a community jammin' for JESUS
David Costello - Artist Inspired by God
Artist David Costello lives in Lexington, Massachusetts, with his wife Jeanne and their three daughters. He has lived and traveled abroad extensively. During the early 1970s David lived in France and Italy, where he exhibited his work in various European countries, winning a number of international and regional awards.
Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Costello continued to show his work in many areas of the country. In 1980, he accepted a position as illustrator at the Lowell Sun, a daily newspaper in New England, where he rose to the position of Graphics Editor before establishing his own successful graphic design business, located in Lexington, Massachusetts. In addition to working with the local community, DC Graphics also sold original T-shirt designs to various national catalogs, Macy's of New York, and many boutiques in the Northeast.
Both David and his wife Jeanne, are born again, spirit-filled Christians. In 1994, prompted by the Lord, David closed the doors on his business and dedicated his time to searching God's word and His will. In the fall of 1995, the Lord invaded David's artwork bringing about a considerable transformation. The intensity of his worship has led David to experience the genuine and majestic presence of God, leading him to a true closeness with Jesus Christ. As a result, dreams and visions have manifested in his life, inspiring every drawing. Mr. Costello regards his work as worship: "God has His plan, my only desire is to be part of it. I pray that He continues to bless me with visions and the ability to put them on paper." May His name be exalted!
Breath of Life
Pastel
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. (Genesis 2:7)
I believe that the beginnings of this work were birthed in me as I was working on the picture entitled "Intercession". While working on that piece, and until the time I started work on "Breath of Life", the Lord kept speaking into my spirit the words, formed from dust.
Eventually, after seeking visual direction from the Lord about this, He showed me this vision. What I hope this picture conveys, along with the beauty of the moment, is that it was just that - a moment. Man's creation happened in an instant, the instant God breathed life into him. Along with His breath, God's likeness and His attributes were imparted to man. It was a moment filled with peace, beauty and love. Hence the creation of a spiritual being, capable of giving love in return.
Be Still
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
There are times when all God wants us to do is rest. To stop all the doing, and simply start being. A time to consider His creation without seeking anything from Him.
It was after such a period that I did this picture. The majority of my work requires a lot of concentration and effort on my part, and I often feel drained physically when the work is completed. This was not the case for this picture. The work was easy and there was a real joy in doing it. Through this picture I hope to convey the magnitude and the majesty of God's creation along with man's inexorable connection with it.
Abram's Sky
Pastel
Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
For a long time I have wondered what that particular night sky might have looked like to Abram. When I look at the stars in the sky at night my thoughts are of Abram and what he must have seen so long ago. I'm quite certain that what he saw was not our average starry night, but rather a display so dazzling and overwhelming it would forever change his perspectives, alter his view of reality and strengthen his faith. Initially I dismissed any thoughts of ever creating any artwork that might represent what Abram saw. I work primarily with pastels and their properties lend themselves to smooth blends. I just couldn't see any way to create the effect I needed. While resting in His presence one evening the Lord spoke to me of a most remarkable way of creating the effect you see here—the stars literally fell from above to settle on the paper.
Born of the Spirit
Pastel
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit. (John 3:8)
The above passage of scripture (which is on the print, under the title), has long been a favorite of mine. Whenever I heard or read this my spirit would leap within me, but the visual interpretation would not follow. The Lord just downloaded this image to my spirit recently during a class entitled "Hearing God's Voice." This passage from the book of John was not being discussed, but my spirit had been preoccupied for weeks with the Wind of the Spirit. I believe the Lord was pleased that I never attempted to do this picture without His leading, although my desire was strong to just set out in my own strength. Looking back now I realize that it was 10 years ago that this image first captured my heart.
