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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New Years Revolution
Equestrian Head Study As we cross over into the future tonight, to what ever extent, in whatever way we can, let's go from being a watcher to a doer. It’s so easy to accept being a cog in the consumer machine, part of the elaborate ecosystem of what’s expected. We...
Capture the Rapture
Dove Abovehttps://maniscalcogallery.com/product/dove-above/ I am a Christian and an American. Whether or not you believe in the rapture of the church (a word never used in the Bible) it is wholly (not holy) inappropriate for a high ranking government official to...
This Christmas
Hallowed As I listen to the Christmas carols and enjoy the lights and decorations and the smells of the season I reflect upon Christmases gone by. Everything changes when your parents die. The world is filled with people finding ways to survive the good tidings...
Student Work Inspires Me
As I wrap up another semester at Charleston Southern University, I am so impressed with what I have learned about the process from my students. I often say, if you want to learn how to sell, try teaching art to college students as an elective. But I think once they...
When Will it End?
This morning, I found out about an incident of CSA, which took place at a church just down the street from us. We had even attended as a family a few times. Everyone was warm and welcoming. She was a nurse, taking my blood pressure and checking my temperature. She...
Marketing: Money vs People
I love being an artist. I've always considered it a privilege. In recent years, however, it has also become a luxury. In fact it has become a vanity. It used to be that vanity galleries, founded by the super rich as tax shelters, were all the rage. Now, the...
Russell Ebeid Presentation
In addition to the official portrait for the St Joseph Hospital, I was happy to present two more portraits to the family for their personal enjoyment. Here is my speech of October 29th, presented at the official unveiling at the hospital: Hello everyone. Thank you so...
The Next Conservatives
Here’s why Liberals are the next conservatives We all believe in capitalism. If you've worked hard, you deserve success. If you’re a natural born citizen, if you were born into money, stability, or social status, if you happened to have been born white or male, then...
Look Me in the Eye and Lie
Jeff Flake is confronted by Sexual Assault Survivors Did anyone notice the conflict and terror in Jeff Flakes’s eyes as those survivors confronted him today? Dylan Roof also refused to look into the eyes of his accusers. But there is a subtle difference. Many believe...
DARVO
Independent? Judicious? He doesn't sound very independent, judicious or even remotely credible. The testimony of Bret Kavanaugh sounds exactly like the rants I endured on the phone for weeks after I was sexually assaulted at 14. This person is self-righteous,...
Classwork tribute to Gilda
Getting out of Our Head One of our first painting projects in my Charleston Southern University painting class was this tribute to Gilda Snowden's chair series. You can see Gilda's entire Artbeat episode, along with the entire first season, on Amazon Prime. More info...
A Labor of Love
The Russell Ebeid Portrait There is nothing like that sweet moment when I unveil the portrait, into which I have poured my heart and soul. The immediate family traveled to Pontiac St Joseph Hospital to see and approve the portrait of Russell Ebeid, in advance of the...
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My portrait of Miss Susie Jackson, along with "The Tan Suit," will be part of the upcoming MOJA exhibition at Charleston City Gallery, part of the city-wide MOJA Festival. ...
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Thank you Tom for your insight and perspective on the age old debate on nudity. Apparently, even male nudity from the waste up is a thing. I think ageism may have also been a factor - no one wants to see my sagging carcass. I'm proud I won, but I've been around long enough to know it could have easily been a bust - just not my bust. "Reflections" goes to Cincinnati next for a national show. I'm proud of the high quality this show is attracting, raising the artistic standards, if not the moral standards, of our region. This was my second 'best of' in as many years of the Lowcountry FA Showcase. Now, the question dangles tantalizingly over the horizon: should I go for three next year? Or quit while I'm ahead (but not a semi nude body!)? ...
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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.I am excited to announce my painting, "Gratitude" has been juried into the Fall 2026 Open Juried Exhibition of the Portrait Society of Atlanta! The exhibition will take place at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, Georgia from October 3 to December 5, 2026. If you're in the Atlanta area definitely come check out the show! This painting will be available for purchase during the exhibition.
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#portraitsocietyofatlanta #painting #portraitpainting ...
Call Now
You are invited to an exhibition of my work and a lively Portrait Demonstration
PORTRAIT DEMONSTRATION
SEPTEMBER 15, @ 11:00 AM
at IOP REC CENTER, 24 28th Ave,
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
info: 843.886.8294
The exhibition will run from August 31 - September 19 ...
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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.Still wet on the easel, The Tan Suit has great significance, not only because Obama infamously wore one as President . . . Remember when this was such a terrible transgression? But making billions on buisness deals as President is okay? But I digress. This painting is from a pic I took in 2010 in front of Mother Emanuel Church, in a simpler time.
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