Brenda Stichter, artist

Cadmium Triptych - C This is part 3 of the triptych I have painted (working ahead) for the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge for day 27 ! I have been glad for the time to paint ahead and also for the push to spend daily time in the studio. This crazy week has me going in circles, but I have actually been in the studio working on paintings almost every day.  I saved my favorite of the triptych for last this time. I like the composition, and it reminds me of ... something...  6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on hand-made, prepared wood panel Ready to frame Click here to view on my website. I am off to the studio (hurray!) and paperwork (not-so-hurray!). Talk to you tomorrow. Cadmium Triptych Cadmium Triptych B blog post   Cadmium Triptych A blog post

Cadmium Triptych - B Today I spent quite a bit of time in the car, and as I often do when I travel, I listened to podcasts. One of the things I listened to got me to thinking about how I would define success for myself as an artist. It is a question that is a familiar one to me, since I am well aware that success looks different to different people. For example, when I returned from the Makoto Fujimura workshop and retreat that I attended, I thought about how probably everyone would consider him to be a successful artist, but I would not want to walk his path.  6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on hand-made, prepared wood panel Ready to frame Click here to view on my website My driving time today came unexpectedly - one more chapter in a busy story set in the month of September. As I drove toward home this evening, I reflected that for me, part of being a success would have to be defined as being able to be available to loved ones at ...

Cadmium Triptych A Due to yet another very busy week, the posting for the next three paintings (part of a triptych) will be very brief - again! It is tough to find the time to both paint and blog during these busy weeks. This triptych has been painted using primarily cadmium red, orange, and yellow. These are opaque, intense colors, as you can see!  6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on hand-made, prepared wood panel Ready to frame To view on my website, click here.  Cadmium Triptych B blog post Cadmium Triptych C blog post

Scent of Autumn Lilacs "Close your eyes and smell this," I said to my Beloved Husband, "and now open your eyes. Doesn't this look like what you smelled?" I have to admit, he didn't quite find the same inspiration that I found in this little painting. In my opinion, it is a great representation of the scent of the lilac blossoms that I picked off my bush just a couple of days ago! I didn't realize that lilacs would ever have a stray autumn bloom, but oh boy, I have been enjoying this one!  Sold 6" x 6" 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. This gift of a late lilac blossom reminds me of a verse that was one of my favorites when I was in college. Actually, I think it is still a favorite, now that I think about it! James 1:17 (HCSB) "Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the F...

Today for my challenge painting, I decided to  finally  get out my nihonga oyster shell and brushes and try using some of what I learned at an artist retreat and workshop with renowned artist, Makoto Fujimura.  I chose to paint on paper my Beloved Husband brought back from Honduras about a year ago. It is handmade paper made from tobacco. I have had a tough time finding anything that I thought worked well with this paper - UNTIL NOW! I just love the way these elements work together! I hope to find a good way to use them.  The Hebrew word I have written is supposed to be hesed. (Since I don't know Hebrew, it turns out that I got a few things wrong... I spelled it backwards, and got some of the letters a tad bit misshapen, but my Hebrew scholar seminarian daughter will help me get it right next time!) This word shows up a lot in the Old Testament, and according to my study Bible notes, it means "loyal, steadfast, or faithful love and stresses the idea of a belongin...

Restores My Soul Update: Click here to read another blog post about this painting. Today we celebrate my daughter's birthday! Woo-hoo! I am excited to go visit her! (Can you tell by all of the exclamation points?!?)  NLA 24" x 30" Painted with artist quality heavy-body acrylic paint on 1.5” deep gallery wrapped canvas Click here to view on my website.  Restores My Soul has been on my easel for quite a while, and I love the details. I have been working to paint my response to Psalm 23, and I like how this fits the first few verses:  Psalm 23:1 - 3 (ESV)  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.      He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.      He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness     for his name's sake. There is so much more I want to tell you, but it will just have to wait! Time to go and celebrate my daughter!  detail detail detai...

Beloved What a full and crazy week this has been already! It has been very good, but very busy. Somehow or other, September - when I am participating in the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge - is always a little crazy.  SOLD 6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on hand-made, prepared wood panel Ready to frame Click here to view on my website. September is also a very special month to me for other reasons. For one thing, my daughter was born in September, and this weekend, we will be celebrating with her! I am so looking forward to seeing her! Also, September is the month my Dad was born - September 19th as a matter of fact.   Dad died 18 years ago. When he was in the hospital, on the way to a no-big-deal test, he looked up at his nurse and said, "Tell my wife I love her." He did that twice, as we later found out; Dad died during that procedure. None of us ever had the slightest doubt about whether Dad loved Mom, and it is pre...