While working on this piece the Lord blessed me in a most remarkable way. I was working intently on the figure at the base of the picture, when I heard His voice prompting me to go look out the window of my studio. This was a major distraction for me at the time seeing how intent I was on the details of the figure. I resisted for some minutes until I could ignore it no longer. I stood at the window gazing into a perfectly cloudless sky, when suddenly a small cloud consisting of every color in the rainbow, formed right in front of me. I reached for a pair of binoculars to study it further, when just as suddenly it dissipated into thin air. I returned to my work and I heard the Lord's voice say "Thought you'd like that...." The whole exercise lasted about 60 seconds, but it was a moment I will cherish and remember always. My personal gift, a cloud of many colors, from the Father of Lights.
Holy Ecstasy
Pastel
This is a vision I received resting in His presence while listening to a musical CD. It reflects a desire, a passion to fully experience God the One who pours out of Himself into us His children. This is the place where Heaven meets us and we become one with our Father and Creator, a place of completefulfillment and ecstasy. I am indebted to JoAnn McFatter and her song "Sapphire Sea" from the CD entitled "Temple Dance" for helping me see that vision.
In His Presence
Pastel
And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shall put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shall put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. --EXODUS 25:18-22
In 1995, having closed the doors of my graphic design business, I was commissioned by my church to do a logo for them. The first idea that came to me for the logo, was the Ark of the Covenant along with the two angels who sit upon it. The design work for that logo, served as a springboard, not only for this picture, but for all my work to follow.
After completing work on the logo, I decided to redo the angels in a larger format. It was during this process that I first felt the presence of God guiding my hand. For the first time in my life as an artist, I felt the Lord's hand on mine, I was not alone. I felt His pleasure, and I knew then how to please Him. From an early age I knew that my calling was in the arts, but until 1995 the purpose was misdirected, self-centered and therefore empty of any real meaning for me.
The solitary life that an artist often endures is over for me. Today when I'm at work, I'm never alone. The work I do today is for His glory, not mine, and all the accolades of man cannot compare to a moment in His presence.
Intercession
Pastel
Behold now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. --GENESIS 18:27
For the most part, a description of how this work came about is explained in my description of "Who Am I..", for they were both brought about by the same spirit - a pleading with God. Although both works depict different men, in very different circumstances, the underlying sentiment is shared by both.
Here Abraham is pleading with God to spare the lives of innocent people who happen to live in a place where sin and wickedness abound. His motives are initially selfish, because his nephew Lot lives in Sodom, but his concern for the righteous is real. He is very much aware of his tenuous position in questioning God about anything. But his love and concern for the innocent compels him to do so. While remaining humble and respectful, he is tenacious in his questioning.
Abraham's perseverance along with his humbleness and his inexorable connection to the dust of the earth, are the three major points that the Lord impressed upon me while doing this work. What I hope this picture also conveys, is the miracle that God loves man and desires to share His plans with him. That God is approachable, and that man can interact with Him.
Jacob's Blessing
Graphite & Pastel
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. --GENESIS 32:24-29
For a long time the Lord had been leading me to do this piece. This particular passage in the Bible, where Jacob wrestles with the angel of the Lord, is one that I believe many, perhaps all of us experience at one time in our lives. In this instance, Jacob insists " I will not let you go until you bless me". He receives his blessing but his hip is also put out of joint, and he would walk with a limp the rest of his life. This would serve to remind him of his dependency on God.
It took me perhaps a month of preparation for this piece before I started putting anything on paper. Every day I would enter my studio eager to start work, knowing that this is what the Lord wanted me to be working on. And each day the Lord would show me nothing, but compel me to seek Him in prayer. I was excited about working on this piece, but my focus was on the visual, what did Jacob look like?, what did a wrestling match with God look like? Day after day these were the questions I would bring before the Lord, always receiving the same answer - silence. I know better than to start a work without the guiding hand of the Creator, so I waited. Finally out of desperation (and exasperation), I cried out to the Lord and he answered me. It became apparent to me that what Jacob went through emotionally and not what he looked like physically was to be the focus of this piece. At this point I experienced, for a very short moment, what Jacob was feeling. The overall feelings were that of extreme fear and intense loneliness along with doubt and resentment. This was not my idea of a good time, and a hasty trip to dunkin donuts was my escape. From that moment, the creation of this artwork flowed.
