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 page for August 19, 1962, Indiana records that he had anticipated painting only one field of The Melville Triptych, but that he finished both off. He writes that only the interior black letters remain, "an easy job, but one demand’g great care because of [the] wh[ite] [field]."

The entry includes sketches for two works, Eat, a 12 x 12-inch oil on canvas painting which Indiana notes consists of a black "EAT" on a blue, yellow, and red background, and Hug, a 12 x 12-inch oil on canvas painting consisting of a black "HUG" on a yellow and red background.

Indiana also describes a long walk that he and his partner, fashion designer John Kloss, took when they went out to get newspapers.