Stephen's Uploads

The Count, Is a vampire character who like to count things. He is a character who is from the children's show, sesame street. I caved this pumpkin for a Trunker Treat event put on at the King of Prussia mall around Halloween time. This pumpkin was carved in one sitting. Took about 9 hours to carve. I have been involved in compactional pumpkin carving for 17 years. Never won yet.

This is a 3D pumpkin I carved at The Phoenixville Pa. Pumpkin Festival,for the experts carver's completion. This was my first time using the clay sculpting tool to carve with. I used the wood carving tool method for about eight years. The use of the clay tool give the carver more control to be able to do more detail . the wood carving method is chiseling away the pumpkin flesh where the clay sculpting tools method you scrape way the flesh. This the second pumpkin carving contest I have participated in in less then 5 day apart. Now that I have found a method and tools that work far better than my old ones, less see if my pumpkin carving skills can catch up to my artistic skills. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo Oct 24,2015

This is my study of the destroyed Darth Vader mask.from the movie Star Wars, "The Force Awakens. This ink rendering was my design for the pumpkin carving contest held every year at The Chadds Ford Pa Historical Society headquarter. I chose to do this mask because it illustrates what is the ultimate destination for all who chose to live in the darkness of sin,in stead of living in the the light of righteousness. The mask belong to the villain Darth Vader , who die while trying to force his son to join the dark side of the force. So I thought the destroyed mask over the letters "The Dark Side Of The Force." reflect the Biblical principle " Sin gives birth to death." Written by Stephen J.Vattimo Oct 24,2016

This pen-and-ink illustration was done for the cover of a church statement of faith. I named this illustration Foundation of America because I believe this country was founded by Christians who had strong faith in the God of the Bible, and through faith, prayer, and sacrifice, the patriots overcame the mighty British military. By the hand of God, a new nation was born: the United States of America. When the United States was filled with God-fearing people, God raised the country to be a super power, and the world envied the United States and flocked to her shores, the land of freedom and opportunity. Now this country has forgotten the God who gave birth to her and now is setting up new idols to worship: idols of wood, stone, metals that do not hear or see or care. Because the United States has forgotten God, it has been plagued with storms, tornadoes, floods, droughts and her enemies are waging war with her, waiting to celebrate her fall. It is my hope and prayer that people who love this country will return to honoring God and return to giving Him thanks for all the great works He has done for this nation and turn from our sins and follow God by obeying His Word: the Holy Bible. That God will remove His hand of judgment and His blessing may return to our country. This church was fist built in 1890 and is still being used as a church. It is in Norristown, Pennsylvania. This was the first Bible-believing church I attended when I became a Christian. (October 28, 2017)

The Edge of Night We are living in the days on the edge of night You can see the darkness swallowing up the light As the world of man accepts wrong for right Time is short, and it is foolish to waste it By debating with skeptics that faith in God is intellectually bright We are living in the days on the edge of night The enemy’s delusion is thick So, walk by faith and not by sight Don’t lie around sunbathing in the light We must pick up the banner of Christ And work as long as there is light! (January 23, 1994)

Keep Your Eyes on the Lamp Bearer. Don’t walk around aimlessly. Don’t leave your armor on your bed chamber’s floor. Keep your eyes and ears focused on Jesus. He is the lamp bearer, who illuminates the path you should travel. Don’t walk around aimlessly! Don’t leave your armor on your bedchamber’s floor. Specters are crouched in the shadows of the thicket that line your path. They plot to ambush you as soon as you wander aimlessly into the thicket. Keep your eyes and ears focused on Jesus. He is the lamp bearer, who illuminates the path you should travel. If you have walked into a fog and lost your focus, If you have walked aimlessly into the shadows the thicket If you find yourself in the clutches of the specters of the dark Don’t be anxious. Don’t lose hope. Humble yourself and call out to your commander. He will send in his angelic army to retrieve you To restore you back to the ranks of His army Don’t walk around aimlessly. Don’t leave your armor on your bedchamber’s floor! Keep your eyes and ears focused on Jesus. He is the lamp bearer, who illuminates the path you should travel. (December 3, 2016)

