Brenda Stichter, artist

Abstract 029 Tomorrow is my Beloved Husband's birthday! I have thought so many times today about how thankful I am for him. In honor of his birthday, I am posting this celebration. He was with me one day while I was shopping for canvases, and he suggested I try a black canvas. (What!?) I do love how the black accents the bright colors, but it would take me a long time to feel really comfortable using it.  16" x 20" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on black canvas  Click here to purchase via my website. Only a couple more days of the painting challenge, unbelievably, and I hope that I will stick with the daily painting routine that has been established this month. I really appreciate the learning that happens when I am painting every day. I don't think there is any better way to learn! 

I Am His I got to be outside again today, and walked on the boardwalk through a flooded wetland. I saw a robin and lots of flowing water, and the air was crisp and the sun was shining. A rare day in northern Indiana! Spring seems to be just around the corner, though I would guess winter is still lurking, about to pounce! *shudder 11" x 14" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame Contact me to purchase This painting is my walk from today! The colors in this painting feel to me like spring colors. I love how they work together to give a landscape feeling, and in some places on the painting (I wish you could tell this!) the under-painting colors almost glow through. There is a lot of texture in this one.  This is one of my favorite hymns, and I nearly didn't get to it during this challenge. The words to this song are so very meaningful to me. They express, at least in part, the ...

Blessing Today has been such a gorgeous day in northern Indiana! The sun is actually out where I can see it, and it is warm enough to walk outside in a light jacket. Ahh, bliss! Recently, though, we have been inundated with rain, and there are areas near me that are flooded disaster areas. Water levels are high all around, and our pasture and path to the woods is under water.  Yesterday in church, a 9 year old boy requested that we sing Showers of Blessing. I had to smile and, I must admit, I leaned over to whisper to my Beloved Husband that I was sure it was because of the rain. (The grin on that 9 year old face seemed to suggest that we had hit that nail on the head.) 11" x 14" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame When it comes to hymns about blessing, though, I prefer the hymn Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. To me, the music feels like it appeals in the beginning of the ...

Amazed Yesterday was a difficult day around here, and it definitely showed up in my painting. I struggled with that painting until evening, and even then was not really happy with it.  Today I went to the studio, just needing to paint and come up with something I found acceptable. I needed to put the clutter and noise of 'failure' out of my head and start fresh. I needed to focus on the simple love of painting, blending, and watch the painting happen. (My Beloved Husband and I talked this morning about setting aside the distractions of the business side of painting, and just painting for the love of it.) NLA 11" x 11" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper, mounted on cradled panel Click here to view on my website. Also this morning, my son and I 'talked' (thank Goodness for technology!) a little about silencing the clutter and noise of life to listen for the Heavenly Father...

Lake Michigan Beach In my studio today, there are four paintings with wet paint on them! (More than that are in progress.) A couple of them are large and very involved paintings that I am loving as I go, but since I am on day 22 of  Leslie Saeta's 30 painting in 30 days challenge , I needed to get one to the finish line, so to speak. And, by the way, this painting looks SO MUCH BETTER in person! 12" x 12" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on canvas panel Ready to frame Click here to purchase via my website.  Since my hymn paintings are taking longer than I had anticipated, I decided on an abstracted landscape for today - or more correctly, an abstracted waterscape! Here in northern Indiana, almost everything looks like a waterscape right now, but this is painted from a photo I took on the beach of Lake Michigan this past fall. I look forward to visiting there again soon. Talk to you tomorrow!

Be Thou My Vision Be Thou My Vision Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one. Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art. High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all. Attributed to  Dallán Forgaill,  English version by Eleanor Hull (1912) Though I would love to put my thoughts into words, I cannot find the way to express how this painting is my expression of this ancient poem set to a beautiful Irish melody. I hope it speaks to you ...

My Anchor Holds My hymn theme for this 30 paintings in 30 days challenge has been a great theme to work with, but I have had a tough time finding arrangements of hymns that I like. The music of this hymn "says the same thing" as the lyrics of the hymn, and that is something that I look for when choosing favorites. (Click here to find the best example I could find for this hymn.)   11" x 11" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper, mounted on cradled panel Click here to purchase via my website.  Here are the lyrics to this encouraging song. My Anchor Holds Tho’ the angry surges roll On my tempest-driven soul, I am peaceful, for I know, Wildly though the winds may blow, I’ve an anchor safe and sure, That can evermore endure. Refrain: And it holds, my anchor holds: Blow your wildest, then, O gale, On my bark so small and frail; By His grace I shall not fail, For my ancho...

Be Not Dismayed "How long will this take?" I asked the technician as he started an MRI. "The first one should be about 20 minutes," he said. I was passed into the tube, and immediately I couldn't breathe. I had never been claustrophobic before, but boy! I am now!  If you are claustrophobic, or have other phobias, you know the intensity of that fear. That MRI seemed like it lasted for DAYS! SOLD 30" x 22" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame Click here to view on my website. Claustrophobia is small compared to things that people around me deal with on a regular basis. I don't think there is anyone who has not had tragedy or heartache in this life, but I do not know how I could make it through those times without the GOD Who carries me through them. The words to this hymn being me comfort in tough times.  God Will Take Care of You   (click to listen...

