Brenda Stichter, artist

    Fear Not How can I even begin to put my thoughts into words? Be Still was what I was thinking as I neared the end of this painting, but how can I help you to understand what Be Still was to me - how it influenced what I painted? My heart had been heavy in the last few weeks with an unnamed fear. I prayed about it frequently, but struggled to shake the feeling of dread. I am well aware of the fact that the Bible is full of "fear not" statements, and I intend to live by faith - thus the almost constant prayer.  SOLD 36" x 36" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep gallery wrapped canvas Click here to view on my website. This work on my easel waited, daily challenging me, as I struggled with the concept and how to pull   my thoughts  together. I wanted to express eternity - creation - turmoil - depth - variation (as in  James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials... ...

Thank You My Pink Friend "I sat in my sand chair reading articles about erasing wrinkles, getting rid of under-eye circles and the best ab exercises. Then I started watching this woman. The magazine I'm reading would never feature her. If they did, she might be the "Don't" picture. But I watched as she went back and forth from the shore to her best friend under an umbrella. They laughed uncontrollably, told amazing stories and I couldn't help but wish I was their friend too. There was so much enthusiasm for LIFE in this woman who thought a shocking pink swim suit was the perfect choice for her. I can only aspire to that. So I put down my magazine and realized the best thing I can do is watch and learn. Thank you my pink friend." Lisa Barry My former roommate from college is now a Public Figure - Lisa Barry on Air , and w hen I asked her if I could use the photo she had taken for reference and her Facebook post about it in my blog, she said, ...

"Great color and use of negative space. It’s finished no need to add anything more. It looks confident." My friend and fellow artist, Mike, is someone I count on for good input when it comes to art. He has been a successful artist for years, and he can see what works and doesn't work in a painting. I had emailed him with this painting, saying, "Here is an under painting I started, and its feeling finished! ... Just stop at an interesting place, right?" When I had a chance to talk to him, I mentioned that I kept looking at this one, and just couldn't bring myself to paint over it. One of the art theories that Mike subscribes to is similar to this quote by Paul Gardner: "A painting is never finished – it simply stops in interesting places." 20" x 20" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep gallery wrapped canvas Click here to purchase via my website. In a few weeks my Beloved Husband and I will  be travel...

On Thursdays I get up extra early most of the time. My Beloved Husband goes to meet some of his friends for breakfast at 5:45, so we are out of bed around 5:15. Of course, it would be a great time for me to sleep in, but usually I feel like I should get up. This morning I "slept in" until about 5:45 before getting moving, and then I headed to the studio earlier than usual.  I have actually had some more time in my studio during the last week - more than I have had in quite a while - and I have been working on several paintings. I have at least 4 large paintings in process and probably 10 small ones. It is so much fun to know that I can head in there and find a piece that is ready for the next step. And it also means that every day I have something to share on my blog and website.  NLA   6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame Click here to view on my website. This little painting is one I was work...

New Every Morning #29  There is a gallery that I follow on social media that is planning an exhibit based on the Inklings, a literary discussion group associated with Oxford in the 1930s through the 1940s. I have been very interested in working on something for this exhibit, and the other day I thought I had it! I was excited about painting a work based on G. K. Chesterton's book, Manalive , and started to do a bit more research before starting. I found to my disappointment that Chesterton was not a member of the Inklings (though I bet they discussed his work!) I decided to start working on the concept anyway, and maybe I will use this start as I plan my Inklings painting too. This playful work is kind of a taste of what I think I will pursue on that project. I could call it a study, but I think that is too much of a stretch for where I am headed. When I do paint the Manalive painting, I will share more of what inspired me in that book. Until then, I will just suggest t...

Emerald Replacement  A couple of years ago for a painting challenge, I painted abstract expressions of stones found in the Bible, and I grouped some of them in frames. A few of those original paintings have since sold, and I chose today to paint one of the replacements - an emerald.  As I did when I first painted emeralds for this project, I did a little looking at photo references and some information about the use of emerald in the Bible and the rest of history. It is still an interesting study. This time I learned that Cleopatra was evidently obsessed with emeralds. I wish I could see photos of her with her jewelry! 6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame Click here to purchase via my website. Can you see the iridescent gold in this photo? It is so pretty! If this painting is not purchased individually, it will become a part of a really cool grouping of paintings that represents the foundation ston...

Comfort II "I would like you to take the afternoon to rest," my Beloved Husband told me. He can definitely tell when my medical condition acts up, and he does all he can to help me through it! We still can't seem to head it off well, but rest does help when I am struggling. As my head reached the arm of our old leather couch, I was thinking of the comfort it brings. Both the couch, and the care my Beloved Husband gives me. I couldn't help but think of the verses in 2 Corinthians that talk about comfort. The browns in this painting are the browns in that comfortable couch.  2 Corinthians 1:3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.  12" x 12" Painted with the finest quality  heavy-body  acrylic  paint on cradled wood panel Edges painted black Click here to purchase via my website. There are two main things that this painting is expressing, and they are found in two Bible passages. Both...