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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Press Release About the Power of Positive Painting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 15, 2024 Contact: Robert Maniscalco, author robert@maniscalcogallery3720.live-website.com mobile: 313-689-2993 The Power of Positive Painting has become a #1 Amazon Bestseller! 0 Forty years in the making, author, artist, and gallerist...
A Dire Warning
I am sickened by these Republican senators, who will likely put their political miscalculations before country, dooming us to fascism, an escalating culture of violence, in the years to come. Why? Because they don’t want to tick off their base. But if they don’t nip...
The Magic Easel
Hi Robert, I am an artist, Ron Gianola, from Detroit living in northern Michigan. I have a story you may find interesting. I was a student at Arts and Crafts, later CCS, for years. Automotive Industrial Design, Illustration, later Fine Arts. Around the mid 80’s I...
Right Twice a Day
A Broken Clock is Right Twice a Day People don’t like to be told what they “should” do. These days, people prefer to construct their own morality, particularly true when it comes to choosing whether or not to get the Covid19 vaccination. Many people simply do not...
Hitler and the Creative Spirit
How unfortunate that Hitler turned out to be a better dictator than he was a painter. I often wonder how much suffering the world would have been spared if only he had remained a painter instead of becoming the evil force he did become. Moral: Buy Art or the World...
Let’s Get this Party Started
Methinks those feigning surprise and outrage about the right resorting to violence this past January 6th must have been asleep the last 400 years. At the root of conservatism is racial violence. It’s as American as apple pie; it is our collective scourge for allowing...
Forward from The Power of Positive Painting
Forward from "The Power of Positive Painting" A lot has changed in the art world in the forty plus years since I embarked on my career. Academia is finally embracing contemporary realism – realism that has something important to say about our world. Meanwhile, popular...
Private Lessons Are the Way
Virtual or In-person Private Lessons Covid19 has everybody making adjustments. As an artist, I am going about my business very differently than usual. The Pandemic is an interrupter to the art business, in a lot of ways. Fortunately, as a visual artist, a lot of my...
Behr With Us
This Christmas was very special for a some wonderful Dog people, who received the surprise of a lifetime for Christmas.Behr was revealed to his "mommy" by her loving mother. Behr is twelve and loved by everyone who meets him. Austen and Ella, brother and sister, love...
Tears of Joy
This Christmas was very special for a some wonderful Dog people, who received the surprise of a lifetime for Christmas. Booker Leigh's portrait was revealed to his "mommy" by her loving Husband Josh. I was happy to receive the short clip, with her crying tears of joy,...
Form, Character and Likeness
Excerpt From "The Power of Positive Painting," the Upcoming Color Book, by Robert Maniscalco Shedding Light on Values In the beginning, there was light. Long before Thomas Kinkaid turned “painter of light” into a ridiculous slogan, the masters knew of its critical...
Portrait Demo Via Zoom
Zooming Right Along Last evening was a grand experiment. The Charleston Artist Guild presented a zoom portrait demo. It was an interesting experience for me. I have come to enjoy the interplay between the people, all gathered in a room together. I derive energy from...











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Very excited to get out there with my work next week. I hope you can join Chris, me and over 60 top artists of the southeast. ... See MoreSee Less
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it's been deleted.This wonderful couple of world travelers celebrating their anniversary with a #custom #oilpainting of their trip to #giza. ... See MoreSee Less
A portrait of Natalie painted from life today at Wes Israel's studio. Nice people, wonderful artists. ... See MoreSee Less
Nothing Celebrates the legacy of your children or your grandchildren for their grandchildren, like an oil portrait.
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Two paintings. One a commission portrait of Gedney Howe III. Another an exploration of "Unintended Consequences." Both part of "Identity and Self," an exhibition at Park Circle Gallery, open wed-Sat. Until April 25th! Disappointed my brand of realism is not in vogue at the moment. But I'm aware fashions come and go. I know my art will endure. What do you think? ... See MoreSee Less
A competent portrait of the former president.  ... See MoreSee Less
At a portrait unveiling at Syracuse University on April 14, 2026, Joe Biden jokingly called Board Chair Jeffrey Scruggs to the stage, asking the crowd, “Doesn’t he look like Barack?” Biden quipped that he often mistook Scruggs for Obama. While the audience laughed, some found the moment awkward. The event celebrated Biden’s legacy at his law school alma mater
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