Brenda Stichter, artist

Breaking News What a beautiful sunrise we had the other morning! Twice I was caught by it as it changed, and I wanted to find a way to paint it very simply in order to share the glory I saw out my window. It fit right in with my daily Bible reading, too. I read this from Ephesians. Ephesians 5:8-10  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—  for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth—  discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.  12" x 12" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep cradled wood panel Edges painted black Click here to view or purchase on my website.  I painted two paintings of this sunrise; one is 12" x 12" and the other is 4" x 4". I have been working on being expressive in my more representational paintings and yet keeping my work simple and finding a "new voice" for modern landscape painting. I think it may be too big a task fo...

Glade What a delightful weekend we had! We had a trip to northern Michigan on the agenda in order to drop off my painting that has been accepted into the Great Northern Art Explosion. We got to visit our beautiful daughter on the way to and from, since she lives about halfway there. And on the way, I received an email telling me that my painting in the  Acrylic International Biennial Juried Exhibition was awarded a prize! This was completely unexpected in this highly competitive exhibit, which is on display in the Kenosha Public Museum in Wisconsin. I am so grateful.  4" x 4" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep cradled wood panel Edges painted black Click here to view or purchase on my website.  Glade is a return to my little 4" square palette knife painting practice. As I have mentioned before, these little ones are a good way to return to the studio when I have been unable to paint in a while.  Evidently, it is difficult to discov...

PowerPoint " ... the point from which the power is emanating... " I sure enjoyed working on this painting! Lately, painting my abstracts has been hard work, and I have had fewer paintings to share. (I have had a bunch of plein air work to share, but not as many abstract paintings.) As I looked at this mostly blank but textured canvas, I thought back to another painting that I found satisfying to paint, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope , and thought I would try to paint with the same freedom I felt when I worked on that one. Well, the results could hardly be more different, and the experience was very different, too, but I do feel that I achieved a painting I like while feeling the joy and freedom of painting.  24" x 24" 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. You can see a bit more of the interference colors in  this photo. If you could se...

The Wind and the Waves There was a day in our Door County adventure when I was really struggling. I had a situation which led me to be so very discouraged, and I was discouraged for an entire day. Rats. But my Beloved Husband took me for a drive, and we found a deserted public access site on Lake Michigan. We sat there with the wind driving the waves that crashed on the shore and (as we learned later) kept the kayak tours that normally launch at that site grounded for a day. As the wind blew through my hair, it seemed like it started to clear my mind a bit. I cannot help but wonder whether my Loving Heavenly Father sent that wind to blow away the mess in my mind, and start my refocus. It made me think of this short story in Jesus' life.  Luke 8:23-25 and as they were sailing He fell asleep. Then a fierce windstorm came down on the lake; they were being swamped and were in danger. They came and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to die!” Then He got up and rebuke...

Stavkirke, en plein air Last weekend my Beloved Husband and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, and we took nearly a week celebrating in Door County, Wisconsin. Door County is a peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan, and it is very well worth a visit! We enjoyed everything from dramatic and beautiful lakeshore views to art galleries and events.  6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on cradled wood panel Edges painted black Click here to view on my website. Of course, part of our week away included some plein air painting! I was thankful for my BH's help with set up and tear down, and just general encouragement as we worked against high heat and bad air pollution from the wildfire smoke in northern Minnesota and Canada. One of the days, the heat and smoke lifted unexpectedly, so I painted this amazing Stavkirke. Here is a quote from a website about this place: "The mysterious, beautiful, imposing Stavkirke church is one of those pla...

Between-the-Lakes en plein air What a weekend! I participated in a three day paint-out event with the Northern Indiana Plein Air Association, and it was enjoyable - and it helps that one of my paintings sold before I even got to post about it. The first day of painting, I went to a park where I found a pavilion to work in. It was great, because I had shade and a light breeze throughout the time I worked, as well as a picnic table where I could spread out my tools. I don't have to have that extra space, but it is sure convenient sometimes. This park area looks out over a marshy access between two lakes, which I enjoyed painting.  8" x 16" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on panel Framed in simple, natural wood frame Click here to view on my website. Old Molasses Factory- SOLD The second day, I painted something completely different - an industrial site. And what fun that was! As you can tell, the first day was sunny and bright, and the second was ov...

Hangar Pilot Around our house, there has been a "rule" that I cannot paint over older paintings until I have used up all of my fresh substrates - or at least all of the size that I want to paint. My Beloved husband made that rule, and actually, I sometimes count on him to help me with my painting vocation, because I cannot always pick up on what he can see. Sometimes I am ready to give up, and he helps me keep going. Sometimes, he will help me choose which shows and competitions to be part of because he can see the benefits and costs that I am too involved to see. I am so very grateful for him! 12" x 12" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep gallery wrapped canvas Edges painted black Click here to view or purchase on my website. Well, and I am celebrating this, the time has come for another reclaimed surface - another paint-over! (Though I must admit, I just bought more substrates for a solo exhibit that I am scheduled to have next year. ...

