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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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...
Left Behind
What the American Dream Has Left Behind (a rant) Here's the VLOG version. Or you may read the BLOG version below. (edited for clarity) https://youtu.be/bS_7wHIdZyI What people would have us call the "extreme left" is really what many are now calling the extreme middle...
mARTtyrs
People are Starved for Meaning Like the Fishfly, which are born to be consumed by fish, artists are born to be consumed by humanity. I'm talking about being consumed as in nurturing the consumer. Artists provide meaning to actual people, not some idea of people out...
Loyalty vs Truth
Who is Innocent? And Who is Guilty? Here’s an update on the alleged sexual assault allegedly attempted on my daughter, Mary by our trusted and beloved neighbor. It allegedly happened while under my direct supervision, just out of sight, under water, in his pool. He...
Freedom from Consequences
Pleasure vs. Enjoyment Though we often confuse these two distinct emotional states, there is a huge difference and relationship between them. Pleasure, a source of arousal, is the product of the human desire for love, power and money, which all too often seem to be...
The N Word
This horrific photo, taken in the 1940s, reminds me of when I was nine or ten, my neighbor friend used to yell the n word at the shopping news delivery man from his porch in our suburban Detroit neighborhood. I tried to get my friend to stop his taunting but he...
We Are Wired to Believe in Miracles
Waiting for the Miracle Here's the routine. First, Donald Trump says something misleading, racist, or illegal. Then, when people actually call him out, he says he was only “joking” or he denies ever having said it. The latest is Trump’s dangerous urging of North...
A Dark World View
In the Introduction (below) to his tell all book about Trump, his self describe consigliere, Michael Cohen, describes Trump as someone who assumes that “everyone is as corrupt and ruthless and shameless as he is.” That is the best explanation for how on Earth there...
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Thanks to Jeanette of Art & Faith Galleria for finding my portrait of Mother Teresa a good home. If you are in Royal Oak, MI, make it a point to stop in and see the amazing artwork, as well as Jeanette's unique and magnificent collection of icons and rosaries. The work at A&FG is not always overtly religious, but it is always awe-inspiring, reminding us that God is everywhere and in all things. I think this is a time where we are seeking a deeper meaning.
My portrait of Mother Teresa joins my Pope Leo portrait as my most recent art sales. I think God is trying to tell us something. What do you think?
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Check out my pet portrait July special: Get an oil portrait of your pet through the month of July for a special price!
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What an amazing portrait! Bravo! ... See MoreSee Less
Barack and I were so honored to have @NjidekaAkunyiliCrosby create our portrait for the Obama Presidential Center. Her artistic brilliance shines through — and the way she infused such life and joy into the piece is truly extraordinary. We love it, and we think everyone who visits the Center will too!
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