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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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...
Lost in Place – the Polarization of the Art Biz
I've been in the art business for over 35 years. And to say it has had its ups and downs might be a bit of an understatement. But nothing could have prepared me for the last ten years. As the middle class has been shrinking dramatically, so have opportunities for...
Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Charleston and Racism
What Haiti and the Events of Last Night in Charleston have Taught Me About Racism Following is an excerpt from my upcoming book, called "Quench." This is from a conversation I had with the children at the Bread of Life Orphanage in Haiti. The little ones were...
Drawing from Memory
“I think it is all a matter of love; the more you love a memory the stronger and stranger it becomes” ― Vladimir Nabokov I've always thought there were basically two approaches to making art. There are those of us who derive inspiration from direct observation and...
Ownership and Copyright of Art
Image ownership has become more and more blurred with Instagram and other social media "re-purposing" original images. I recently read a great article with an update on this fascinating and important subject, especially for artists. I wrote extensively about...
Practice
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. People who know, who have achieved anything close to mastery in any discipline will repeat the practice mantra until they're blue in the face. "Practice, not talent, is the key to success," they will...
Quench Project – Great Things!
I am happy to report I just sold my first Quench Project painting, called “Out of the Darkness” to a wonderful collector in Nashville, Tennessee. I have 5 more available and am working hard on getting them seen and bringing awareness to the needs in Haiti. I have...
Leaves Through the Trees
When an artist paints a tree or a flower, we are not painting individual leaves or pedals, floating aimlessly in the universe of our painting. They are attached; they are connected to something larger. They are dependent on the tree or the flower, that is planted in...
Imagination and Religion
I read with great interest of Jimmy Carter's decision to "Lose his Religion." Frankly, I agree that losing one's religion is the first step to true spiritual freedom. Religion is primarily an invention of men to control others. As a positive organizing force it has...
Art with A Social Conscience
If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him. JFK Some believe art's sole purpose is to decorate. Others believe art is a conversation with one's self that is really a...
Forgiveness
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ sake has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:22 Forgiveness often seems so impossible; vengeance so much easier. Even easier is acceptance. Acquiescence, easier still. I've...
Maniscalco Gallery on Facebook
"Tempus Fugit" captures the instant fire and ice meet, when strange entities are released into the human psyche. Another collaboration between myself and artist Nick C. Cerrato. ...
"Light" captures the moment of decision. To enlighten or to inflame? ...
"Darkness and Light" is my latest collaboration with Nick C. Cerrato. It can be appreciated simply as an #abstract expressionist #painting and closer up as a deep narrative meditation on darkness and #light. ...
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The grand arbiter of taste, who definitely would not recognize a Van Gogh if it hit them in the face. With apologies, of course, to all those who've awarded me over the years, and to those who haven't. This is one more reason I detest authority. When I've played the role of juror, I always feel it necessary to write about each of the works, something kind and something to work on. I see the role of juror is not to judge, but uplift and encourage people who've put their heart and soul on the line. I usually pick the piece most reasonable people would agree was award worthy. And I can tell you why. I think contests should exist to support deep study and commitment to the purpose of art, which is to open our eyes to something heretofore unseen. It is the juror's job to really see the artists' work, in such a way that each artist will know they have been seen. ...
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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.Evil's Place, another collaboration with Nick Cerrato. I know you can't zoom in on insta so I will tell you God is pressing the devil into his place, while multiple figures reacts to the battle of good vs evil. NFS ...