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Stephen Hello, my name is Stephen,
and I'm a doodle addict.
Bridgeport Pa.

Stephen J. Vattimo was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania in the year 1965, and grew up in a private boarding school, the Pathway School, in Audubon, Pennsylvania. He attended Plymouth White Marsh High School in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, and Central Montgomery Vocational Technical School in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from both schools. While in high school, he was an active member in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol. A year after high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves as a combat engineer. A year and a half into his enlistment, he transferred to the U.S. Army National Guard, where he became an antitank TOW missile crew man. In 1989, he enlisted in the U.S. Army (regular) as a combat medic. He was one of the nine medics serving an M.L.R.S. Nuclear Covert Tactical Unit in Giessen, Germany. In 1991, he was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, with a field medical clearing company, supporting the First Green Beret and the Twenty-third Ranger Battalion. Stephen made the decision to leave the military to have employment in the civilian world to be able to have more time to pursue his art and poetry. Stephen attended Citadel Bible College from 1986 to 1987. He has been a volunteer summer missionary a couple of times with Overseas Christian Servicemen Center, which is now known as Cadence. Over the years as a civilian, Stephen has worked in the electrical field for fifteen years and telecommunication for two years. He has been creating spiritual art and poetry for twenty years and has been writing spiritual apologetic articles for ten years with the goal to share the hope that is found in coming to faith in Jesus the Christ and the blessed life one can experience in walking with and obediently serving our God.

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I specialize in illustration, painting, pen and ink.


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Stephen's Uploads

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Decision

Size 4' x 5' Painted on canvas Medium acrylic painted 1995 In this illustration i am trying to portray how active the spiritual world is in every day of our lives. How heaven and hell, these two kingdoms are battling it out to win our devotion. Even when A person chooses to become part of God's family, the believer will still have to struggle with the forces of darkness as long as we live in these mortal bodies. The room is suppose to look like it's on fire. This is to represent the destiny of man, spending eternity in the lake of fire, if he refuses to be saved through God plan of salvation. the two people in this paint are the two leader of the two kingdoms. The Devil on the left, Jesus on the right. They are both standing at the door way that will lead to their kingdoms. They are both beckoning the viewer to go through their door. In this painting I want the viewer to understand that spiritual battle take place with every decision we face. When we come to a spit in the road our we going to choose the right road or the wrong road? What ever road you Choose will sooner or later reap the reward. The reward will either be destruction or blessing, the blessed think is we choose I illustrated the devil in a beautiful purple robe with gold sequence , To show He is the king of the fallen angels. Purple in the Bible was worn by king and governors and ruling authorities. The purple hood is to show that Satan is a deceiver. He will take truth and twisted into a lie , kind of the way a person will put poison mix in peanut butter to get rid of an unwanted mouse. Most people don't recognize when the Devil is temping them, because the only view of Him they have is the movie the exorcist. But He is more effective when He appears in the form of a used car salesmen. The gold belt He wears and the golden door way represent His tactics to side tract us with the love of temporal thing such as the love of money , fame, power. If a person gain the whole world yet loose his soul what has he truly gained. Illustrated Jesus dressed in a golden Robe with a golden sash. This represent He is the High priest who offered the sacrifice that appeased the requirement to deliver man from the power of sin, and restore man back to fellowship with God The Father. The door way to heaven is made up of the cross that Jesus gave His life on. If you look at the painting closely you will see holes in Jesus hands and feet. You also can seen on the cross from the blood and the spike marks where Jesus was nailed to the cross. The devils door has endless darkness of Hell , where Jesus' door has endless light of heaven. The rocking chair was designer to represent contemplation. Their are hearts with question marks in side them on the head rest as well the seat. I think of people sitting in their rocking chair when they have a big decision to make. So i think before we make decision, we should thing what will be the fruit down the road. If I plant thistle when it grows up it will hurt me . If i plant wheat, when it grows up it will feed me.

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Her Gift

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.