Your Call is Important to Us As the USA celebrates 250 years this weekend, I am enjoying the celebrations, patriotism, and the general feeling that my society is (mostly) happy to be celebrating. In spite of the heat wave here in northern Indiana, the events, concerts, and fireworks are continuing, and I am glad. I am thankful for the blessings and freedoms that I participate in because of the sacrifices made over the last 250 years. What a privilege to live here.  2 paintings to be used either together or separately, vertical or horizontal orientation 36" x 48" each 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. As I posted last time, my Beloved Husband and I have had a lot going on lately. If you follow along with me on a regular basis, you know that we have had an employment change (since selling the family business) and that we have lost some people who were dear to us. What I ...

Please Stay On the Line I am releasing a new diptych today! I will be sharing the paintings to my website separately (for marketing purposes) so my blog and newsletter readers will get to see the works together before anyone else does.  2 paintings to be used either together or separately, vertical or horizontal orientation 36" x 48" each 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. The first of these paintings, Please Stay On the Line has a slightly less balanced feel to it, and it reminds me of the uncertainty of waiting without knowing when the next part of the answer will come. Both parts of this set started out with canvas activated with Bible verses, and much of that background shows through. I used tools and colors I rarely use, and it took concentration as well as conversation with family to pull a painting together that I am pleased with. Here are two translations of a p...

As Seen Along the Back Roads 'Is this "readable"?', I asked my family. Since I have been working on a large diptych for the last several weeks, and doing some plein air painting, this is the first small studio work in a while for me. I took the photo that I referenced for this painting several years ago, on an evening when my Beloved Husband and I were meandering home after watching the harness racing up in Amish country. 6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on cradled wood panel Edges painted black Click here to view on my website. Lately, it has been a little tricky finding a good rhythm for painting, between lots of plein air events, new places to display my work, new work schedules, and miscellaneous summer activities. Maybe the craziness will actually help me as I have to squeeze painting in between other things - maybe I will get better at painting faster. Or, maybe not...  One of the last plein air events I participated in ...

Village Art Fair en plein air   Somehow or other, I always find it challenging to get started at a plein air event. I am not sure what it is that makes me hesitant to get going, but usually a good bit of time has passed before I am actually painting! This time was no different for me.  8" x 16" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel Framed in simple, natural wood frame Click here to view on my website. Our weekend paint out coincided with the Village Art Fair, and also with the Farmers' Market that happen in the quaint community of Winona Lake, IN. The art fair has long been an event I enjoy in the summer, and I participated for many years by having my own booth there. The farmers' market draws my Beloved Husband and me for breakfast many Saturday mornings. The Northern Indiana Plein Air Painters had a booth at the fair, and we members were encouraged to attend and participate by doing plein air paintings in the area, so for my first ...

Winona Lake Bike Trails en plein air, framed Day one, painting number two, and I was hot and tired! Can you tell? I hope you can't, but I sure can tell when I look at this one. Probably it is more that I remember being so shot by this time.  7" x 5" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel Simple white frame Click here to view on my website. One of the huge benefits of painting near home is that I already know some of the beautiful places nearby. This is a very popular area for walking and biking in the area. The walking trail is paved and slightly hilly, and there are sculptures along the way. It is also wooded, so it stays cooler than some areas. I especially like the welcoming gateway from earlier days when the property belonged to a boys club from Chicago - I think it is very picturesque.  I am not sure whether it is cheating or not, but I painted from our van for this plein air work. It was only sort of outdoors -  it was not in my stu...

Happy 250th Birthday USA! en plein air At the end of the plein air painting event, those of us who were participating were to be at our tent at the art fair in order to turn in our final paintings and have them judged, though it was a very unstructured and laid back event. The days had gotten progressively hotter and more humid, so when we found a good parking spot near the tent area, and a bit of decent shade there, we took a lunchtime break there. I decided to try to find something that I wanted to paint right there.  7" x 5" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel Simple white frame Click here to view on my website. All weekend I had had the idea to commemorate the birthday of our nation in some way, but had not found anything I wanted to paint along those lines. Well actually, I had found something - there was a military plane fly-over that was SO COOL, but it did not sit still long enough for me to paint, of course. Finally, while collaps...

