families

Tabby Cat....commission for vets. He looks very proud of himself this young man! I am lucky enough to get to draw all these wonderful animals for a vet. He provides the families with an A5 portrait print of their pet as part of his VIP club. This means I have all the original A4 drawings which i am happy to sell.

After family dinner - tired or not - a ten minute self portrait is our current family activity. Families who draw together, stay together.

A creature of habit until the end, that's me.

The sequel to “Another Fine Soul Lost To Parenthood”.

It seems like most people I know these days are starting families, so I figured I'd respond in the way I know best...

Customarily, families give their homes a thorough cleaning in the days leading up to Lunar New Year’s Day. Windows are scrubbed, floors are swept, and furniture is dusted in preparation for the new year, sweeping away away the bad luck of the past year. In addition, dusting is avoided on New Year’s Day, for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

Family planning is a basic human right. Couples should have agency when planning their lives and their families. No law, legislation, politician or religious leader can take that away from you. Personal Project, 2022, 9” x 12” Ballpoint Pen on Paper, Digital.

Medium : Pen and ink on Bristol Board Size : 11" x 15 " Year illustration was done : 1987 This rendering of a broken down wagon, is part of a group of Pen and ink illustrations I did for a christian mission , for their pamphlet that was put together to imform the public about their services and ministry to the military members and their families. This mission reaches out to miltary through offering hospitality, Bible studies, holding retreats, and hosting luncheons for church groups. Military soldier who are in training also would come out to the rach to spend the weekend off post, to rest, learn the Bible , get home cooked meals, and enjoy out door recreation. I work as a summer missionary with this mission a couple of summer, helping with up keep of the ranch and helping with conducting the retreats. written by Stephen J. Vattimo

Medium : Pen and Ink size : 11'' x 15'' Bristol Board Date : 1993 This study of a piano was done for a woman who was a missionary with her husband. They served in a Christian ministry that reached out to military personal and their families, through the teaching of the Holy Bible and showing hospitality. They have been missionaries most of their lives. I met them while i was a summer missionary the year I was in college. I went back two more summer to help , and they became my friends. The woman is a gifted piano player, so I was asked if i could do an illustration of her piano for her. This couple have inspired me through their dedication of using their lives to serve God through serving others, that many may know God through the teaching, and living out the Word before others.

The Meeting Bell Medium : Pen and Ink On Bristol Board Size : 11" x 15" Year illustration was completed : 1987 This illustration was part of a collection of pen and ink rendering i did for a christian mission, for their pamphlet that was published to inform the community, surrounding churches, and the military post near by, of the services they offered, and about their ranch. Their main ministry is to the military service personnel and their families. They offer a weekly dinner followed by a Bible study. They offer a place where service personnel could spend the weekend at the ranch for free, with meals included. There would also be activities they could partake in , such as going to concerts, going to amusement parks, visiting national park for picnics and hiking. The ranch holds retreat for military personnel who are in training, who want to learn about the Bible , and enjoy good home cooked food, rest, and out door recreation in the country. This ministry also lends it's facilities too near by churches, and to the military chaplaincy, for luncheons. This ministry is a great work of God, share God's word, and love through hospitality. About the bell. I call this illustration the meeting bell, because it sat right out side the activity center, and when ever a retreat was being held, the bell was use to let the guess know when a meal was being served, or a Bible study was about to begin. If you study the bell you can tell that at one time it must have been housed in some kind of church or fire house, by the big wheel attached to it's side, so it can be rung by a rope. Then when it found it's self at the ranch , they must have had a arm clacker manufactured, To strike the bell to sound.

A lot of Dutch families who live in the centre have a bakfiets or cargo bike to transport everyone around. This is an old one that relies on peddle power but thank god for electric motors now. From my series Bikes of Amsterdam.

Love is in the Air!!!!! To all the couples, friends, families etc! I wish you an amazing Valentine's Day!!!!I desing this postcard for a local Backery in Colombia as part of an great collaboration @Catan1804

