Brenda Stichter, artist

Hidden Treasure It is the 30 th day of the 30paintings in 30 days challenge for September 2017, and I think this year I have come the closest to doing all 30 of them. Considering what all has happened this month, it is remarkable to have gotten 27 paintings done, and I would guess that all of the artists participating would say the same thing. I really wanted my last painting to be spectacular.  My hope was that everything that I have learned and all of my comfort in my studio would come together and I would create a MASTERPIECE. Well, I am beginning to wonder whether I will recognize a masterpiece if I ever do paint one! Sometimes it takes weeks to begin to really see what is happening with a painting. I don’t really know how to explain for those of you who are not artists, but I can get so involved with the details that I lose track of the big picture. No longer available 12" x 12" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep ga...

Autumn Abstract Due to appointments and interruptions, I am running behind today. I will still be painting, but I am posting an abstract I painted earlier this month and have been keeping just in case I had a day like today!  Sold 6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame. Click here to view on my website. I really hope your day is as beautiful as ours is here, though I don't know whether that would be possible, since it is absolutely perfect here today! Anyway, here is my blessing for you today, from the Old Testament.  Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV) "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

Tag-along This morning on the treadmill I finished a book that I really enjoyed. It was a who-done-it by Josephine Tey called the Singing Sands. She has a style of writing that makes me occasionally laugh out loud, and I find I did not completely solve the mystery before the end of the book. I have not really been a fan of mysteries before, though I do love reading the Father Brown books by G. K. Chesterton (along with any other writing by him, I have to say!) I have also recently begun reading some other authors that are newer to me based on the recommendations of my friend, Emma Lou. Though I have loved to read for as long as I can remember, I still have to give myself excuses for sitting still and reading! Especially novels. But even non-fiction books that are important to my painting or to my spiritual life can feel like a guilty pleasure sometimes. Is that the case for you, too? So I have come late to the party of people who read on the treadmill. Ha ha! I have enjoyed vi...

Celebrate! Acts 20:32 (HCSB) “And now I commit you to God and to the message of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified.” First thing this morning, as I was watching the sunrise and reading my Bible, I saw this verse, and it made me think about my kids. They are capable, levelheaded adults, and one would think that their mom would not be thinking about their welfare CONSTANTLY. But I am. Almost all the time! And I am guessing most moms are right there with me in hoping for and praying for the best for their kids. Right at present, a couple of bigger needs have come up in their lives, and though I know it is all part of becoming a successful adult, I really want to find a way to rush in and solve the problems! As I talked to my daughter today, though, my mouth said to her, “God will provide. He always does. He has never failed.” (To which she answered, “I know” – the perfect answer to make this mom’s heart ha...

Divided and Distracted Australian Sky Blue by Matisse is one of my favorite paint colors. I had a large tube of it that was nearly empty, so I started this canvas with that color. I couldn’t seem to come up with a theme, composition, or color choice today, so I decided to just start and see where it went. I decided on a muted orange-yellow to play complement to the purplish blue, so that came next. The result was very unsatisfying, so I started doing this and then that to try to fix it. 20" x 24" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on deep gallery wrapped canvas Ready to hang Click here to view on my website. All day today I have been a bit distracted with the deep divisions being expressed in our country YET AGAIN. Social media, educators, athletes, the President, my Christian brothers and sisters,  Gen Xers… everyone is shouting and no one is listening. We are all taking our stands and throwing memes, videos, and proclamations at each ot...

The Water of Life This morning our speaker at church talked about heaven, or more precisely, he spoke about the New Jerusalem as described in Revelation 21 in the New Testament. It is a passage that has some special connection for me, besides just my longing to see Jesus there. If you have followed my work for a while, you may remember that I painted a series about stones – particularly precious stones – mentioned in the Bible. Revelation 21 was one of my main Biblical sources for 12 of those paintings. I felt very privileged to be able to share my grouping of paintings (see below) at church today as a way to encourage people to think about the beauty God is preparing for those who love Him. 9" x 12" Painted with the finest quality heavy-body acrylic paint on canvas panel Ready to frame The beautiful descriptions took my breath away again today. GOD designed beauty, and HE is expressed through beauty, somehow. I absolutely love it that the GOD who created me, a...

Not My Style My hair stylist is the best! I suppose a lot of people feel that way, but really, they should try Tony. She has taken my hair through all kinds of interesting phases, and now I have a creative, artist-y haircut. When I was a barista in our own coffee shop, I had smooth, shining hair that was just right for that job. But now that I get to paint – ZOWIE! My hair sticks out in unpredictable places and sometimes is purple. When I am at art events, sometimes people will say, “Are you the artist? I thought so. You have artist hair.” I love that comment. Sometimes, though, on a “bad hair day”, my hair looks “nice”. Rats! Sometimes it lies down nicely and looks like an ordinary short hair style. I am sure I would like it on someone else, but it is definitely not my style!  (I have to say, too, that although my smooth style as a barista worked for me at that time, I think most who know me would agree now that it was not really my style either.) NLA 12" x 12...