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.

In his journal entry for March 8, 1961, Indiana records that it was "very, very March," with cold rain turning to sleet and rain all day. He notes that he built a coal fire and stayed in most of the day, working on Ballyhoo and a couple of small paintings, adding a ground of raw sienna to one, which is illustrated by a small sketch of a work with a star.

Indiana also records that Stephen and Barbara Durkee came over, missing Bishop Pike on the Mike Wallace show. He writes that they played the game "Quotations," and that Barbara got a coat that J. (his partner, fashion designer John Kloss) had started but didn't finish.