Brenda Stichter, artist

Abstract 003 Today is a busy day for me! I am taking two of my series to display at the public library where I live, and it is a bigger job than I was prepared for! (It always seems that I am not quite as ready as I thought I was!) It is also a very blustery, rainy autumn day!  As a greeting to the beautiful colors of autumn, this painting starts out with some of the darker colors of the season, and uses some of the brights to add interest and a focal point.  11" x 14" acrylic on watercolor paper, 9" x 12.125" image Leave comment or contact me directly to purchase.

Abstract 002 Today's painting is just for fun - celebrating color, line, shape, and texture. I am trying a new kind of support; a watercolor paper I have never tried before. I think it will take a little getting used to!  Have a happy day today! SOLD 11" x 14" acrylic on watercolor paper  

Lake Michigan Yesterday was a beautiful, blustery autumn day, and after we attended church, my husband and I and our young friend went to Lake Michigan. I had asked if it seemed like a reasonable possibility because I just had a 'hankering' to go and see waves and water! What a great afternoon! It was about as perfect a day on the beach (for the autumn, anyway) as there could be!  It made me think of Psalm 37:4   (ESV)  Delight yourself in the Lord,  and he will give you the desires of your heart.  I do truly delight in Him, and He puts into my heart the desires He wants to satisfy - and it is a beautiful thing.  SOLD 5" x 7" acrylic on watercolor paper

Overflowing Hope I have spent my painting time the last few days working on this new painting. I am attempting some new techniques and methods, and trying a larger format (which I LOVE!) I used quite a few more colors than I usually do, too, and am enjoying trying to make it all work well together.  Romans 15: 13 (AMP)  May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound  and  be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. SOLD 24" x 36" acrylic on panel Click here to view on my website. 

Temple The temple in the Old Testament was a structure of unequaled beauty in proportion, form, and color, and it's sole purpose was the worship of the Creator God. When I read the descriptions of this fabulous structure, I try to imagine the workmanship, creativity, and beauty involved in this ancient work of art.  I love to think of what it must have been like to worship in such a place. It must have been a reminder of the Beauty and Majesty of GOD Himself, and I hope I would have been in awe and wonder. One of the very saddest parts of the Old Testament to me is 2 Chron. 36:15 - 20 " The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place.  But they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord rose against his people, until there was no remedy... And all the vessels of the house of God, great and

Revivre A favorite walk for many in my community is the 'boardwalk' which goes through a large swamp area, a small copse, a short bridge over an inlet to a lake, and along a grassy field. It is a place I love to go to refresh, revive, and refill my soul.  I love to consider the Creator and, if I am to return in inspired condition, I am in communication with Him for most of the walk.  One day, I noticed that every color in the ROYGBIV spectrum was represented along my path, although it was early spring and most of the surroundings were a muddy gray or tan color. The textures were also breathtaking, and the addition of sound, smells, and feeling the breeze made me think about how HE has so many more tools in HIS artistic tool kit than any earthly artist.  Psalm 51:12 (NASB) Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. 11" x 14" acrylic on panel Contact me to purchase

Ancient Ancient is the first of my challenge paintings - ever. I started my own challenge in June after hearing about the concept on the Artists Helping Artists podcast from Leslie Saeta. I loved daily commitment, and the learning that accompanied it! Ancient reminds me of maps, the ocean (with an anchor suggestion) and earth. It hints at direction, journey, and adventure. This painting is heavily textured using a modeling medium with acrylic paint, and also adding natural mica. It is from the "God-Words" series of paintings. 5" x 7" acrylic/mixed on watercolor paper Leave comment or contact me directly to purchase.

Savior This painting is from a series I called 26 "God-Words". It is my first series of daily paintings, and is based on words that make me think of God in one way or another. I did 26 words - 26 paintings - in alphabetical order. (Obviously, I am posting them out of order!) I have appreciated how much I have learned by attempting to complete a painting each day. Certainly not every painting is a best or favorite, (although I have to say that I am often surprised how different people's taste seems to be - and I guess that is a good thing!) but with each one, I am learning more about my own strengths and weaknesses, and am developing my 'language'.  5" x 7" acrylic on watercolor paper Leave comment or contact me directly to purchase.

