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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It’s a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life. It's a treasure and a pleasure to be in it. I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to embrace the character of George Bailey, the everyman, broken by desire, redeemed by love and grace in a musical version of the perennial favorite...
The Last Supper
More rough draft from my journal in Haiti. . . I was in lock down at the Watermission compound in Porta Prince for the weekend so I decided to make the best use of time by painting a 12' mural knockoff of da Vinci's The Last Supper (slightly less than actual size) on...
Haiti, Into the Light
I am working on the picture book, chronicling my personal experiences in my recent trip to Haiti. The working title is, "Haiti, Into the Light." I took over 1,600 photos and wrote pages of notes in preparation for the next phase of The Quench Project. Here are are...
Are You a Tetrachromat?
How would you like to be able to see 100 million colors? There are those among us who have this super power, called Tetrachromacy, which I'm guessing, many artists would give their right nut to have. Unfortunately, it is a women only thing. Men cannot be...
Art Is Where You Find It
Chalkboard art makes a comeback! I love discovering beauty where others see only a mess. Some of my favorite artists use found objects as their sole medium. What a great way to recycle trash. These are a couple of the endless examples of the amazing things and...
Control
People first approaching the arts often assume that total freedom is achieved through the abandonment of structure or giving into complete chaos. Seasoned artists know that true freedom is the result of structured chaos. On the other hand, the idea that we can...
Enlightenment
In every story there are pieces of the problem that cry out for resolution. There is often confusion and pain. We wish things were not what they seemed to us to be. But present also in every problem, are pieces of the solution which will eventually lead to...
Dorothy Lee Barnett Courtroom sketch
Dorothy Lee Barnett Arraignment Aside from the historical significance of this notorious, unsolved mystery finally being resolved, another piece of Charleston history was made on Monday, September 29, 2014. So far as I know, I was the first court sketch artist to...
Judgment vs Discernment
Distinguishing between Judgment vs discernment is the first step in the creative process. Observational drawing is not about pleasing myself; it is about pleasing God. rm I've written extensively about how ego is the main saboteur in our creative process. That's why...
Shapes – A Lesson in Drawing
The Best Realists Deal with Shapes as Abstractions. In over 30 years of teaching I have noticed the people who are interested in drawing and painting realistically, make the worst realists. Why? Because they are so ardent in their desire to recreate the thing they...
Quench Project is Moving Forward
Again, a huge thank you to those of you who contributed to The Quench Project. Here's our video thank you. The project is getting bigger all the time. The big news, I am going to Haiti from November 3-12! While there, I am going to be working with a school in Port...
The Quench Project Gets Funding
Renown Charleston artist, Robert Maniscalco, has received funding to create an exhibition of paintings, expressing hope and renewal from a Vision Trip to Haiti, in partnership with Water Missions International. The first phase of The Quench Project is now complete....
Maniscalco Gallery on Facebook
Old Guy - Maniscalco Gallery ... See MoreSee Less
Old Guy - Maniscalco Gallery
maniscalcogallery.com
This old guy modeled for a workshop twenty years ago and I always wanted to paint him. So here he is. I enjoyed creating the sparkle of color in his flesh.What should you expect from a Legacy portrait? Hint: it's not a trick question. ... See MoreSee Less
The Real Deal - Maniscalco Gallery
maniscalcogallery.com
Having a portrait is a sacred trust for me. I have worked hard over my 45 year career so I can guarantee an excellent result.I love the diversity of expression out there in the artworld. Here's a little information about my painting style and philosophy. ... See MoreSee Less
Expressive Realism - Maniscalco Gallery
maniscalcogallery.com
I prefer this way of working because it preserves a certain level of artistic integrity, the "backbone" of the work. It is more interesting,I guarantee you'll love your portrait. I will make sure it is everything you've hoped it will be. That means we are working together for a common goal, which we will discuss fully before I paint a stroke. It's a delicate process I have honed over 45 years. ... 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.... See MoreSee Less