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They Dropped Their Nets and Left Their Boat to Follow Jesus

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)

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Eternal Fire

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

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Heart and Soul

Title: Heart and Soul Medium: illustration pens on sketch book paper Style: surreal Category: illustration Created: Dec-Jan 2024-2024 Artist: Stephen J. Vattimo Heart and Soul This is preliminary drawing for a painting I am about to begin. The concept for this illustration started as a design for a pumpkin carving contest. I feel the message of the design is so important for people to hear, I decided to make it into a painting. The original design, done in pen and ink. The design only shows the two doors of the entrance to a fortress. It was designed for a live pumpkin carving event in mind. At this type of event, the carver must create their piece of art live on site with spectators watching and asking questions, and there is a time limit. The evolution of the design? I added a wall on each side of the entrance, with matching pillars. Explaining the design of the pillars The triangle top: the triune God. Representing three persons of God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The cross shape opening in the pillars: The cross is the only path to God, to have the debt of sin satisfied. To reconcile humankind back to himself. To be released from being a slave to the Devil. To be a new creation empowered by God Spirit. Explaining the design of the entrance way(gate) The top of the entrance is in the shape of a heart, represents the seat of human passion, ambition, and allegiance. The cultic three petal flower is used to represent God in three persons united. The symbol inside the flower: God’s ministry toward humankind. Crown: Highest authority Cross: God’s loving salvation and restoration plan. The dove: Spiritualty made alive, fellowship with God, empowerment to weather the storm of life, and equip for service to God. Change in the design of the door. In the original design, one door had roses carved on it. The pattern took up the whole door. The other door had a grape vine carved on it. The pattern took up the whole door. I modified the emblem on the doors by making them smaller and simplified, so I could place them inside heart shapes, so the new images would more clearly communicate what they are meant to represent. I also added color to the emblems(color pencil) to make them clear of what they are, because of their size and the ink medium ,they were hard to interpret. Understanding the symbol of the two doors. The door with the rose inside the heart emblem represents a heart whose passions, ambitiousness, allegiance are focused on the cares, worries, and abstaining riches of the world. Only giving God lip service. I chose the rose to represent the heart of spiritual allegiance to the world, because roses are pretty, but you can’t eat them to nourish your body. They also have thorns that can cause injury to the body. So, the parallel point is, just as flower fade and turn to dust, so will the person who chases the thing of the world and has no time for God. For life is very short, we know not which will be our last breath on this side of eternity. But if a person leaves this earth without excepting the gift God offered them which is salvation from penalty of sin and given enteral life through the work that was done on the cross by God’s son. Then that soul will appear before Jesus, and just as they did not know him in their life on earth, He will tell them he knows them not. Into the lake of fire, they will spend eternity. The door with the grape vine in the heart emblem represents a heart whose passions, ambitiousness, allegiance are for God. To know Him intimately, to obey His teachings, to serve his will. I chose the grapevine to represent the heart of spiritual allegiance to God, because grapes are nourishing to the body. Jesus also used a grape vine in one of his parables. He paralleled the spiritual relationship he had with his disciples and the grapevine. He told them just as branches of a vine must depend on the base of the vine to live and bare fruit, so they must abide him to have abundant life. Abiding in Christ is not a religious act. It is outside of religion. It is an intimate relationship. Example: you can belong to a fan club of Paul McCartney and know a lot of things you have heard about him, but he doesn’t even know you exist. Where, if Paul is your father, and you have a good parent to child relationship, then you know him intimately. So, abiding in God, we commune with him through read his word and living by its teachings. It is spending time in prayer. Sharing our hearts with God and spending time listing to him. Trusting in him as our provider and giving thanks for his provision. Living our lives, with the purpose of pleasing him with the work of our hand and loving our neighbors in the workplace as well as in the community. Just as a healthy grapevine continues to grow and produce much fruit. Having an imitate relationship with God should be more and more evident in the way we live our lives. So, when the angel of death pays you an unexpected visit, he escorts you to Jesus’s throne, you know for certain he going to welcome you with loving arms and said welcome home my faithful servant. Now to which door I chose for my life? It’s the one that is open. This bible verse one of a couple that inspired me to design this illustration. 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 King James Version 12 Now if any man builds upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. This verse is not referring to the rebellious people who have rejected God, this is referring to people who are children of God, who failed to serve God faithful. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo. 3 Jan 2024 .

