Robert Indiana kept a series of illustrated journals during the late 1950s and 1960s, in which he discusses the development of his work as well as his daily life on Coenties Slip.

This journal page covers two days. In his first entry, for June 23, 1962, Indiana writes that he rearranged the nails on his loft's north beam and and hung the Melville Trilogy (The Melville Triptych) in proper order, commenting that it "presents a v[ery] handsome wall, indeed." He explains that this being over, even though the "one other 'Coenties Slip' canvas is only cartooned—I feel [that] I can draw breath & catch up. Time [to] put [the] loft back into order."

Indiana's entry for June 24, 1962, includes a sketch of Star, with its medium (iron, gesso on wood) and height (6' 4") recorded. In a comment next to the sketch Indiana notes that in going through old catalogues he realized that he and Yves Klein were born in the same year. Indiana also records that Norman (Fisher) came over for dinner and to help J. (fashion designer John Kloss), and that he reported that pianist Ivan Davis would be playing at Lewisohn Hall (at Columbia University) and that the Tony Perkins Gallery was coming along.