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.
BLOG CATEGORIES
ALL BLOGS
Interview with a VampBlogger
The first known interview with a VampBlogger - Confessions of an artist I was recently asked for an interview by eminent art therapy blogger, Stuart Cline. Here are his fascinating questions, along with my answers: What got you into blogging? I enjoy communicating...
Painting Badly
Some Advice from the Master (of failure) about painting badly This is not directed at anyone in particular, since, I have banned the use of the word" bad" in my classes. I encourage my students to think in terms of deeper, rather than bad or good. In other words, if...
Brush with Talent
No brush with wine last night. Cate and I have really enjoyed each group that has come and celebrated the creative process with us at our painting parties, now being offered half price through Amazon Local. They're also offering half off painting classes. Imagine,...
My Favorite Artist
Why bash Bush? When I first saw this monstrosity on facebook my knee jerk reaction was, terrible President, terrible artist. I proceeded to draw correlations from history. The comparisons between Hitler and all the famous politicians who were artist wannabes...
Six More Artists in the World
Does the world need another artist? Another Painting Party and suddenly there are six more artists in the world that were not there before. I love that none of these ladies has ever painted in oil before last night. A couple had done a Palette and Brush event but...
Morris Island Lighthouse Demo
Morris Island Lighthouse This iconic Charleston scene captivates us with its steadfast devotion to its task. Recently restored it has been the subject of many a painting. Add seven more. Last evening this painting was the subject of a painting party at our studio. ...
Why Are You an Artist?
We saw the movie, "Gravity" last night. Cate commented after: "Space exploration is a waste of money. How do Sandra Bullock's (or Captain Kirk's) personal epiphanies and discoveries really benefit Earth and are their "great stories" really worth the cost?" It...
Artist as Bricklayer
"Find the art in yourself, not your self in the art." Stanislavski Exploring structure by seeing the artist as bricklayer Whether you are an abstract expressionist or a photo realist it might be time to think of your job more as a bricklayer than as some fancy-pants...
Selling Art or Selling Out
Selling Art Vs. Selling Out "Art is making something out of nothing and selling it." Frank Zappa Selling art is always a pleasure. Yesterday, a fellow artist posted a blog about the tragedy of truly dedicated artists not selling their work. Perhaps rightly, he...
Fear No Oil
Fear No Oil "If you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." Vincent Van Gogh We have begun in earnest the run of painting parties with the Maniscalcos. We had some fun and made some cool art. Cate...
Art and Wine
Painting Drunk Cate and I recently went incognito to a bottle and brush event to research how the "pros" get "cons" like us to produce really crappy art while drunk. This was part of our research into our presenting really cool painting parties of our own. It was a...
Charleston ARTBEAT Coming Soon
South Carolina ART BEAT Is Coming to ETV in 2016! ARTBEAT ran for two seasons on WTVS-PBS in Detroit from 2003-2005 and was a forerunner to the fast paced guerrilla style, personality driven TV experiences now common on the Food Channel and others. ARTBEAT is shot...
Would you like to get inspiration in your inbox, rather than ads for more stuff? Welcome to ManiscalcoGallery.com
Maniscalco Gallery on Facebook
Remembering Manny Krammer. He was a loving mentor, an unequivocal supporter of my early career as an artist. He got me teaching and exhibiting in his little gallery in Rochester. He was one of the first messengers of love and positivity in my life, a gentle force of will, reminding me and everyone he touched that we are not alone in this work. Gone but not forgotten. ... See MoreSee Less
Great study by a great portraitist  ... See MoreSee Less
This content isn't available right now
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
This content isn't available right now
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.Again, portraiture in all its forms, is legacy, it is history, it belongs to everyone. ... See MoreSee Less
This content isn't available right now
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
Shoulda asked me. I guarantee a perfect likeness. 😆 ... See MoreSee Less
Anne Boleyn painting is ‘actually a different royal’, claims historian
www.the-independent.com
Off with her head? Painting in National Portrait Gallery’s collection may have been important political tool to shore-up Elizabeth I’s hold on power