I find it ironic that Jacob's face is not even in the picture. Also of interest is that the "angel" is pursuing Jacob. This was not a battle that Jacob sought after. It was a struggle that the Lord brought to Jacob.
The Weight of Glory
Pastel
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. - 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18
This kind of glory is tangible and very real. The Hebrew word Kabod means both weight and glory. Scripture is rich in references to the manifestations of God's Glory. It can be felt, it can be seen and many have experienced its weight. While working on "Lifted Up" the Lord spoke the title of this work into my spirit. It was so clear and compelling that I repeated the words out loud and at that moment I saw this vision superimposed on the drawing I was working on. It was glorious, radiant with the light of Heaven.
The Portal
Pastel
"But you have seen, for You observe
trouble and grief,
To repay it by Your hand.
The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless. (Ps.10:14)"
"Lord, You have heard the desire of
the humble;
You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear,
To do justice to the fatherless and to the
oppressed (Ps.10:17-18)"
This image came to me at night in a dream. It was very vivid and powerful, in fact it may have been a night vision. Upon awakening I was drawn to Psalm 10 and verses 14, 17 and 18 seemed to jump out at me. The artwork here depicts the faithfullness of God to hear the cries of the helpless. That he is ready and willing to act on the behalf of even just one individual - he sees and hears them from Heaven.
The Sword of the Spirit
Oil on Canvas
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. --EPHESIANS 6:12
The medium used for this painting is oil, unlike the majority of my work which is pastel. The painting of this picture was done in two stages. First the sky, then the angel. There was but one principal message on my heart while working on this image: the spiritual realm is real, and there is a battle being fought there. The focus here is on the angel alone, because he is the Victor, his adversaries being defeated.
It is my belief, that if the Lord allowed us to see into the spiritual realm with our natural eyes, the picture here before you would be a common one. I am grateful to the Lord for this rare glimpse he has given me to share with you.... a world as real as the world we actually live in.
David's website
Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Costello continued to show his work in many areas of the country. In 1980, he accepted a position as illustrator at the Lowell Sun, a daily newspaper in New England, where he rose to the position of Graphics Editor before establishing his own successful graphic design business, located in Lexington, Massachusetts. In addition to working with the local community, DC Graphics also sold original T-shirt designs to various national catalogs, Macy's of New York, and many boutiques in the Northeast.
Both David and his wife Jeanne, are born again, spirit-filled Christians. In 1994, prompted by the Lord, David closed the doors on his business and dedicated his time to searching God's word and His will. In the fall of 1995, the Lord invaded David's artwork bringing about a considerable transformation. The intensity of his worship has led David to experience the genuine and majestic presence of God, leading him to a true closeness with Jesus Christ. As a result, dreams and visions have manifested in his life, inspiring every drawing. Mr. Costello regards his work as worship: "God has His plan, my only desire is to be part of it. I pray that He continues to bless me with visions and the ability to put them on paper." May His name be exalted!
Breath of Life
Pastel
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. (Genesis 2:7)
I believe that the beginnings of this work were birthed in me as I was working on the picture entitled "Intercession". While working on that piece, and until the time I started work on "Breath of Life", the Lord kept speaking into my spirit the words, formed from dust.
Eventually, after seeking visual direction from the Lord about this, He showed me this vision. What I hope this picture conveys, along with the beauty of the moment, is that it was just that - a moment. Man's creation happened in an instant, the instant God breathed life into him. Along with His breath, God's likeness and His attributes were imparted to man. It was a moment filled with peace, beauty and love. Hence the creation of a spiritual being, capable of giving love in return.
Be Still
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
There are times when all God wants us to do is rest. To stop all the doing, and simply start being. A time to consider His creation without seeking anything from Him.