God Provides Mural: acrylic paint on Stretched canvas. Size: H 30 “x 40” w 1” D In this mural I seek to illustrate How God through Jesus provide for the spiritual needs of humans. The first century fishing boat with its nets stretch out to dry on the shore, Jesus calls us to leave our old live behind and join Him on a new adventure. Just as he calls his disciples to leave their lives of fishing and join Him in bring people back to God. The illustration of a boy lunch in a desolate place, we are reminded that God know our physical as well spiritual needs. If we seek to put him first in our lives, He will take care of the rest. Jesus and Peter walking on the rage ocean, God call us to weather many great storms, to be able to participate in rescuing of the spiritually drawing. We always need to be reminded to keep our eye on Christ unless we become filled with fear and we become overwhelmed by our hostel environment and being to sink. Jesus on the cross, God knowing no sin, sent His son to be a sacrifice, the innocent trading place with a vile criminal to face a horrible death on the cross. We can all identify with Barabbas, for because of our sinful words and deeds, we ourselves are criminals before a Holy God. If we identify with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection from the dead, for the payment of our transgression. This is the only way to be forgiven and washed clean of our sinful past. We have been given the holy spirit to enable us to turn from sin and walk in the newness of life through His word and spirit. The rock with ALPA and OMEGA and Irish flower carved in it: represent Our eternal God who existed in the eternal past and will exist in the enteral future. The rock with dove facing down, represent the coming of Holy Spirit who Jesus sent, after He went back to Heaven. He came to teach us all truth about spiritual things, about God, to give us understand of His words, and to strength our bodies, minds, spirits to enable us to do the will of God. The rock with fish symbol: Represents the sign first century Christian would draw on the ground to test a person to find out if they were a true follower of Christ or if they were a spy, trying to expose were the Christians met for church. So, the Roman could arrest and kill Christians. How the test was administered: The initiator would drawl half the body of the fish in the grown, then the person being evaluated, if they were a Christian would know to draw the second half of the fish. Written By Stephen J. Vattimo 1/18/2023

The Truth, Life, and Way Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas Size: 10 “x 20” Year: 2021-2022 This illustration is final illustration, of nine, of a mural about the life of Christ. In this painting I attempt to communicate to the viewer who Jesus is to the Christian. He is the truth; Jesus is the word of God that put-on Flesh. Jesuses’ life fulfills all prophecies that were made about God’s Deliver. Though, Jesus was human, He was also totally Devine. God put on flesh with out the nature of sin, by being born through virgin conception. Since the fall of humankind at the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which took place in the garden of Eden. The sin nature is past down through the generations of humankind through the male. Jesus on our behave, taught humanity the requirements needed to reunite with God, and how to live life in a new and better way. The savior then traded places with a criminal to hang on a cross. The guiltless, paying the penalty of the guilty. For a sinner cannot offer an acceptable payment to a holy God to set them free from facing the wrath of God’s upon their sin. They can only be for given for their sins by coming to God through the savior He has provider for them The resurrection After God had poured out his wrath upon the savior’s body, Jesus was dead and buried in a tomb for three days. God raised him back to life, showing that the sacrifice was excepted. Jesus is the first fruit, so that whoever places their faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, they to shall raise from the dead unto enteral life. Jesus is the life As believer walk in their new relationship with God, they will face many challenging times. For the Devil and his coworkers are unhappy with your newfound relationship with God. They will wage war with you, but be of good cheerer, Jesus has overcome them for us. Jesus promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. He will be with us to the end of the age. I painted Jesus and the believers with their back to the empty tomb. This is to emphasize the price that was paid to set us free from the chains of the power of sin. Jesus standing alongside the believer with the direction finger, as He guides Him along the way he should go. What I was trying to capture. In read the account of the first people going to the tomb where Jesus was buried, it describes the woman getting there before the sun came up. I was trying to capture that time of day in my illustration. Every dawning of a new day is a change follow Christ, better than we did yesterday. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo 11/20/2022

