Brenda Stichter, artist

Encamps I have been working through trying to paint a fairly heavy subject with cheerful, brighter tints. I hope this combination is a choice that communicates both ideas. I guess I will do my next one with more pastel-y colors! ;) On my Facebook page , I posted a photo album of the progression of work on this painting. (It is a public page, so even if you don't have Facebook, you can still see it.)  This work is based on Psalm 34:7 "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them." I really wanted the feeling of surrounding the focal point with a strong line, and the heaviest, darkest part of the painting is the arc that encircles that point. That heavier arc is accented with copper and silver. Action and detail, color and texture are vivid in this piece.  22" x 28" acrylic on watercolor paper Click here to view on my website .

Guilt Free The concept behind this painting comes from my reading in the Psalms. I am surprised by how often something that I have read hundreds of times (well, that MIGHT be a bit exaggerated) will mean so much to me on a new time through a section of the Bible. The thought that GOD offers me forgiveness for not only my sin, but also the guilt of my sin really struck me as I read this part of Psalm 32.  Psalm 32:5 (New American Standard Bible) "I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah."  (The word Selah is thought to mean pause and think about this.) NA  

Instruction Well, guess who forgot to change the clock in her studio!? Yeah... So my Love will have to wait for his supper tonight! I have been doing a little bit of studying on water abstracts, (watching an instructional video by Joe DiGiulio that has been helpful) and I am trying to make the idea more my own. I love the idea of water, boats, etc, and will be working on it now and then... Although this verse does not closely tie with this painting, it was important to me today. My son was making a significant decision, and needed guidance. We prayed together about his decision, and this verse came up in my Bible reading. It seemed to be so perfectly suited to his situation! Psalm 25:12 (New American Standard Version) Who is the man who fears the LORD? HE will instruct him in the way he should choose.  NLA

Gladness The Psalms are my current place to be reading in my time with my Heavenly Father. Often I think that the chapters are so short that I will not get 'enough', but that has not been the case at all! This happy painting has been on my mind for a little while, and I thought it would be a good way to illustrate Psalm 21. (Both my husband and my son saw water here, which is fine, since I LOVE the water!) Psalm 21:5-6 (New American Standard Version) "His glory is great through Your salvation, Splendor and majesty You place upon him. For You make him [and Brenda] most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence." 11" x 14" on watercolor paper ready to frame

Presence I have been working on this painting, which originally was supposed to be a completely abstract landscape. It has become more representational, and is looking like a tree painting - making up for a different try, maybe?  As I was painting, I was listening to Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. I wanted to find a quote from him that I vaguely remembered about guilt and failure, and sure enough, I did find it. But the overwhelming focus in the book is being constantly in GOD's presence. This was compelling for me to think about, and when I read from my Bible today, I found verses that reminded me of being close in HIS presence.  So, although today's painting does not attempt to express these verses directly, I am practicing my painting in HIS presence today.  Coram Deo.   Psalm 17:8 (Amplified Bible) Keep and guard me as the pupil of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will continue be...

I Am Though I have not been posting much in the last week or two, I have managed some time in the studio! I have been working on another larger canvas, and it has been a challenge for me. This one is 18 x 54, so the usual composition structures have to be adapted to work well.  I like the repeated shapes in this work - both the clear, sharp shapes and the shadowed, suggested reflections. Though it is difficult to see here, there is a reflected rainbow pattern on the shapes on the right of the painting, and also on the horizontal area to the left. There is quite a bit of iridescent accent work.  The triangle shapes were built from the letters in the Name, I AM, the name GOD calls Himself. I read about the throne of God, the Creator of Heaven and earth several places in the Bible to find more to spur my mind with HIS beauty. HIS throne is described several places in the Bible, and my mind is overwhelmed with what it must look like. Of course, there is no way ...

Hearts and Emotions Once again today, I started out attempting a painting - abstract of course - that would express trees. I have several concepts in mind that I want to work into the painting, so today I made another attempt, using a painting I started yesterday. Once again today, the painting started to go in a different direction than I had planned. And once again today, I responded to the direction of the painting itself, thinking all along about what it may be representing.  This painting reminds me of a sunrise after or through a storm, with waves all around. Even through the darkness and turbulence, there are bits of iridescence and color that shine through.  My Bible reading lately has been in the Psalms. I have planned to read one a day for a while, and meditate on that for the day. It is fewer words than I am used to reading, and it has actually been a challenge to stop that soon! Today, I must admit, I read TWO psalms! :) Due to some medication that I am tak...