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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Recent Portraits Presented in Detroit
Here are a couple portraits presented in Detroit recently. The "big wig" on the left is now part of a series of graphite portraits of his predecessors, many created by my father over his long career of his predecessor. I'm not at liberty to reveal his identity until...
Democritization of Art
In response to my recent posting on FB of this Stella Adler quote and describing those who don't have something to contribute as fillers, a very wise, dear friend responded privately: "''Fillers?' Not true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind. It takes courage to...
Collecting Fine Art
Do your research Emerging collectors should become informed by utilizing museums, galleries, auction houses, artists, fellow collectors, art books, magazines and websites to assist them in acquiring art. But you don't need a Master's degree in art history to be a...
Ghost Art
This past weekend we took a ghost tour on top of a hearse and stayed at "the most haunted" Bed & Breakfast in Savannah (17hundred90). Didn't see any ghosts so we went to the local museums and toured a couple homes. We spent a lovely afternoon at the Telfair...
Alex in Charcoal
Celebrating Childhood I love that I have a job where I can help people capture the feeling of a time, which we all know too well, inevitably will slip away. I feel like a time traveler and it's awesome. Now those who love, and will come to love Alex, will always...
Trust
"It takes a lifetime to build trust and only a second to destroy it forever." I have written previously about the art business as a con game. Well here is a painting I know you will like. . . Once, on a cruise ship, the auctioneer was angry that no one was bidding....
Maya and the Surviving Spirit
We are Here In homage to this great life allow me to suggest that as creatives we all owe her a debt, that a woman who had to overcome such great odds to have her voice heard is an inspiration for all those who have ever been brave enough to put down on canvas a...
Dr. Barbara Tilley Portrait Vernissage
Dr. Barbara Tilley Returns to the Department she chaired for ten years at MUSC, now the Department of Public Health Sciences. I am very grateful that Barbara had faith in my work nine years ago when she became the first to commission me to create portraits at MUSC,...
PR – Maniscalco Wins 2014 Artprize Portrait Competition
Robert Maniscalco Wins 2014 Artfields Portrait Competition For more information please email Robert or by phone at 843-486-3161 Robert Maniscalco won the 2014 ARTFIELDS portrait competition on May 3, 2014, selected from a field of 23 very talented and creative...
ARTFIELDS Winning Portrait
Made my Daddy Proud The big news is that I won the ARTFIELDS portrait competition on May 3, 2014, from a field of 23 very talented and creative artists. It was pretty exciting. But whatever the outcome, it was an awesome opportunity to turn people on to the art of...
But I’m Not a Racist
I met a guy today; he'd just moved to South Carolina from Lansing and saw my Detroit tee shirt. I was waiting for service at a small engine repair shop in Charleston. He decided to strike up a conversation. He said, "I left my job in Michigan because my ex-boss's...
Passion, Vision and Goals
Being an Artist It's absurd to expect yourself to be passionate about your art without knowing why you're doing it. It's the vision, not the idea of passion that inspires us. I write (paint, sing, act, dance, etc.) not to be a writer; I write because I have...
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 ...