BIOGRAPHY

Stephen Sawyer was born in Paris, Kentucky in 1952.

As early as Kindergarten Stephen was recognized for his art skills.

He has been involved as a volunteer artist throughout his school years including college.

After pursuing Architecture, Math, Anthropology, and Psychology in college Stephen graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1975.

It was also in 1975 when Stephen felt powerfully compelled to volunteer once more to become the artist who would portray Jesus through a new paradigm. Stephen would be the first artist to focus entirely upon the life and teachings of Jesus and do so by allowing a contemporary vision of the ongoing living presence of Jesus as He is in our midst.

It was and still is, in honor of Jesus' perfect life of service to God and His fellow men and women, that Stephen fully began to share the same faith in God and people, particularly in life's most difficult situations. Thus began Stephen's devoted life of service to others with his art.

He speaks and shares around the world the value in "Tithing your Talents".

Some of the places where Stephen has shared his testimony include England, Germany, Israel, China, France, Czechia, Canada and many places throughout the United States. He is scheduled to visit India, Denmark, and Italy in 2009.

His work has been featured on the full front page of the New York Times as well as a full segment on the TODAY Show. All told over four hundred newspapers and magazines around the world have written stories about Stephen and shown his work. There have been over one hundred interviews with radio and television shows about the transformational effect Stephen's artwork has on men and women around the globe.

Over a dozen of the ART for GOD originals were displayed in a museum in New York City for six months.

Stephen and his wife, Cindy, have the original ART for GOD Gallery and Studio in Versailles, Kentucky and an ART for GOD Gallery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. There are dozens of stores that carry the ART for GOD images.

Many lives have been enriched and enhanced by the work that Stephen has done to help facilitate the unsearchable gifts that have been bestowed upon mankind through the gracious ministries of our Heavenly Father.


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"I do pretend to understand when I don’t pretend to serve."

This is my funny way of saying that I deliberately serve others without understanding who, how many, and where people will ultimately be effected by that service.

I also gladly admit that there are times when I get so involved with my part that I think I understand things and even indicate to others that I understand things when I later discover, usually in private moments of silence, that I didn't have a clue.

None of us can truly know with our five senses the ramifications of our service to others.
Knowing what's in store for us and how well we did should not be our concern. Our motivation to serve others with a glad heart, in the deliberate "second mile of service" should be service for its own sake. God serves and loves us. That is why the official trademarked slogan of ART for GOD is;
"Serve God by Loving Man, Serve Man by Loving God".


I would like to share "first person" about me and my work. After that you can read the other stuff that was written about me. In my fifty plus years I have learned that the most important thing I can do is serve others with a glad heart.
Within that one task is the greatest commandment of all to me.
When Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment, that you love others as I have loved you."
Jesus served and continues to serve us with a glad heart. That act of "doing" glorified the Father that dwelt within him. Yes, we can be saved by grace but Jesus said, "Do unto others...". "To do" is to act out the reality of love. Why else would God say, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."?
The bedrock of Chrisitianity must oneday become living as our Master bid us. That simple yet supremely difficult command will allow God to grow freely and become inseparable from us.

My work is my singular best attempt to serve you. I am a pretty good painter. Not as good as I would like but I believe that I tell a story fairly well with my paintings.

Not having a Christian arts team to be part of in the early years I struggled to make my way. The ICAC, my International Christian Art Competition is one of the ways in which I hope to serve others by giving them help that I did not receive.

I like to write quite a bit as you can see and the stories that accompany my paintings have been well received by many.

I also enjoy speaking and sharing with others and welcome the opportunity to do so even today, whether it is at a large conference or a small country church.

Perhaps my greatest joy is my family, parents,and friends. I am truly honored and blessed to count them as part of my life. They are as much the reason that ART for GOD exists as is my Heavenly Father. I could not have done it without all of them.

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Stephen Sawyer is internationally known for his "Art for God" series. The reproductions can be found in over 100 countries and in every state of the union. His Christian art has been featured on the front page of the New York Times, appeared in the Wall Street Journal, and been featured in virtually every major city in America. His Christian paintings have been seen on the TODAY Show during a spirited discussion about the changing face of Christ. Stephen has promoted the life and teachings of Jesus with his art in over 400 newspapers and hundreds of radio stations here and abroad.

Stephen's need to visually express the profound nature of Living Faith is the driving momentum and influence behind his work.

