He Felt Compelled to Write

Oil on canvas.

60x72x1.25"

This layered, surreal composition unfolds like a psychological interior—part dreamscape, part domestic tableau. At its center, a figure lies in a bed or coffin-like structure, surrounded by symbolic objects: a blue electric guitar leans nearby, a patterned rug anchors the scene, and a fireplace glows against a red brick wall. The setting evokes both comfort and unease, suggesting themes of mourning, memory, and creative urgency.
In the background, a translucent male figure bears the words THE OPEN across his chest, as if announcing vulnerability or transition. The phrase floats ambiguously—part title, part invocation. A green circular form in the foreground, possibly a chair, adds to the spatial disorientation, while a sculptural bust and contemplative figure in the bottom right corner deepen the narrative. That seated figure, poised with pen and paper, is accompanied by the text HE FEELS COMPELLED TO WRITE, anchoring the painting’s emotional core.
Singer’s palette is bold and expressive, with saturated reds, blues, and greens colliding in a way that heightens the psychological tension. The brushwork is loose yet intentional, allowing forms to blur and overlap, reinforcing the sense of memory in flux.