Brenda Stichter, artist

Psalm 23 Conversation Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. Today I have been taking art to an actual, real live exhibit! It is the third real life exhibit since March, and it is so nice to see paintings "in the wild" again.  6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame Click here to purchase via my website. I chose to start the Psalm 23 series with a cruciform composition painting in order to express my personal connection with Psalm 23. I was considering how to express the idea of lacking nothing with an abstract composition, and I realized that through the price paid for me by Jesus Christ on the cross, (cruciform indicates a cross shape composition) I am fully cared for by this Great Shepherd. I feel that this is a great way to start the 'conversation' this series offers.  One more painting (and I saved my favorite for last) and then I will share the whole group in a single pictu...

Rod and Staff I am continuing my daily painting project for at least a few more days. I love completing daily paintings, and I might try to continue indefinitely, but I have work to do on some bigger paintings! I think it ought to be possible to do both, don't you? Today's post is a continuation of the Psalm 23 series of paintings. I am excited with this collection of paintings. I have done my group of nine, but I think one or two still need some tweaking before I release the whole group as a finished series. But I am pleased with this one, representing Psalm 23:4b "... Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." 6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame Click here to purchase via my website. I read a little bit from an older book about the rod and staff of a shepherd, and found these tools of the trade are specifically chosen and carved to fit the individual shepherd's hand. They are used for protec...

Surely Goodness and Mercy Well, have you been following me this past week? I spent the last several days with my precious mother and daughter! I was able to work ahead on my daily painting project and had a few of my Psalm 23 painting series ready to post from the road. Today I am home, and am posting my last reserve painting before I go back into my studio to paint. I am so excited to continue this project! Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. This painting was the first that I finished for this Psalm 23 series, (and is painted on wood panel instead of the Art Bite panels that the rest are painted on), and I think it pushed me to continue with the series because I like how it turned out so much. I was surprised at how much I like the colors and the way they work together, and wanted to keep working with them. And as a matter of fact, I think I titled the painting even before I was sure I was g...

I can hardly believe how time has flown while I have been visiting my Mom! In some ways, it feels like I haven't even gotten here yet, and it is already time to go. The weather has been spectacular, the lake and surrounding country is beautiful, and I am thankful for the time I have had with my family.  6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame Click here to purchase via my website. Returning to my series on Psalm 23, I noticed that this composition made me think of safety in the presence of a threat. The large, dark shape seems to overhang the quieter ground. At first, I indicated some sheep at the point of the large purple shape, but I did not like how it worked together with the rest of the painting. Still, I like how the concept from this verse seems to speak for itself in this work. Psalm 23:5a  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: I pray for you and for me that we will be very aware...

Let Me Catch My Breath As an introverted person, there are times when I just want to hide away to restore equilibrium, so to speak. I have often mentioned my time in my chair, reading my Bible and spending time in prayer, and that is my most cherished place for this renewal on a daily basis. But when I travel or life happenings interrupt my normal rhythms, there is a felt need to find that 'place' away from my chair.  6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame Click here to purchase via my website. I have told you recently that I am visiting my dear mother, and my daughter is with me! Each morning, I have been posting from my motel before I walk to see them for the day. This morning is the third morning in this motel, and this routine, and it is beginning to have the feeling of rhythm. I have been able to seek the face of my Father in Heaven, and really, He holds the renewal I need. So though I feel awkward seekin...

He Leads Me Another day of posting from the road brings another in my series of paintings from Psalm 23. This series employs a split complement color scheme in a very limited palette so that all of the individual paintings will work together in a group, and each one will also be able to stand alone. I am using only three colors plus white.  Also, as is frequently the case, the color changes dramatically in different lighting (not to mention on different screens! The differences between my phone and computer screens are striking!) 6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame Click here to purchase via my website. Psalm 23:3  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness     for his name's sake. I have been working to choose specific compositions for each work, with no two in the series being the same. Today's composition choice (as I hope is obvious) is a vertical composition. I am also doing "lands...

Beside Quiet Waters This week my FAVORITE daughter and I have driven to visit my dear mom. I also have some paintings with me here...  4 paintings with me 3 here on approval 2 different potential venues for the paintings  1 already sold Kinda fun.  Today I am releasing the second of a series I started last week on Psalm 23. It was my Beloved Husband's idea again. He always has great ideas for my series. (I did work ahead last week so that I would be able to continue posting from the road this week. I hope to also do some fresh work while I am here, but at least I have some to share with you!) 6" x 6" Painted with the finest quality acrylic heavy-body paint on Art Bite panel Ready to frame Click here to purchase via my website. Today's blog will be short, but I hope to tell you more about this series as I go. For now, here is the verse I worked from: Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.