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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Time to Get Organized – Interview with Heather Power
If only I were organized, maybe, just maybe . . . anonymous artist Are you confused, perhaps a little overwhelmed in your studio? Heather Power is here to help. We talked the other day about all kinds of things related to getting organized, something many artists...
Considering a Career in Art
I'm considering a career in art, but I'm not sure where to start. I like to draw and paint but I'm not sure who would buy enough of my art to support my family. I have a lot of work, numerous series and have been told I'm very good. So I read a book on marketing. It...
Getting What You Pay For
I have recently lost a few commission portraits to part-time artists, who were able to considerably undercut my fee. There are many reasons why this is happening more often than in the past. I'm hearing more and more often from my colleagues that there is a lot of...
Memory and History
When does art become a symbol for the subject of the art? Are we defacing a guy named Columbus or the artist who made the statue? Or are we supporting the defacing of something else? An idea? If so, are there more effective ways of expressing that idea than vandalism?...
Quench, the Book, Coming Soon!
9/29/15 PR - Quench, the book, Release Date Renowned Charleston artist, Robert Maniscalco, has created an exhibition of paintings, expressing hope and renewal, inspired by his Vision Trip to Haiti in November 2014. The book, "Quench," is to be released in November...
The Secret to Happiness, from Haiti with Love
From the upcoming Quench - reflections on God, art, water and equality by Robert Maniscalco Pastor Medit Sanon runs the Bread of Life Missionary Orphanage, in Jacmel, Haiti. Julio and I are welcomed with warm embrace. No doubt, a hug is the best way to begin any great...
The Pollyanna Principle
I've been singing, acting, writing and painting for many years, thinking I was bringing something to these disciplines, something valuable, something of beauty. It is humbling, to say the least, when we inevitably encounter those moments which awaken us from the...
The Faceless Hordes
This is an excerpt from Quench, available soon! Through The Quench Project I simply want to give a face to the faceless hordes. When seen as a wash of humanity it is easy to lose sight of the individuals comprising the whole. My goal in coming here was not to document...
Equestrian Challenge
Last week I did an artist-in-residence at the Anndell Inn, in Freshfields on Kiawah Island, as part of the Charleston Summer Classic Equestrian Festival. The residency was sponsored by the Mary Martin Gallery, who has a magnificent satellite gallery at Anndell Inn. It...
ADDENDUM to My Christian Testimony
The point, for me, in writing and sharing my testimony, was to outline my discovery process, to reveal the journey that culminated in my becoming a Christian. It was not intended to negate the first 52 years of my life. It was simply to point out my need, indeed all...
My Christian Testimony
My mom left home when I was 9 months old. At age 10 my neighbors took me to a well-known televangelist, where, weeping, I experienced salvation. A couple years later my brother got “saved” and invited me to become active in the local Pentecostal church, The Christ...
Mind Predators
This meme has been widely circulated on Social Media lately. It is an excellent example of how certain elements of our society are combining facts, half-truths and double-speak to take control of a poorly educated populace, not trained to think critically. A friend...












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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.
maniscalcogallery.com/product/gratitude/
#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.
maniscalcogallery.com/product/the-tan-suit/ ...