Dear Friends , The Great Pumpkin Carve sponsored by the Chad Ford Historical Society is going to be held on the Thursday 18 October 2018 . Live carving is Thursday night, starting at 300PM. There is usually about 70-100 carvers, the creations of these artists are on display in a maze like setting. Other attraction are a hay ride , haunted forest display, food causations venders, live music. The event is Thursday night to Saturday night. The Great Pumpkin Carve Chadds Ford Historical Society P.O. Box 27, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 610-388-7376 ~ www.chaddsfordhistory.org I have been carving at this event since 2007. I almost did not participate last year because I was unemployed, and could not afford the entrance fee of $25, but The watercolor artist Andy Smith paid my entrance fee. and my sister paid my gas. Well I am unemployed again, not sure I will have the funds to enter this year. Pray the Good Lord will open the financial door that I will get the money to pay the coast to enter this year. Below are some of the Pumpkins I have carved in the past.

Unexpected Visitor This color sketch was done for a pumpkin carving design I did for the Chadds Ford Historical Society Great Pumpkin Carving contest. The sketch is a a lot more impressive then what you can see here ,unfortunately when the picture was scanned ,The Kinkos sale person chopped half of the image that shows the hands, one point at you, and the other holding the sickle,and the flowing rope hanging off the Grim Reaper's arms. I spent a couple of week just studying skeleton to do this sketch. I was Inspire to do this design by the thought that came across my mine about death. We are like helpless babies playing Peek A Boo when it come to our knowledge of the time death will drop by to pick us off. Some people who are terminally ill and are told by the doctor they have only a couple of days to live,must feel like the Grim Reaper is sitting right in front of them with his face hidden behind his hands, and when you lest expected he opens his hand like to great door turning on their hinges to open up to reveal him sticks his face in their's and shrieking ,"Peek A Boo," and followed by a hideous laugh . Stephen J.Vattimo July 19, 2012

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.

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

This painting illustrates a man who finds safety from drowning in a stormy sea by climbing on to a platform in shape of a cross. The storm itself represents the trial we face in life. The shipwrecked person shows that we have nothing we can approach God with that would sway Him to help us when we call on Him for help. Only out of grace and mercy does He rescue us. The platform in the shape of the cross represents that God has provided a way for man to escape punishment for his sins, which would have been casting him into the lake of fire after death. Through God’s love and mercy, He punished Jesus for man’s sin; the guiltless Son of God was punished so that the guilty sinful humans could be saved through faith. The step represents man’s need to come to God humbly through Jesus to receive anything from God. The light breaking through the clouds represents God hearing the man’s prayer and answering it. (October 28, 2017)

Jesus And Peter On The Water Medium: Pen And Ink On sketch Book Paper Size: 12" X 18" Date Completed: 9/ 22/15 This study is for an upcoming paint about the life of Christ. The drawling it's self took about two week time of working on it off and on. The research stage took about two months. This study is attempt to capture spirit of being out on the water walking with Jesus during a storm on the sea of Galilee. I hope the viewer can feel Peter anxiety as he is sinking in to the lake as fierce storm drain peter faith in his ability to walk on water through the ability the lord gave him. I wanted to show how compassionate Jesus is to quickly crouch down to rescue peter from drawing and get him back to the safety of the boat with the rest of the disciples, which is outside of the illustration.. Some people feel that i should have Jesus feet visible above the water,so people don't get the notion that Jesus is sinking in the water too. But if I do that it would alter what it would really look like in the natural world ,because even if Jesus's feet were on top of the water this might not be visible to the viewer because the waves in front of Jesus might block the view of his feet. This illustration make think about the time we have all tried to do a task that the lord has call us to, but we have tried to accomplish the task depending on our own strength in stead of the strength of the holy Spirit. Then we Find our self sinking instead of making head way and we have to call on the Lord to rescue us and put us back on the right track. Written By Stephen J. Vattimo Sept 22,2015