It was after such a period that I did this picture. The majority of my work requires a lot of concentration and effort on my part, and I often feel drained physically when the work is completed. This was not the case for this picture. The work was easy and there was a real joy in doing it. Through this picture I hope to convey the magnitude and the majesty of God's creation along with man's inexorable connection with it.
Abram's Sky
Pastel
Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
For a long time I have wondered what that particular night sky might have looked like to Abram. When I look at the stars in the sky at night my thoughts are of Abram and what he must have seen so long ago. I'm quite certain that what he saw was not our average starry night, but rather a display so dazzling and overwhelming it would forever change his perspectives, alter his view of reality and strengthen his faith. Initially I dismissed any thoughts of ever creating any artwork that might represent what Abram saw. I work primarily with pastels and their properties lend themselves to smooth blends. I just couldn't see any way to create the effect I needed. While resting in His presence one evening the Lord spoke to me of a most remarkable way of creating the effect you see here—the stars literally fell from above to settle on the paper.
Born of the Spirit
Pastel
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit. (John 3:8)
The above passage of scripture (which is on the print, under the title), has long been a favorite of mine. Whenever I heard or read this my spirit would leap within me, but the visual interpretation would not follow. The Lord just downloaded this image to my spirit recently during a class entitled "Hearing God's Voice." This passage from the book of John was not being discussed, but my spirit had been preoccupied for weeks with the Wind of the Spirit. I believe the Lord was pleased that I never attempted to do this picture without His leading, although my desire was strong to just set out in my own strength. Looking back now I realize that it was 10 years ago that this image first captured my heart.
While working on this piece the Lord blessed me in a most remarkable way. I was working intently on the figure at the base of the picture, when I heard His voice prompting me to go look out the window of my studio. This was a major distraction for me at the time seeing how intent I was on the details of the figure. I resisted for some minutes until I could ignore it no longer. I stood at the window gazing into a perfectly cloudless sky, when suddenly a small cloud consisting of every color in the rainbow, formed right in front of me. I reached for a pair of binoculars to study it further, when just as suddenly it dissipated into thin air. I returned to my work and I heard the Lord's voice say "Thought you'd like that...." The whole exercise lasted about 60 seconds, but it was a moment I will cherish and remember always. My personal gift, a cloud of many colors, from the Father of Lights.
Holy Ecstasy
Pastel
This is a vision I received resting in His presence while listening to a musical CD. It reflects a desire, a passion to fully experience God the One who pours out of Himself into us His children. This is the place where Heaven meets us and we become one with our Father and Creator, a place of completefulfillment and ecstasy. I am indebted to JoAnn McFatter and her song "Sapphire Sea" from the CD entitled "Temple Dance" for helping me see that vision.
In His Presence
Pastel
And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. And thou shall put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shall put the testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. --EXODUS 25:18-22
In 1995, having closed the doors of my graphic design business, I was commissioned by my church to do a logo for them. The first idea that came to me for the logo, was the Ark of the Covenant along with the two angels who sit upon it. The design work for that logo, served as a springboard, not only for this picture, but for all my work to follow.
After completing work on the logo, I decided to redo the angels in a larger format. It was during this process that I first felt the presence of God guiding my hand. For the first time in my life as an artist, I felt the Lord's hand on mine, I was not alone. I felt His pleasure, and I knew then how to please Him. From an early age I knew that my calling was in the arts, but until 1995 the purpose was misdirected, self-centered and therefore empty of any real meaning for me.
The solitary life that an artist often endures is over for me. Today when I'm at work, I'm never alone. The work I do today is for His glory, not mine, and all the accolades of man cannot compare to a moment in His presence.
Intercession
Pastel
Behold now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken upon myself to speak to the Lord. --GENESIS 18:27
For the most part, a description of how this work came about is explained in my description of "Who Am I..", for they were both brought about by the same spirit - a pleading with God. Although both works depict different men, in very different circumstances, the underlying sentiment is shared by both.