Stephen shares his stories and encourages people year round as a Christian speaker. Since 1995 he has traveled and shared his testimony in China, Germany, England, France, Canada, and all over America.

"I understand that seeking and finding God can best be experienced by serving and loving others. The ongoing efforts by many to wait on the Lord yields confusion and stagnant lethargy unless they actively serve others while they are waiting. The attempt to love by practicing forgiveness within the arena of only those who love you is but mere practice and not the real thing."

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There are hundreds of ART for GOD excerpts from the GUESTBOOK entries and comments about my painting CALVARY which are interesting reading by themselves.

"Steve's work has always been a blessing to me. He captures not only the detail, but also the very spirit of what God is saying. You have to go back several times to get the whole message. It's prophecy with a paintbrush, preaching by canvas, divine inspiration through art. The eloquence of his work has always quickened my heart to know God more. I could and have easily preached off the canvas of his work."(Graham Cooke, United Christian Ministries, Southampton, England)

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"Sawyer is pioneering new artistic ground…I think he may well in a few years be recognized as one of THE religious artist of our day." (Jeff James, Director of Ichthus Festival, Wilmore, KY)

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"Our lives have been remarkably changed through his Spirit filled art." (Ira Slade, MD 'In Christ' Mission Clinic)

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Stephen, Jesus is working through you! I've been lost for 20 years now, but resently I took a vacation to Gatlinburg, TN and saw your shop on the TV. Jesus spoke to me through your pictures. Before I thought religion was the root of all wars, prejudice, and bigotry. I stated that I was "over-educated"! But with your work "Calvary"; my heart opened and allow Jesus back in. Now I see signs everywhere from Him! I even started reading the Bible again because of you. Funny how He works. I would have NEVER thought that I would open my heart, mind, and beliefs to Christ again.... but I have; through you. I purchased "Calvary" on canvas to view and help me through this difficult time of restructuring my thoughts and beliefs. I hope that I can hear you speak in person one day. I think you really know Jesus Christ the way that he was; a Savior for the sinner. You've definately have changed my life - and all for the better!!!! I now have Jesus Christ in my life, which before... I never thought I would. Yours truly, Jef in SC

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Kelli from Arizona
I came across this piece today, and the tears streamed down my face unbidden, and overwhelmed me. My son is 6 months clean from heroin, just days ago. He is 20, back to looking like my beautiful child, in community college and working at a restaurant. It's been a long 4 years. I never gave up, never gave in, and never stopping crying out to the heavens for help. My 17 year old went into a behavioral hospital 2 days ago. He has been diagnosed with a Mood Disorder, and had just begun to dabble in cocaine. I'm still digging in my heels, and my older son is now helping with his brother. He has become a blessing, truly. There is always hope, through all the pain. I think Mother Teresa kind of summed it up though. \"I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much. Excellent art Stephen, evoking so very much emotion...

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Michelle from Indiana
I can't even find words to express how this image has affected me. I'm glad to see God's faithfulness once again...it appears that He has \"worked all things for good\" for you. Thanks for being faithful in sharing it! I'd be blessed if you would allow me to post this image on myspace. Without putting anyone on \"front street\", I'm sure that many of my friends would be moved by it. Possibly even saved? Thank You and God bless!

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-from Peter - ( 2003-12-14 22:07:07 ) In my part of the world, we have something known as \"The Shepherd's Guide\". It's like a Christian yellow pages giving listings of all the Christian (born-again) owned businesses in the area. This year's edition featured part of a Stephen S. Sawyer print on the front cover. As soon as I saw it, my heart melted because of the intense presence of the love of God which flowed through that print and I knew I had to purchase one to give to my beloved for Christmas. Meriden | CT | USA

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\"Truly he is a gifted man from God and his anointing is used exactly where God has desired it to be used\" (Linda Chartrand, Publisher of The Planting Seed)

Portrait excerpts:

\"Seeing it for the first time, I was nearly overcome by emotion! Each time I look at it now, I am still moved. I can't express how much this means to us.\"(Thomas Thornbury on commission portrait of daughter, Bennett)

\"Your portraits of my boys have 'lived' with us now for almost six months. They are just beautiful & we enjoy them even more each day. You have truly captured the essence of their spirits as well as reproducing their physical characteristics. I am so happy to have these lovely works of art that are also my children\" (Grace F. on commission portraits of sons)