Here it is .
. . My rendering of President
Barack Obama! There is no denying Obama
is a man for our time. I wanted to capture him
as a true visionary, gazing eagle-like, into
the future. Posters and giclees are available.
Click the image for details.
Whether
or not you voted for him, Barak Obama wants
your opinion. What are your ideas for his
administration?
My appearance
on The Today Show
(NBC) on November 6, 2008, was a very moving
experience. It was part of their "Everyone has
a story" series. I presented my portrait of
these very special children as a surprise to
the parents. I was very nervous about how it
would be received by them live on national TV.
Upcoming workshops
and ongoing classes. For all you snow monkeys
in the north here's an offer you cannot refuse: I'm
doing a workshop down here in beautiful Charleston,
SC through the Gibbes Museum March 2-6, 10-1pm.
You will paint in the am and enjoy the amazing Charleston
hospitality the rest of the day. Get out of the cold.
What a great vacation! Just a thought.
If you don't feel
like traveling that far I'll be teaching my annual
portrait workshop at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art
Center March 21-22, 9-4pm. Plan ahead. This one always
fills up!
Also, you can join
a portrait/plein air workshop in beautiful Mena, Arkansas
April 23-27, 2009. Another great getaway!
For those Charlestonians
interested in an ongoing painting class experience
there are still a few slots starting in January in my West Ashley studio. Everyone's making
a lot of progress. Participants report they are very
satisfied with what they're getting: some recent comments:
"You have a great ability to take each student
from his/her own level and bring them to the next."
"Thank you for helping me overcome my biggest
obstacle: fear." "You've really helped me
get under the hood to my key painting and drawing
issues." "This envelope thing has really
opened my eyes to drawing." "[This system
of painting] makes a whole lot of sense." "It's
so great to be painting on a regular basis again."
The Power of Positive
Painting classes are happening on Wednesdays
from 10am to 12:30pm. There is also a portrait
painting class on Tuesdays from 6-8:30pm. For
more information. Space is limited. Classes
are now forming for 2009. There are still a couple
slots open for the each class for those who are interested
in jumping in. If you or someone you know would like
to move to the next level here's a great opportunity.
If you would like to register or would like to express
a preference for when you would like me to
hold additional classes, please
let me know about that as well. Private lessons
and career coaching are also available. GIFT
CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE (what a great gift idea!)
Recent Portraits
. . .
Harrison
Roy 14" x 18"
Harrison engages
the viewer with an easy gaze. This is the second
portrait of the Roy children, both completed
when the subjects were three.
Margaret,
Charlotte & Ann Marie Nicholson 28" x
32"
This portrait
is inspired by the famous Sargent painting,
"The Daughters of Edward D. Boit."
Mine obviously has a more modern, brighter and
happier feel. Charlotte, the more mischevious
middle child, hangs in back while the others
are more poised and serious.
Wynne Campbell
38" x 28"
Wynne's parents
celebrate her entry into womanhood with a portrait
capturing a soft yet powerful inner strengh.
This portrait completes the collection of their
childrens' portraits. Also see her brother Carlton's
portrait.
Gabriella
Cavataio 21"
x 25"
Dignified and
determined. That's how I would describe this
amazing little girl.
Present
Ecstacy
20" x 24"
Lakisha Fletcher
dances with joy in her heart. She celebrates
the land and the Gullah culture of the Carolina
Lowcountry.
Justice Marilyn
Kelly
Michigan Supreme Court
30" x 40"
The assured,
compassionate voice of common decency radiates
from Justice Kelly. Her portrait is a tribute
to all of us, for whose rights she has fought
throughout her long career to protect.
Stephen Stackpole
24" x 30"
The portrait
of this singular personality now graces a room
dedicated to him at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial.
Stephen
Kushner
14" x 18"
This moody,
restless rendering captures the spirit and individuality
of a remarkable boy. He knows something about
himself, some inner power, that we will have
to wait to see. He will reveal his gifts when
he is ready. Today we must be satisfied with
the glimmer in his eye.
Marian Ilitch 42"x
31"
This portrait
joins that of her husband's, Mike.
They hang across from one another in their dining
room. I set out to capture her unpretentious
manner and down to earth personality. In the
portrait setting we get a glimpse of this Detroit
icon's exquisite taste in interior design.
