Robert blogs on art, creativity, politics, CSA, religion and culture. Many overlap into multiple categories, like motivational or random favorites. Robert is a life-long artist, writer, musician & actor, a professional creative his entire adult life. Born in 1959 in Detroit, he has lived in New York, New Orleans and currently in Charleston. His commission portraits and fine art are part of over a thousand collections throughout North America. Read his bio.
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Working Through Pain
A Brave Front Most people know me as a go getter, whatever that is. I'm a doer. I am always trying to make something happen, always hustling. But years of negative messaging from myself and others, in the form of CSA and verbal trauma, and the resulting anxiety and...
Rudolf Nureyev
Excerpts of a letter Rudolf Nureyev wrote, to the dance community about his own life as a dancer, while dying of AIDS. His words remind me of why I paint or act or write. Not for the glory but for the shear joy of doing, the simple thrill of exploring my curiosities,...
Private Lessons Rock
As Covid protocols continue to hang over us, we all have been making adjustments. I am giving my demos over zoom now, rather than in person. I have even been doing commission portraits completely virtual. My online shop has gone up and I'm selling work without ever...
The Art Market
The following is a frank assessment of the current art market, from this artist's perspective. As most of you know, I have an extensive catalogue of available artwork. It happens when you've been doing art for forty years. I've spent some time recently adjusting each...
Essential Still Life
What is an Essential Still Life? View Custom Still Lives Robert has Done for Others In addition to my oil portraits I can create a very personal still life, perhaps celebrating a bride’s wedding, or other monumental event, with an “essential still life” remembering "a...
Everyone Must Work
I was visited by God* in my dream last night where the story of heaven on earth unfolded before me. The dream made clear that Heaven doesn’t exist in another dimension or another location. Heaven is in the process of manifesting joy and wonderment in our present,...
The Choice
Let them eat cake. Why should Richard Branson send himself into orbit? Is it to send a message to those deadbeat dads that throwing their children's lives away is a tragic waste of their child-making abilities. It's not rocket science. Or maybe it is, a little. I...
Dr. John Vena
The Big Reveal It's always a pleasure when my work is appreciated. Today was the dedication of my portrait of Dr. John Vena, retiring chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences at MUSC. He served six years and transformed the department into the sixth rated PHS...
Wedding Portraits
As you know, I create portraits for every occasion. Wedding are a beautiful time in our lives and there is no better way to remember that awesome experience than with an oil portrait. Find out about my wedding portraits and the many ways we can devise to express the...
Self Esteem, Entitlement and White Privilege
The Trap of Self-esteem The self-esteem craze began with the Power of Positive Thinking, years ago. I certainly have written my fair share on the subject. This approach to life has also become known as the Law of Attraction. Basically, the premise is, "if you can...
Not Giving a F#ck
Reading "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson, reinforced a few core principals for me The book read like a fully fleshed-out version of the RM Theory, a survival philosophy I devised in High School. As George Orwell said in 1984, "a good book tells you...
Seeing What We Want to See
Inattentional Blindness - Falling for the Trick We've all seen them on the internet. I'm talking about those amazing chalk drawings on sidewalks that look 3-D. Or those optical illusions that make things appear differently than they really are. These are examples of...
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Behind the Scene 11x 14″ original #OilPainting on linen, framed by the artist. A behind the scenes look at the glorious #sunflower, the great back actor. This is a continuation of my micro series where we take a closer look at #Common objects found in #nature. this is an homage to the iconic Van Gogh #painting with the similar perspective of the underneath of a Sunflower. ... See MoreSee Less
Unintended Consequences 96″ x 30″ oil on panel
The Three Perspectives:
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EAGLE: Look at me. I know what I am doing. My glorious mission gives me certain rights. Certain allowances. My voice is louder than yours. But that’s not what makes me right. Yes, I am intentional. I know what I want. And I speak for millions. While you speak for no one. | But the thing that makes me right, is that I speak for God, because I know he is with me because I feel his presence and His righteousness in my blood. That’s what makes me right. | Look at me. I’m perfect. Determined. My team will always win. Why? Because God is on our side. And if my team doesn’t win the battle, we will win the war. | And if we don’t win the war it will be because we failed to listen to God OR the devil corrupted our intentions. Therefore we must destroy evil, wherever it appears. We will find it together and we will flush it out. | Trust that I am in control and that God is with me. If you fail to obey me, as God’s chosen vessel, you will surely parish. You cannot hide from my eye. You cannot resist my charisma. Fear me if you must. Love me if you’re willing. But obey me, for I am your only hope.
