —Charles E. Burchfield
The cover features a striking, full-bleed reproduction of Burchfield’s late-career watercolor October Wind and Sunlight in the Woods (c. 1963–66), printed at a scale that captures the energy and texture of the original. A bright yellow vertical belly band wraps the book—a bold, modern gesture that introduces the title and reveals more of this dynamic painting as it’s removed.