Morning Light en plein air   Morning Light en plein air was by far my favorite painting from this most recent plein air adventure, and it was also the most fun to paint. And, of course, it didn't hurt any that it won a merit award at the event!  14" x 11" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel Simple natural wood frame Painting is currently available through a gallery - contact me if you are interested in purchasing.  Click here to view on my website. Painted on the second day of the paint out, it was inspired by gorgeous color in the wooded bike trail area, with the sun backlighting a good part of the view. A stone and concrete edged stream passed in front of me, and I had a little area of flat ground to stand on as I painted.  I was so grateful that my Beloved Husband came with me for the entire weekend of painting this time! E ven though he is always willing to be my "artist support staff",  I usually encourage him to do othe...

View in the Rain Now this one... this one was the most challenging painting of the weekend. I had found a view I loved after much driving around, though I passed it by the first time. It took far too long getting back to it, since I was lost! It was another public access site along one of the conservancy trails, but it was pretty far out from where everyone else was painting.  11" x 14" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel Framed in simple black frame Click here to view or purchase on my website.  I had a slow start on Saturday morning, and I guess all of us who were painting did. It was raining on my way to the paint out, but was predicted to stop soon. As it turns out, the weather people are not exactly 100% accurate, in case you have been wondering. It either drizzled, sprinkled, or outright rained until around 3:30 in the afternoon, and then was just... damp. And chilly. Well, in spite of the morning weather, I got back to my site and g...

Ancient Oak The last painting of the weekend (I will get back to the third one in a little while) started out as a bit of a dilemma for me. I had found a great parking spot, and did not want to move my car, so I wanted to find something that inspired me nearby.  8" x 16" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on panel Framed in simple, natural wood frame Click here to see or purchase on my website.  I did find this beautiful old oak tree, but it was hiding amidst lots of landscaping and structures. The tree was very tall, and had evidently had branches trimmed for many years, because the naked trunk was much taller than I would have expected it to be. But the upper part of the tree was just beautiful. I decided I wanted to paint the tree, but give it back some of its dignity! So I took away the long trunk, the structures, and the busy landscaping around it.  Some teenaged girls came along as I was working and asked if they could see what I was painting. ...

Sweet Old Houseboat My second painting on Friday was of this vintage houseboat that sits near the end of the public boardwalk in a conservancy area. She looks a little forlorn, and I was told that racoons have gotten into her and made a mess. How sad. She makes me dream...  11" x 14" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel Click here to view or purchase on my website.  After what had seemed like an adventurous morning, it was pleasant to sit in the grass along the trail and paint, with the sun coming out mid-afternoon. But soon after I started working on this one, I found myself very bored with what I was painting. Believe me, that doesn't happen very often! I was SO bored, that I took a brush full of paint and just splashed it all over my start. And there it was! I found the interest that I had lost, and chose to change my composition and style just a bit. I really enjoyed working on it once I had loosened myself up a bit. And it was plea...

Hook, Line, and Sinker   My first completed painting for the weekend's plein air painting event was Hook, Line, and Sinker.  8" x 16" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on panel Framed in simple, natural wood frame Click here to view on my website. The evening before the paint out event, my Beloved Husband and I drove up to the area where I would be finding painting locations. I had been checking out my maps, and had my eye on a public access on a small area lake called Shock Lake. We drove to the site, and I thought it would serve me well. When I arrived there on Friday morning, there were two fishermen out in their boat, and one fishing from the dock. Though I felt a little like an intruder, I set up my kit and started to paint.  It was windy at the lake, and I kept reminding myself to keep a foot on the leg of the stand for the pochade box, but I guess I forgot anyway. Partway through the painting, DISASTER! Everything blew over and crashed to the...

Against the Faintly Lavender Sky I have been reading more  again  lately, and I recommend it! T o my dismay,  I had found myself going to my phone for beauty and inspiration, and it is very unsatisfying. (Not to mention, addicting.) And honestly, I have so many books I want to read! My art book stack is enormous, and I find so much help and inspiration in those pages.  4" x 4" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep cradled wood panel Edges painted black Click here to view or purchase on my website.  Yesterday I finished reading Re-digging Art’s Foundations: Essays on Gospel and Art , by David Thistlethwaite. I really loved this book, though it was challenging reading at times. It may be that I have let my college/post-college reading level slip a bit, you know? There are hot-pink colored-pencil highlights on at least half of the pages, I would say, and I want to revisit the book while the concepts are still percolating in my mind....

Green Morning Light The next in my tiny representational paintings is a view of the spring green that I see when the sun shines through the leaves and trees in the woods. I hope you already knew that from seeing the painting! Every spring, this view catches my breath, and I have tried so many times to capture its beauty. I think this is a pretty good suggestion of it, but nothing quite does the green morning light justice.  4" x 4" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep cradled wood panel Edges painted black Click here to view or purchase on my website.  I find the landscape itty-bitties, that are mostly done with palette knife, very quieting. I have 10 or so now, and I love painting them, and I love seeing them grouped on our mantel above the fireplace! They are kind of daily reminders - like a painted journal, of sorts.  John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be ...