Abstract 028 Since I am "fighting with" a larger painting in my studio right now, I am posting this tiny abstract today. It is only 4" x 5.75", but I find it captivating. This one was painted using a combination of experiments and regular painting practices. When I found something I liked with experimentation, I just doctored it a bit with my brush.  I like to use my acrylic paints in lots of different ways. Here I have characteristics of watercolors as well as typical acrylic application.  You can see that there is a lot of texture, but you probably cannot see the sparkle of the micaceous bits of paint. It is just an endearing little painting!  4" x 5.75" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Framed in 8 x 10 frame Contact me to purchase

Returning to my theme once again, I worked on this painting that has been on the easel, on and off, for a long time. It is heavily textured, layered, and manipulated. Several times as I have worked on it, it has come to a complete stop when I like what I see and cannot see what comes next to make it a good painting. As is often the case, it has been difficult to photograph.  The hymn I worked from is a grand hymn with moving parts, and with a changing time signature for the refrain. The time change works so well to emphasize the meaning in the chorus, and the booming, moving bass parts build a huge foundation for it. The music was written by John Newton. ( Click here for an a capella arrangement of this hymn .) SOLD 20" x 16" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame Click here to view on my website. Great God of wonders! all thy ways are matchless, godlike and divine; but the fair gl...

Though I am working in my studio today, I cannot help but feel for the brokenhearted people who lost loved ones in yesterday's shooting in Florida. And for our broken country. Today I am posting a detail from a work in progress instead of a finished painting that is for sale.  Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted        and saves the crushed in spirit.

Today is a day of triple celebration! There are three significant reasons for me to celebrate today, and even more if you count the video call from my son, the Snapchats from my daughter, the texts from my mother, and the gifts from my Beloved Husband (and a surprise announcement that I learned yesterday, which I will share at the end of this blog post) ... yes, a good, good day today.  11" x 14" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame Contact me to purchase.  First, today is the first day of Lent. I am aware that for many, that requires solemnity and fasting, and I love the way that these things highlight the coming celebration on Easter. (Like in painting, the brights are brighter when they are juxtaposed with the darks...) For me, I just love the fact that the Lenten season brings me even greater focus on spiritual realities.  Second, it is Valentine's Day, which is a day when...

I'll Fly Away If you have been reading my blog or newsletter for very long, you have heard me talk about my dad. When I was young, my dad came just slightly below God in the order of things. You probably wouldn't have known it, though, since I would fight some of his standards with all of my might. But I knew (and was secretly grateful) that he wouldn't bend or break under my onslaught. Dad loved God, then Mom, and then "us kids" and aviation were pretty much tied for third place with him. (Not really.) I loved him with all of my heart, and my happy memories of him are such bright spots in my life! 11" x 14" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame Comment for more info or to purchase At Dad's funeral in August 2000, the organist played "I'll Fly Away" at the end of the service as part of the postlude. None of us in the family knew it was comin...

Hold Me Fast When I was in high school, I took both piano and voice lessons from the same beautiful woman, Barb Ask. She was always cheerful, smiling, and bright. She was the encouragement I needed to continue studying piano after a succession of not so positive teachers. (We moved a lot when I was young, and tried a lot of teachers in the many places we lived, and often it was not pleasant!) Fast forward about 25 years, and I found and 'friended' her son, David Ask, on Facebook. It was his post that introduced me to this remade version of an old hymn. (Find him at DavidAsk.com ) NLA 8" x 10" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame Hold Me Fast When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast; When the tempter would prevail, He can hold me fast. Refrain He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Savior loves me so, He will hold me fast. I could...

Sun of My Soul Poetry is a relatively new 'language' for me to appreciate. Of course, a lot of lighter poetry has been something I enjoy, (have you ever read Eletelephony, for example?) but the longer, more serious poems left me high and dry. However, lately I have been developing a taste for it, much to my own surprise!   10" x 10" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame The hymn I chose to paint for today's 30 paintings in 30 days challenge was unfamiliar to me in my childhood, and I really only 'heard' it when I started learning a piano piece based on it. I like the piano arrangement I have, but the music of the hymn is not a favorite of mine. But I came across the words in a poetry book that I was reading, and found it appealing! And I have had the song in my mind ever since.  Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear John Keble (1792-1866) Sun of ...

I Will Arise I Will Arise is a beautiful older hymn, sometimes titled Come Ye Sinners. (Click here to hear a version of it that is creatively recorded.) I especially love the refrain of the song.  10 x 10" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper, mounted on cradled panel Click here to purchase from my website. I don't often do red paintings, and this was a great chance for me to work on color and composition during this 30 paintings in 30 days challenge. I really love the focus of painting every day, and the freedom to work on things that are less familiar to me.  This painting feels quite emotional to me, and feels like it fits this hymn well. I hope you enjoy it.  Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love and pow’r. Refrain: I will arise and go to Jesus, He will embrace me in His arms; In the arms ...

I Know Whom I Have Believed  Today I am returning to my theme for this challenge, which is painting hymns - some of which are old church hymns, and some new. The difficult thing about choosing older hymns is that I have a tough time finding recordings that I can appreciate and enjoy, especially when I want to share them with you! I have found one here where the singers are enthusiastic, and I love the harmonies that can be heard. SOLD 12" x 12" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame My chosen hymn for today came directly from my Bible reading. I so love the message of the song, and the verse. I chose a cruciform composition to work with for the strength it carries, and a complimentary color scheme for boldness and contrast. I wanted to show strength even in difficulty, and tears along with hope.  2 Timothy 1:12 " ... But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have b...

Hymn  For the last two days of the challenge, the hymns that I have chosen to paint for my challenge have been older 'church hymns'. I grew up singing the hymns, and many times they come readily to my mind in different situations. Today, though, I want to use a more recent hymn, (though it is even starting to be old!)  Hymn , by Randy Stonehill is a song that I have listened to for a long time. In 1985 it was released on an album called Love Beyond Reason.  NLA 11" x 14" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel Ready to frame I think that, rather than 'muddy the water', I will just share the lyrics of this hymn.  Hymn In this land of the walking wounded In this desert of countless sorrows I will cling to his hand today and fear not for tomorrow In my heart I have made this promise With this song I declare my choice I will walk where the shepherd leads and heed no other voice In the chill...