Singer Letters : Painting with Words

Arthur wrote letters to his wife that described some of his work as he was creating it, which gives us insight into the areas where he worked, and what he hoped to convey in his art. Here are some examples.

I guess I’ve been too busy just making pictures to have given much thought to Christmas cards, like George did. I’m afraid a design I might make would be too sophisticated to go over very big. I have some swell ideas for Xmas cards, however, even at this late date.

Last night the movie was a stinker so as I told you I stayed upstairs and wrote three letters. After that I worked on a portrait of Harry Gottesman. Harry is a swell guy and he has been sitting for me for a few nights while I experiment.

I worked until I had to return and as I worked a little five year old boy was by my side every minute. He was one of the prettiest looking kids that I’ve ever seen and I thoroughly enjoyed his company. And what a face for a portrait – no wonder Renoir was so inspired by little French children.

I’ve always wanted to do a watercolor portrait of Sgt Timberman and I finally got to it last night. The lights went out before it was completed but I finished almost all of the head. It’s the best so far! You’ll see it soon. I enjoyed doing it very much.

We were out for more than three hours when the day began to grow gray. We finished our work and returned to the quarters. When we got back we had a swell feast on the contents of the packages both of us had received. Then I went up to the attic and did some work on a picture I had just started a couple of days previously.