Mike
Ilitch
Founder of Little Caesars Pizza
42" x 31"
Mike Ilitch
is a Detroit icon. The portrait expresses the
strength of character of the individual. But
I also tried to capture some of the dry wit
and inner passion, as I experienced it, while
working on the portrait. There are references
to the Spirit of Detroit and the Detroit Tigers
on the shelves behind. He also wears championship
rings of the Red Wings and the Tigers (both
of which he owns). The tie is by another Detroit
icon, Dominic Pangborn.
Judge Anna Diggs Taylor
U.S. District Court of Eastern Michigan
This portrait joins several other portraits created
by Robert for the Sixth District Court of Appeals.
Robert set out to capture Judge Taylor's gracioius
manner, along with her strength of character.
She holds a copy of the U.S. Constitution in her
hands and there is a photograph of her husband
on the reading table.
Jerry
Zucker
36" x 48"
This
portrait celebrates the life of the late Mr.
Jerry Zucker, Governor and CEO of Hudson's Bay
Company in Toronto. The portrait features Mr.
Zucker in dynamic repose, expressing his energy
and vitality. The light streams in from a window
behind. In the bookcases to his right are binders,
containing his over 300 international patents.
The desk is clear, save a notebook computer,
representing his connection with his many international
interests through advanced communications technology.
Robert
Ficano
Executive of Wayne County, MI
This portrait
was created to hang outside the Executive chambers
in the Historic Wayne County Building (in Detroit).
This portrait will join those of his predecessors,
both of whom my father painted. This complex
composition was designed to lead the eye left
to right, weaving a path throughout the painting.
I used available light to add to the drama and
power of the portrait. Mr. Ficano struck me
as a very unpretentious individual; this simple
gesture conveys a quiet power that has earned
him the respect and affection among state and
local leaders.
Get your
autographed copy of my new book,
Point of Art.
Point
of Art
is the journey of an artist. It is a collection
of ideas and meditations, intended to provide
access to the creative process. I've presented
insights ranging from my practical system
on drawing and painting to making it as
a professional artist. I explore the relevance
of self-expression in our daily lives as
well as strategies for bringing arts and
culture into our communities.
Rob Maniscalco
lives and works in the spiritual house of
art, and I am personally inspired by his
development as an artist and as a thinker.
Point of Art is both aid and challenge
to all of us who are attempting to find
our way to better painting.John
de la Vega
I wonder
how many of you have art collections. Click on (email
me) the response below that best describes your collection.
I'd love to hear about it (Don't worry, I won't try
to sell you any art; I'm just curious. It's really
just an excuse to hear from you).
Helen Bramble manages her fall leaves neatly into
piles in the short November sun on Wadmalow Island
near Rockville, SC. Her chores will soon be done.More
info
Four new mini paintings
of the Lowcountry.
Here
are some paintings from my series of Lowcountry
narratives, this one called Spring of '39.
The scene is a typical marsh we might see today.
The figure from the past brings home the timelessness
of nature. The people come and go but the land is
the same as it was 1,000 years ago. We are only
caretakers for our magnificent environment.
The New Portrait
DVD Announcing
the release of my new instructional video, The
Portrait,a value-based painting system,
made in the studios of Liliedahl
Productions. The great reviews are coming
in. I think we have a winner! The DVD features
a portrait painted from beginning to end and comes
with a disc of bonus features like, Being a
professional portrait artist today and The
three cube adventure.For
more information . . .
As always, I appreciate
your feedback
- keep it coming. Thanks to so many of you who've
shared with me about the experiences you've had making
art and creativity a part of your life.
Any reprinting of
“Pointe of Art,” "SCAN" or any
information on the Maniscalco Gallery Website for
any commercial purpose must be done with the expressed
approval of Robert Maniscalco. As always, please feel
free to forward SCAN info to your personal list. And,
don’t forget to keep in touch with the ones you
love!
Allow me to take
this opportunity to sincerely thank you for allowing
me into your circle of attention. With all the noise
out there, I realize how selective we have to be in
letting others into that special place of trust. Thank
you for opening your hearts to me. I hope you will
join me in my humble efforts to raise the human spirit
in the fight against corporate dehumanization.
S C A N 
newly
UPDATED!