DOG: Look at me. Do you think I need help? You think I’m weak. But I’m not. Sometimes I feel so big and strong, even though I know I’m not very strong or smart. But one thing I do know, is that he is strong. My leash tender. I trust the strength of those who know. His certainty is my comfort. My leash tells me I am in good hands. My collar is my Shepard; I shall not want.
GIRL: Look at me. I am flying. I’m flying high above the fray. God is with me. Nature is with me. We are one. God will protect me because I trust Him. I know God is IN the Eagle and the dog. And I know I am part of a larger story. The journey I am on is longer than my life or the dog’s life, or the Eagle’s life. It began long before I was born and it will never end. I am safe in the knowledge that I will never die. So nothing can harm me. I am at peace. ... See MoreSee Less
"My Backyard" are part of "Identity and Self" #exhibition at @parkcirclegallery through April 25. Lemme know if and when you'd like to meet me there for a #privatetour, Wednesday-Saturday. #artist #charlestonartist ... See MoreSee Less
In Charleston, the name Gedney Howe is legendary three times over.
My #oilportrait of Gedney @lawofficesofgedneyhowe Howe III in his office. I am so fortunate and honored to have been able to share some beautiful moments with such exceptional individuals and those who love them. Gedney Howe III is one such individual, a man who gave so much to this community, as Charleston’s preeminent attorney. I had the privilege of speaking with him briefly before he unexpectedly passed last year. We had planned the portrait to happen while he was still with us. Though in mourning, Gedney IV helped me capture the vision he had for his father’s portrait.
Gedney III and I had one very special person in common, the late Buzz Harper (the portrait above, the iconic gentleman in the white suit and red tie), our dear friend and the designer of the interior of this office, as well as the Calhoun Mansion, which when it changed hands, sadly lost the distinctive Harper touch. The chair in the portrait, once owned by President Howard Taft, a beautiful marble and lovely portrait grace the dark wood law bookshelves. Formidable, but reassuringly warm. Gedney stands confidently, but again, with a touch of warmth. He cared about the #law but he also cared for the people he served so well throughout his storied career.
The portrait will be on display at my exhibition, "Identity and Self" at the Park Circle Gallery in North Charleston, opening today, Friday April 3, 5-7 pm. The exhibition runs through April 25. ... See MoreSee Less
In Greek mythology, Cassandra was a prophetess whose fate was to foretell future events correctly but never to be heeded or believed. She was the daughter of Priam, Troy’s last king, and his wife Hecuba. The god Apollo fell in love with #Cassandra and offered her the gift of foretelling the future in return for her love. Cassandra agreed to the bargain and received Apollo’s gift but then refused to keep her word. In retaliation, Apollo cursed her so that her prophecies would never be believed. When we warn of what is happening to our country today, this is how it feels. #painting #artcollector @highlight ... See MoreSee Less
The #Ghost of #Denmark Vessey, 24×20″ oil on linen, framed by the artist
#Vessey appears as an indomitable spirit, standing with dignity, bible in hand, as if he has risen above the hatred of the racists, who’s anger and fear, represented by a posse of angry white men, who have driven his body into the ocean. But they cannot touch his spirit, which endures forever. Denmark Vessey led the first slave revolt in SC and in America. This will be part of my upcoming exhibition at Park Circle Gallery in North Charleston Opening April 3 5-7 pm running through April.
More info:
www.facebook.com/share/18MGV5rPpw/?mibextid=wwXIfr ... See MoreSee Less