Brenda Stichter, artist

From the Heart, 2019. Things are getting serious now, let me tell you! I am hanging work, ordering supplies, and doing lots of computer work, all trying to be prepared for my Open House Valentine's Day weekend.  James 1:17 Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. 30" x 22" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Click here to view on my website.  It is invigorating to do all of the preparation, but I sure do miss the studio time. I have a few works in progress, and I know my next steps on those paintings, and it is challenging to leave them and do what I have to do! But it's a good problem to have.  Our family's world/life has been spinning so fast this week, and I have discovered something a little surprising to me. I find that I am less anxious when I have more craziness going on......

Pretty Much As it turns out, it is very difficult to photograph silver pigment and leaf. I shouldn't be surprised, especially since I don't use a camera, per se, to photograph, but use my phone almost exclusively. Still, I will probably have to use several photos to give you the idea of what this piece actually looks like. 11" x 14" 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. I hope you notice the movement and color in the background, behind the silver. I love the swirls and splashes, and I definitely see water there. The yellow-green areas are not as dominant in real life. The textures are the best part of this one. Well, maybe the way the silver pigment powder responded to my work on the surface is the star, but the textures are right up there too.  Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, I have been reading in Romans in the New ...

Come Before Winter During my quiet time, the time I spend reading the Bible and praying, I can look out the window across our pasture and woods. The big windows face east, so this time of year, I can watch the sunrise. Often, the view of the sunrise accentuates my sense of being in communication with my Heavenly Father.  6" x 6" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep cradled wood panel Click here to view or purchase on my website. We have had a few bright, sunny mornings here in northern Indiana, and I have sat in front of the windows with my pantlegs and sleeves rolled up to try to soak up some of that "vitamin S". (Yes, I made that up. I am sure it has a proper name.) Those bright skies, with only a hint of cloudiness, inspired this painting.  I wanted to paint the smooth transition of cold color in the sky, and the dark silhouettes of the trees in the foreground, but NOT in a photorealistic style. I love to just suggest the beauty I am ...

Homesick, 2018 Click here for original blog post My 2026 Open House is in the active planning stage! I have been hinting at it for a while now, but I have started sending out more formal announcements, creating "Events" on my website and Facebook, and fretting about getting all of my paintings arranged and tagged by February 13.  If you receive my other email newsletter (which tends to be less frequent, and less about the stories of individual new paintings), you will have already seen some information about my plans for this year. The biggest news is that after the Open House, I will be retiring a lot of my paintings. I have already started working through some things on my website, and will be narrowing down the available paintings by quite a bit.  You can find more information on my website by clicking the Open House Event here.  I will plan to share a coupon for newsletter subscribers (both newsletters), and highlight more information as the time gets closer.  If...

Talking in My Sleep For the last few weeks, I have known the title for this painting, even while it was unfinished. It started, as many do, with words from the Bible on an early layer, and that was a good start toward the title, Talking in My Sleep. I like the title, and I think it helps encourage curiosity about the painting.  20" x 30" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint and silver colored metal leaf on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper White frame included Click here to view on my website. The words from the Bible come from one of my favorite passages that I have used often, Psalm 62:5-8 My soul, wait in silence for God only , For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah. I have mentioned before that I...

Mik Landscape *Kim would always sign her artwork Mik If you look with a squint, or at a thumbnail sized photo of it, can you see the landscape in this painting? It is a landscape that reminds me of my friend, Kim, who passed into eternity yesterday.  She and I were the same age, and she had been my friend for about 45 years. My family moved a lot i n my early life,   and she was the only friend who stayed connected over all that time, over all that distance.  We differed in nearly every opinion, especially in political and societal things, but remained friends.  When we were young, and I would spend time with Kim, we would often hang out  in the woods  on her family's homestead. She knew every tree, and could tell me where plants grew and animals lived. She was never lost there (though I was) and I think she loved every inch of that property.  8" x 8" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep canvas Edges painted black Click her...

Coastlands My first painting of 2026 is a small one that I worked on in order to practice some techniques for a larger work I have on my easel. I am really loving the progress on the bigger one, and wanted to make sure to know what I was doing before my next layer. In the process, I have a small painting that I really like.  Our family time over the last couple of weeks has brought me lots of joy (though of course, the time with our adult kids was too short...) and I especially loved lots of time with my Beloved Husband. I even painted once or twice during that time! 6" x 6" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep gallery wrapped canvas Edges painted black Click here to view on my website. I have usually painted when no one else is around, unless I am teaching, in a plein air paint out, or doing a demo of some kind. Toward the end of my BH's time off from work, I decided I would try to paint with him here. It was a huge adjustment for me. If you ...