Three Lines of Writing 1956

Maybelle Stamper made "Three Lines of Writing" in 1956 using coloured pencils and graphite. Her marks feel really immediate, almost like she's inventing a language right before our eyes. There's an intriguing mix of precision and intuition here that speaks to artmaking as a process of discovery. I'm drawn to the texture of the paper; it's got this lovely off-white tone which Stamper leaves visible. The writing has this playful quality, as if she's created a secret code to express something deeply personal. And then there are these words, 'grow' and 'love', anchoring the composition, like mantras. The graphite is translucent and soft, creating depth and shadow. The way she renders the walls in horizontal and vertical strokes reminds me of Agnes Martin. This piece reminds me that art is an ongoing conversation, and that the best art embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own interpretations to the table.