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Salvation in a Storm

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)

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In the Beginning There Were Three

I painted this illustration to publicly proclaim the biblical account of a six (literal) days creation by the Holy Trinity to be the true account of the origin of all things that have been, are now, and will exist. I believe the evolution theories have many holes in them and lack sound evidence to declare evolution as the true account of the origin of all matter. I believe schools should teach both theories, and let the student decide which is truth for themselves. The three figures of light that are holding the hourglass represent the Trinity—the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit—Who together created all things. The background of the painting is supposed to illustrate that the Trinity created all things from nothing. The hourglass is supposed to appear to be made of pure gold, representing a creation without corruption and decay, which would later be part of the curse the creation would be subjected to because of man’s sin. The top and bottom bases of the hourglass have the icon of the moon and sun six times to represent the six days of creation. The six spheres floating inside the hourglass represent the six (literal) days and what was created on each day. The first day, God separated the darkness from the light. This sphere is placed at the bottom of the hourglass because sand in an hourglass always flows down. The second day, God separated the sky from the sea. This is represented in the sphere located at the bottom right of the hourglass. The third day, God separated the land from the waters, represented in the top half of the sphere. The bottom part represents the plant life that was created on the same day. The fourth day, God created outer space: every star and planet. God mentions the sun was created to light the earth by day and the moon to light the earth by night. This is represented in the sphere located at the top middle of the hourglass. 1514 The fifth day, God created the creatures of the air and the creatures of the water. This is represented in the sphere located in the top right of the hourglass. The sixth day, God created both the land creatures and man. This sphere is located in the top left of the hourglass. (October 28, 2017)

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God Provides

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)

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Heal Our Land

Ink on sketchbook paper subject: illustration for the national paper Size :11" x 14" Date: 10/20/2017 Artist: Stephen J. Vattimo This ink illustration was created for a pumpkin design for a carving contest. The hands grasped tightly in prayer. The national flag in tatters, representing all the trials and tribulation the nation is going through, The compass represents seeking direction. The who illustration making the statement, The need for a nation to look to God for direction, and healing of our land. God made a promise to the nation Of Israel, which I believe is offered to any nation. 2 Chronicles 7:14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo

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God Provides

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

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Terror and Peace

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)

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Support Is on The Way

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

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The Meeting Bell

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.

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2018 Great Pumpkin Carve at the Chads Ford

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.

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The Truth, Life, and Way

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

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Unexpected Visitor

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

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Fed by a Miracle of Compassion

Fed by a Miracle of Compassion Medium: Acrylic on canvas Size: 11”x14” Year: 2019 Artist: Stephen J. Vattimo Matthew 14:13-21 New American Standard Bible (NASB) Five Thousand Fed 13 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the [a]people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 When He went [b]ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already [c]late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” 17 They *said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18 And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Ordering the [d]people to [e]sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, 20 and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. 21 There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children. This illustration is part of a mural about the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. The mural consists 9 images that depict the Miracles of Compassion Christ worked that are recorded in the Bible and He continues to perform in the world today. Understanding the symbolism in the painting. The basket of to fish and bread sits in the grass; Jesus had instructed His disciples to have the people sit down in the grass. Dead grass: the event took place in a desolate place. Historical and cultural illustration. Basket design: In the first century in the middle east people traveled on foot and when on a long journey they carried food with them. The common lunch pal during this time period was most likely a small wicker style basket with a removable lid, and a leather strap attached to it. So, a person can sling it across their shoulder for comfortable transportation. The basket would most likely be lined with a cloth wrap around the food to protect it from dust and bugs. The fish and bread: In John 6:1-15 which mentions the same event, tell us the 2 fish and five loaves of bread belong to boy, so most likely his meal was that of a poor person. The common fish that was eaten by the poor in this region and time period, were sardines. The five loaves of bread: Were most likely a type of flat bread which is commonly consumed by middle eastern people. The Bible verse that best communicates the message of this illustration is: Matthew 6:25-33 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Cure for Anxiety 25 “For this reason I say to you, [n]do not be worried about your [o]life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the [p]air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single [q]hour to his [r]life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But [s]seek first [t]His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be [u]added to you. Written by Stephen J. Vattimo 3/25/2019

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