Painter is the third and final chapter of the EP of the same name which Chris Rudel initially rolled out back in May 2021. The song followed an odd path as a promotional cut - starting out as the singer's first ever "live only" single meaning audiences could only hear it if they tuned in to any number of Rudel's live-streamed concerts. Then Rudel announced an official video for the track (apparently intended to precede the wide release on all music streaming platforms.) To add to the confusing launch cycle, the release date was delayed several times before an official date was confirmed by both the singer himself and by his distributor.

So how is the song? Is it worth the wait? Is it worth the hype and the unconventionally warped lead up? Yes. While early performances dating back to the beginning of November revealed a song still in a particularly rough draft phase, the final track is pristine. Expanding on the guitar work of Rudel's hit single Best Kept Secret, Painter is darker, more complex, more sophisticated in its structure and construction. It also tackles the formidable task of threading a coherent narrative arc through the first two chapters of the EP, Solving for Ex and With Love, respectively. The melody in the verses and its accompanying quickly-picked finger work on the acoustic 6 string is evocative and haunting wafting around the listener like an unsettling fog. However the chorus charges forward with a major chord progression that sounds like sunshine breaking through a cloudy day. The lyrics avoid direct reference to either of the preceding singles on the EP while balancing the micro intensity of the first installment (Ex) and the macro relatability of chapter two (With Love).