Brenda Stichter, artist

Boardwalk 1 click here for original blog post After a wonderful, delightful time with our kids this past weekend, my studio time has been shorter than I prefer. (Have I been saying that every week lately?) With that in mind, I decided that for a few days at least, I want to share some of my paintings that have been "off the grid" since they were painted several years ago. I am posting some on social media, and want to continue with my blog and newsletter here. Today I want to start off with these three paintings, each inspired by the same place. Near our home, there are several walking paths available to the public, and one of them includes a boardwalk that crosses an area of cattails and trees. I have enjoyed walking this trail for several years, and in fact, I got to walk there this morning!  Psalm 24:1 (NASB) The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. Boardwalk 1 &  Boardwalk 2 11" x 14", image area 10.125" x 13.1...

We'll Be All Right I really, and I mean REALLY struggled with this painting, and considered just completely painting over it more than once! It was such a difficult painting, but I really love how it has turned out. Finally.  Sold. 48" x 18" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.8” deep gallery wrapped canvas Edges painted black Click here to view  on my website. Almost certainly, this blog post will not even begin to tell you all that I was trying to articulate as I worked on We'll Be All Right. First, the very first marks on the canvas were an arc and words from a Bible passage, expressing the full story of God's creation. Though several Bible passages have come into play as I have worked on it, the first one to hit the canvas, so to speak, was 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always! The canvas is covered with scars and scratches, colors and mistakes and layers and layers of paint. If you look carefully at the marks and composition, you can see ...

This morning was heavily shrouded in fog here in northern Indiana as the snow began melting with slowly rising temperatures. There is a certain beauty in the quietness of the cold fog. But after a little while, the sun blazed and the orange and gold autumn leaves burned against a purply blue sky. It felt like the air was glad. 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 or purchase on my website. Psalm 96:11-12  Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and all that fills it resound. Let the fields and everything in them exult. Then all the trees of the forest will shout for joy This painting reminds me of days like today. It also brought to mind a poem: God's Grandeur  BY GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil; It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. Wh...

Weed or Flower, 2017 For the next few weeks, I hope to be sharing some of my older works, as well as some ACEOs with you while I am busy painting large paintings, arranging new exhibits, and taking online classes! Some of you who have not been with me on this journey for very long have not seen many of my earlier works that are still available, and I keep finding pieces that I still love and want to share with you.  12" x 12" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on acid-free, heavy weight Fabriano watercolor paper Ready to frame Click here to view or purchase on my website. The original blog post about this work reminded me that sometimes the things I wish to be finished with (like weeds in my planters) are actually something that will bring beauty in my life. The passage from the Bible that came to my mind was  Isaiah 55:8 - 9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the ear...

  Fins and Feathers You know that feeling, right? When you are really, really wanting something - missing something - a little homesick, but you cannot quite put a finger on what it is? When you have what you want, aren't really searching for anything, and are at home with loved ones, but still... That strong pull for - something - that you cannot figure out.  I am not sure why, but it definitely strikes me every now and then. When it does, I think there must be a book I want to read, or a food I am hungry for... maybe a place I want to go... but I cannot think what it might be.  Sometimes even when I am legitimately missing someone or feeling sorrowful for a loss in my life, still the mysterious ache that will not be satisfied shows up, and I know it is different than my longing for that lost love.  I felt a twinge of that today when I was trying to think of ... something... I have a memory that is just a little too far away, and I cannot quite grasp it. I have had ...