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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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....
Ego and Identity
We Place so much stock in our identities. Here are just a few of the millions of examples: "I am an artist," "I am a loving person," "I am a Christian," "I am an American," "I am gay," "I am a supporter of the sanctity of marriage," "I am a bad-ass." In...
Down to the Wire Pool Party
The ideas and inspiration are coming to me from everywhere, even before I have made my mission trip to Haiti. Thanks again to all who have contributed! All the support is very heartwarming. We are over 2/3 to our goal with 5 days left. We are down to the wire; if we...
We have moved passed the half way point with only 13 days to go!
We are at 31 backers, and have $1,810 in pledges, more than half our goal for our Kickstarter Campaign. But we only have 13 days left. That means we have to work quickly if we want to see The Quench Project succeed. Remember if we don't make our goal of $3,500 by...
Water is a Right
Thanks for the recent pledges to my Kickstarter Campaign, "The Quench Project." We are getting closer to the halfway point. I don't dare get too optimistic that this project will proceed as planned, but I can't help getting excited by what we can accomplish when we...
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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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