Every Way This painting has been in my head for several days - while I have once again been away from my studio for way too long! And as is sometimes the case, the painting 'decided' it was finished before I had added everything that I had expected to add.  I thoroughly enjoyed painting this one. I am always a little intimidated coming back into the studio when I have not painted for a few days. Will I still remember how to paint what I love? When I get going, though, time kind of disappears, and I love the mixing, looking, painting, and expressing ideas. I sure wish I were a better photographer! Just please know that the painting looks a lot better than the photo! *wink* Proverbs 21:2 (AMP)   Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs  and  tries the hearts. SOLD 11" x 14" acrylic on panel Leave comment or contact me directly to purchase.

But the Righteous Update for 2020:  This painting was painted in 2013 for a 30 paintings in 30 days challenge that I was participating in, and my paintings for that series were based on the 31 chapters of Proverbs in the Old Testament. When I painted them and blogged about them in 2013, I felt that I understood why I was painting them, and they seemed to fit the passages I was working from. However, today, in light of the global pandemic we are experiencing, I see them a little bit differently. I think that maybe, just maybe, GOD inspired me to paint these things with today in mind. And actually, that would not surprise me too much, since HE is Who HE is, and since I try to listen and follow Him in my painting as well as my daily life.  In this painting, the birds are tiny and you have to be looking for them to see them. Today, in 2020, the birds are reminders to me of how GOD provides all that we need, just as He provides for the birds. In the Old Testament, He used birds to bri

Hope Oh, don't we need hope these days? Our culture seems to be in constant uproar, and times seem dire for many. How would we survive without hope? This morning, as I was getting my hair cut, I saw some flower arrangements in the windows at the salon. They were nice, but what caught my eye was the placement of the color and how it drew my upward - almost compulsively! I want this painting to draw my eyes upward to my HOPE. Proverbs 23:18  (AMP)  For surely there is a latter end [a future and a reward], and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off. 11" x 14" acrylic on panel Leave comment or contact me directly to purchase.

Splendor This has been a busy day of varnishing paintings from the 30 in 30 challenge I was part of in September. (I have done about half of them so far...)  I am excited to say that I will be showing the Proverbs series (and maybe a few more paintings) in the public library in November! I got to do that last year in November (my birthday month) and I am delighted that it is open to me again this year! Also, the people who have purchased paintings from this Proverbs series have graciously agreed to let me show them as part of the show, and that is great too! Today I am catching up on the twentieth chapter of Proverbs.  Proverbs 20:19 (ESV) "The glory of young men is their strength,  but the splendor of old men is their gray hair."  I like the word splendor, or other versions use beauty or glory for the gray hair of an elder. I appreciate the reminder of the value of my older brothers and sisters in this verse! 11" x 14" acrylic on panel Leave comm

Train Up There is so much that I have to say with this painting, but I want to let the painting speak for itself this time. If you would like more 'insight' as to what I intend, please ask, and I will gladly share more with you. Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. 11" x 14" acrylic on panel

Loyalty and Kindness This morning my husband had a group of men here at our home to meet for prayer and encouragement for each other. It is a strong group of men, and I usually try to not be where I would hear or interrupt them. I am impressed and charmed by my manly husband working these things out with other solid, Godly men. This painting is full of movement, energy, and strength. I chose the colors to be robust and substantial. The sgraffito and color changes are vigorous, too. I hope this one represents the passage well.  Proverbs 19:22  (AMP) 22 That which is desired in a man is loyalty and kindness  [and his glory and delight are his giving], but a poor man is better than a liar. 11" x 14" acrylic on panel Leave comment or contact me directly to purchase.

Virtuous As I try to get back into painting my Proverbs challenge, I am on Proverbs 31 - a difficult chapter for many Bible-believing women! :)  There is a lot of iridescence in this one. I wanted to suggest value and beauty. The triangle that is the focal point is a raised, pearly white. (And the colors are NOT red and purple! Magenta and purple, thank you!) Proverbs 31:10 (AMP)  A capable, intelligent,  and   virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels  and  her value is far above rubies  or  pearls. 30  Charm  and  grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain, but a woman who reverently  and  worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised! 11" x 14" acrylic on panel Leave comment or contact me directly to purchase.

So I have tried a new approach today, and so far, I think it is pretty good... I watched a tutorial video, and tried it - changing it up a bit, of course! It was fun to work much bigger than I have been, but I plan to return to working on my Proverbs series until I finish it  - starting tomorrow! Doesn't this remind you of the Eastern Redbuds blooming in the springtime? SOLD  36" x 24" acrylic on panel

Proverbs collage Here is a collage of the 25 paintings I finished during the painting challenge. What fun! And a HUGE THANK YOU to Leslie Saeta for hosting this challenge!