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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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...
The Sisters Rosensweig
The Sisters Rosensweig Reveals the Clown "I still believe there can be happiness in life. Brief, but a moment or two." As is always the case, it seems, whenever I take on a new role I find there is something of a life lesson to be learned. Both the character I play...
Arts in the Schools – A Secret Plot to Connect the Arts to Academic Success
A Secret Plot, Using the Arts to Bring Test Scores Up. As artist in residence in North Charleston I taught kids and their teachers how to draw. It was a simple mission. People who believed that they were not talented achieved success and there were a lot of...
50 Reasons Why Your Kid (YOU!) Should Learn to Draw and Paint
50 Reasons Why YOU Should (and still can) Learn to Draw and Paint My big message in school presentations (and wherever someone is listening) has always been: visual literacy is possible and available to everyone, no talent or golden ticket required. And yet, today's...
Painting with ADHD
"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk." — Thomas Edison Embracing Your "Limitations" Some of the best artists I know live in a world of chaos called ADHD. They love to play in the mud of ambiguity. I'm not sure if it's because ADHD is more...
Awakening Marsh Demo
Awakening Marsh - Demonstration Sometimes a demo is just what the students (and teacher) needs to get the juices flowing. Awakening Marsh was a demo for students from a photo I've been eying for a while. I don't often take on sun rises but I wanted to just...
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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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