Medium : Pen and Ink on Bristol Board Size : 11" x 15" Year completed : 1987 This rendering is part of a collection of illustrations entitled " The Army Years." This rendering remind me of a ride I took on A Army National Guard helicopter,while I was serving in the Air Force- Civil Air Patrol. We were helping them to figure out the safest, and fastest, flight paths between hospitals, for when a patient needs to be air lifted from one hospital to another. I got to rider in one of the sides compartments of the craft, with the side door open ( of course I was strapped in to my seat ) the craft at one point flew with my side parole to the grown, as it made a couple of sharp turn, real fun ride. I served in the Civil Air Patrol for 4 year, one of the benefits, was a lot of flying time. I Severed in the United States Army fore 9 years, 4 years National Guard, and 4 years Regular Army. While in the military , I was a anti tank toe missile crewman, Combat Engineer , and a Field Medic. I served during The Panama War, Desert Shield/ Desert Storm, Police action in Somalia. This picture is entitled " Support Is on The Way." because any field soldier know that helicopter are the main transport vehicle for delivering, supplies, mail, equipment, moving troops back and forth, from the rear to the battlefield. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo

This painting started out as a pumpkin design for the Chads Ford, Pennsylvania, Historical Society’s Great Pumpkin Carve, which I have been participating in for the last eleven years. What inspired me to turn the design into a lasting painting was the message, made the design so relevant. It seems the message, which echoes louder and louder as each day passes; the force of heaven and hell are coming out of the dark and into the daylight. The dove in the painting has always been used in mankind’s history to represent hope, peace, and the symbol of the Holy Spirit. The sun in the Bible is called the greater light that governs the day. So, I used dove and the sun to represent the spiritual force of the heavenly kingdom that is seen and unseen in our world. The bat is known as a creature of the night, thought to be a foul creature that people fear. The moon in the Bible is called the lesser light, which was created to govern the night, to give light on to the earth at night. Nighttime is mentioned in the Bible as when men do their evil deeds. Before man invented methods to light the street and people’s homes, people limited their activity at night due to the absence of light. People with superstitious beliefs believe that demonic creature dwelt in the shadow and would attack them if they stepped out of the light. Another historical fact is that bandits would hide in the dark and rob night travelers. People also worked while it was daylight, then would party, get drunk, and sleep around at night. The Bible mentions that those who reject God’s Messiah do not come into the light because their deeds are evil, and they don’t want them to be exposed. So I chose to use the bat and the moon to symbolize the dark evil kingdom of the fallen angels. 168 The reason why the two creatures converge in the middle is because mankind is the centerpiece that both sides are contesting for. Man kind, in the beginning, was created as a holy creation. But just as Satan decided he was going to exalt himself above His Creator, he went to the rest of the angels to get them to join his army to dethrone God. When Satan and his army lost the battle for the heavenly kingdom, He turned his eyes to conquering the earthly realm by tempting mankind, who God had gifted the deed of the earth to. The devil possesses a snake to hold a conversation with man to deceive them into distrusting God and leading them to disobey the commandment from God not to eat from The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is how man became the middle battleground. God’s force is battling to restore mankind back to fellowship with God and regain their citizenship in God’s eternal kingdom. Satan and his army of fallen angels work on deceiving, afflicting, and destroying mankind in hope of taking as many as his army can drag to the eternal lake of fire, where God will throw everyone who has denounced Him as their God and king. (Sept 18, 2016) See Less

This is a pumpkin caving of the infamous Nautilus submarine, owned by the pirate captain Nemo . Who sunk ship that supported war, ramming them with his submarine. In this tale Nemo's ship gets attacked by a monstrous giant squid. I caved this design at the Chadds Ford Historical Society's Great Pumpkin Carve contest and event. This is a live carve event. Artist have no idea what kind of pumpkin they will be given to carve. No knowledge of shape, color, size, or condition. Competitors must create their design with manual hand tools. Cavers have 6 hours to create their master pieces, to be considered to qualify to be judged ,to compete for the prize . The size of the average pumpkin is from 200 to 400 pounds , and their wall are about 5 inched thick. It took me 6 hours to carve my pumpkin design. Stephen J. Vattimo 10/18/2021

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.

