A Lifetime Of Art
WARSAW — Brenda Stichter, 52, from Warsaw is 2016 Hoosier Woman Artist of the Year Artist. While one of her pieces is hung in the state house this year, many others decorate her modest home. From large to small, they cover every inch of her life. Some of the artwork is bold and overflowing while some are soft and simplistic. She looks to her family and to God for her inspiration and motivation, not just in art but in life.
Stichter grew up in a religious home where her mother taught other children about God. While Stichter has always stayed true to her beliefs, she fell more in love with God when she became a newlywed.
“I began to understand how his direction and his words actually made sense for my daily choices. By reading his word I knew how to raise my kids and how to be a good wife.” Stichter reminisced. She achieved her associates degree in commercial art and Bible from Northwestern College in Minneapolis, St. Paul. After graduating she went to LeTourneau College in Texas. “There I was going to study aeronautical engineering but instead I found my husband, which was way better.”
While commercial art was not what Stichter ultimately ended up doing, it taught her the great principles of design, composition and value. Becoming an abstract artist was another ordeal. Stichter had two friends who were decorating their new house, both being as opposite as lace is to leather.
“They asked me if they could hire me to do an abstract painting for their house, which I had never done before. They gave me a size, the colors they wanted and said do an abstract painting,” Stichter chuckled. “I had no idea what I was doing. So I started studying and took some pictures over and asked them what kind of abstract art they liked. I painted for them and it turned out really well. They loved it. I loved it.”
I really loved how I could use abstraction at that point to express ideas that are very difficult for me to express using realism. So that’s what made me start thinking I could pursue it a little bit harder.” Stichter described. Within her creations Stichter uses the cruciform composition to represent her devotional relationship to God, creating cross-like structures in her work. While much of her work is structured, not all paintings start out that way. Stichter described how her personal inner turmoil recently appeared on a canvas, expressing frustration and scattered focus she was experiencing. When she approached the canvas again, she had a more outlined idea of what she wanted the image to be.
“Finally being able to pursue art that has always been an interest, with the blessing of my husband and my kids, and being able to do it full time in response to what God does in my life is one of my most satisfying times in my life.” Stichter shared. “It’s incredible that at my age, I get to be able to do what I want. It’s amazing. There aren’t very many people who have that opportunity.”