Here Abraham is pleading with God to spare the lives of innocent people who happen to live in a place where sin and wickedness abound. His motives are initially selfish, because his nephew Lot lives in Sodom, but his concern for the righteous is real. He is very much aware of his tenuous position in questioning God about anything. But his love and concern for the innocent compels him to do so. While remaining humble and respectful, he is tenacious in his questioning.
Abraham's perseverance along with his humbleness and his inexorable connection to the dust of the earth, are the three major points that the Lord impressed upon me while doing this work. What I hope this picture also conveys, is the miracle that God loves man and desires to share His plans with him. That God is approachable, and that man can interact with Him.
Jacob's Blessing
Graphite & Pastel
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered. Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. --GENESIS 32:24-29
For a long time the Lord had been leading me to do this piece. This particular passage in the Bible, where Jacob wrestles with the angel of the Lord, is one that I believe many, perhaps all of us experience at one time in our lives. In this instance, Jacob insists " I will not let you go until you bless me". He receives his blessing but his hip is also put out of joint, and he would walk with a limp the rest of his life. This would serve to remind him of his dependency on God.
It took me perhaps a month of preparation for this piece before I started putting anything on paper. Every day I would enter my studio eager to start work, knowing that this is what the Lord wanted me to be working on. And each day the Lord would show me nothing, but compel me to seek Him in prayer. I was excited about working on this piece, but my focus was on the visual, what did Jacob look like?, what did a wrestling match with God look like? Day after day these were the questions I would bring before the Lord, always receiving the same answer - silence. I know better than to start a work without the guiding hand of the Creator, so I waited. Finally out of desperation (and exasperation), I cried out to the Lord and he answered me. It became apparent to me that what Jacob went through emotionally and not what he looked like physically was to be the focus of this piece. At this point I experienced, for a very short moment, what Jacob was feeling. The overall feelings were that of extreme fear and intense loneliness along with doubt and resentment. This was not my idea of a good time, and a hasty trip to dunkin donuts was my escape. From that moment, the creation of this artwork flowed.
I find it ironic that Jacob's face is not even in the picture. Also of interest is that the "angel" is pursuing Jacob. This was not a battle that Jacob sought after. It was a struggle that the Lord brought to Jacob.
The Weight of Glory
Pastel
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. - 2 CORINTHIANS 3:18
This kind of glory is tangible and very real. The Hebrew word Kabod means both weight and glory. Scripture is rich in references to the manifestations of God's Glory. It can be felt, it can be seen and many have experienced its weight. While working on "Lifted Up" the Lord spoke the title of this work into my spirit. It was so clear and compelling that I repeated the words out loud and at that moment I saw this vision superimposed on the drawing I was working on. It was glorious, radiant with the light of Heaven.
The Portal
Pastel
"But you have seen, for You observe
trouble and grief,
To repay it by Your hand.
The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless. (Ps.10:14)"
"Lord, You have heard the desire of
the humble;
You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear,
To do justice to the fatherless and to the
oppressed (Ps.10:17-18)"
This image came to me at night in a dream. It was very vivid and powerful, in fact it may have been a night vision. Upon awakening I was drawn to Psalm 10 and verses 14, 17 and 18 seemed to jump out at me. The artwork here depicts the faithfullness of God to hear the cries of the helpless. That he is ready and willing to act on the behalf of even just one individual - he sees and hears them from Heaven.
The Sword of the Spirit
Oil on Canvas
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. --EPHESIANS 6:12
The medium used for this painting is oil, unlike the majority of my work which is pastel. The painting of this picture was done in two stages. First the sky, then the angel. There was but one principal message on my heart while working on this image: the spiritual realm is real, and there is a battle being fought there. The focus here is on the angel alone, because he is the Victor, his adversaries being defeated.
It is my belief, that if the Lord allowed us to see into the spiritual realm with our natural eyes, the picture here before you would be a common one. I am grateful to the Lord for this rare glimpse he has given me to share with you.... a world as real as the world we actually live in.
David's website
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