This is a painting of a first century Galilean fishing boat, most likely the very type of boat used by Peter when he was called by Jesus to follow him. This illustration is part of a bigger mural I am working on, about the ministry of Jesus the Christ. If you notice, the boat is beached facing backward, with the fishing net coming from the back of the boat. This is to signify that Peter, like all the other apostles, except Matthew the tax collector, dropped their fishing occupation and followed Jesus, Who would make them the fishermen of men’s souls. Here is a truth about me as an artist. Two parts of this painting gave me trouble in carrying out this illustration. The fist was illustrating the ropes of the rigging. My first attempt was horrendous it took me a second try to get it right. I had to look up pictures of ropes on the Internet to overcome this challenge. The second was illustrating the rocks on the bottom of the Sea of Galilee and the reflections of the boat on the water. I must have made about five attempts until it finally clicked. Even when I kept looking at the reflections of boats on water, I could not make the breakthrough. In creating the kind of art that I do, it is very rare to find a model that meets all my requirement for what I am illustrating. So, it takes photos and imagination and the grace of God to create an illustration that looks better than a stick figure and communicates the message intended. So, I figure God has me go through these challenges to keep me humble because, without humility, God is not able to use our talents for His glory. (October 12, 2017)

The Soul Harvest The Soul Harvest is done in a surrealistic style and is spiritual in content. This painting illustrates the world as being a field filled with souls from every corner of the earth needing to be saved from eternal death, which is the punishment for sin. But by hearing and understanding and receiving the good news, through faith in Jesus’s death for the sin of man, man can be forgiven and have eternal life with God. The farm tools leaning against the fence are an invitation to those who know Jesus to pick up their God-given talents and go into the world and use them to spread the good news. The inside of the barn, with the wheat sheaths standing up, illustrates the souls that have received eternal life through the work of the believer, and the crown is their reward from God. (October 28, 2017) The Soul Harvest is done in a surrealistic style and is spiritual in content. This painting illustrates the world as being a field filled with souls from every corner of the earth needing to be saved from eternal death, which is the punishment for sin. But by hearing and understanding and receiving the good news, through faith in Jesus’s death for the sin of man, man can be forgiven and have eternal life with God. The farm tools leaning against the fence are an invitation to those who know Jesus to pick up their God-given talents and go into the world and use them to spread the good news. The inside of the barn, with the wheat sheaths standing up, illustrates the souls that have received eternal life through the work of the believer, and the crown is their reward from God. (October 28, 2017)

Humble Thy Self In The Sight Of The Lord This Pen And Ink was rendered from a image Of the painting entitled," The Prayer At Valley Forge" by artist Arnold Fryberg. I drew this rendering from my computer screen. It took a couple of hour to draw. I carved this image on a pumpkin at the annual Chadds Ford Historical Society Great Pumpkin Carve. So this rendering was done as a guide not a finished piece . As you look over this picture you will notice the ink ran in a few places, that is be cause it was raining while I was carving the pumpkin. Even though I had clear plastic laid over the picture, rain still got it wet. It seem like almost ever time I took part in this event it has rained . The reason I chose to carve this image is be cause the battle of the Brandywine was fought around the town of Chadds Ford, and because George Washington was a renown Christian man of Prayer. Just as the thirteen colony were freighting their way through hell to gain their independence from England, I feel our nation is going through Hell to maintain the principle the founding fathers had laid as the foundation of this country. Our country is in trouble and no political party can save this nation, only The American People who humble themselves before God, repent of their rebellious ways against God, and pray for His forgiveness, and seek Him to guild our nation out of the dark,and back into the light. Then will our nation be able to receive blessings from the hand of God. Stephen J. Vattimo July 16, 2012 See Less