World gone to hell Sons duaghters leaving their families homes, dying of a new and namles plague. Where are the gods? And what has become of my hero? I am king, but no more subjects are under my command. A kingdom falls. A new age dawns, the illest omens herald its bitter arrival . God preserve us. We have forasken god, they do not forasake us. This is why we must be stricken with sickness. . . .. … … Weep for me. Weep for all our brothers and sisters. And now every uncreative poet and halfwit bard seeks to make drama of our troubles. We are their muse, their grand epic to tell the children. Fear the virus, dont look away, disturb the dead, praise us for our lies to you. They lead the masses to slay each out of fear. Cry. Yes, cry Cry for your fallen. They will not be returning for you soon. But you are still alive, and for that you shall become stronger. Onward We cannot always bury the dead. Today , time is against us. We move foward, we carry the sorrow, but the ultimate goal is to defeat sorrow. Whatever form this darkess takes, we face it. Unafraid. And unrelenting. Forge on into the night. Not gently and quiet shall be our passing. For, if i am to end, and you likewise, we plant our flag atop the highest hill. We scream our battle cry and let none forget our actions . The very mountains will shake, and echo our last breath. This is my promise. If i shall die, i die as i am now A man. I have decided. So, i die ….. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKXBKF6a2BWVDy_SgMvk8GQ?view_as=subscriber

Following a natural disaster overseas I came across a Facebook fundraiser claiming to send aid directly to families affected by the crisis. The images were heartbreaking: children huddled in temporary shelters, families sifting through rubble and the organizer posted daily updates about their so-called relief work. Feeling a strong urge to help I decided to donate $18,000 in cryptocurrency confident that it would make a real difference for those suffering. The updates initially seemed genuine with detailed descriptions of supplies being purchased and distributed. For a time I felt reassured that my contribution was actually reaching those in need and I thanked myself for trusting a platform where people could supposedly make a difference.However after a few weeks the page suddenly disappeared. Confused and alarmed I tried to track down the organizer but all contact information had vanished. It was then that I discovered the horrifying truth. The photos used in the fundraiser had been stolen from news sites and there had never been any relief operation. I felt an overwhelming sense of betrayal, anger and disbelief. Not only had I been scammed but my trust in online giving something I had always valued was deeply shaken. I began wondering if I would ever see the $18,000 again.Determined to recover the funds I reached out to Salvage Asset Recovery. From the moment I contacted them the team at Salvage Asset Recovery sprang into action conducting a meticulous investigation. Salvage Asset Recovery traced the cryptocurrency wallet I had sent my donation to and discovered that it had received hundreds of similar payments from other unsuspecting donors. Using advanced blockchain analysis tools Salvage Asset Recovery followed the trail as the funds moved through several smaller wallets each designed to obscure the trail. Finally Salvage Asset Recovery located the money on a major exchange confirming that it was still recoverable.Three weeks later to my immense relief Salvage Asset Recovery returned the full $18,000 to me. This was eye-opening on many levels. While it exposed me to the risks of online fundraising scams it also restored my faith in the possibility of justice and recovery when the right expertise is applied. Without Salvage Asset Recovery I would have likely lost faith in online giving entirely forever doubting the legitimacy of charitable campaigns I encountered. Instead I now feel more empowered and cautious knowing that while scams exist Salvage Asset Recovery is capable of untangling even the most sophisticated cryptocurrency fraud and helping victims reclaim what they lost. Whats app→ +18476547096 Telegram→ @Salvageasset

Victory Through Prayer Medium: Water Color Markers on Illustration Board Size 2' x 4' Year completed: 1991 This illustration is part of a collection of artwork I did while in the military entitled, "The Army Years", I served in the Army National Guard for 5 years, and the regular Army for 4 years. One of the main reasons I got out of the military is because I didn't have much time to do my artwork. While I was stationed in Germany I did a few posters, and banners for a German/ American Playhouse, and I was in a European art show. This illustration was done during The Desert Shield / Desert Storm, during this war, many soldiers were afraid that our military equipment would fail to function due to the desert sand. While I was stationed in Germany, I attended a Christian hospitality house, that ministered to military personnel, and their families. I knew and heard of soldiers who died or were wounded in the war, we prayed for God's protection for those we knew were in harm's way. I believe the reason the casualties were low for the collision force is that God gave them a swift victory on the battlefield. No one should think that it was just might, and smart bombs, Iraq had the 4th largest military in the world. The Bible teaches that God causes the rise and the fall of nations. Decoding the symbolism : The " v " with lightning bolt shooting out of it =God giving the collision forces victory over Iraq's military. The large bold eagle with the arrows in its right talon, and with it's left talon open to attack, = the U.S. attacking Iraq. The banner made up of the flag of the collision, tie to the eagle's open talon= The U.S. leading the collision nation in the war against Iraq. The necklace with the cross attached to it, around the eagle's neck = God protect around the U.S. forces, the result of intercessory prayer of Christians. The flag of Iraq illustrated in the shape of the geological area mass of country, being shattered by the lighting = God judging Iraq, by giving the collision power to conquer Iraq and occupy her land. The land mass colored red at the bottom corner of Iraq = the country Kuwait, that Iraq invaded, that was the cause of the war. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo October 12, 2008