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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The Text Monster
How often do we text and drive? Just a little bit here and there? Stopped at a light? Just a quick, "got it." The Text Monster doesn't care. She says, "don't say you're sorry, just don't do it!" These films all have a message but they are all about character and...
Ann Kennedy Video Tribute
I've used the Memorial Service as a basis for a video tribute of my mom. I hope you will enjoy the additional photos and other elements I've added to give you a small glimpse of the life of Ann Kennedy. It is not as wonderful as I would have liked, but here is my...
The Miracle of How the Sad Boy Became Happy
A Children’s Story by Robby Maniscalco Once upon a time there was a beautiful but troubled young woman who had an unwanted child. She loved him in her way but wasn't ready to give him all the love he craved. So she left him with his father who did his best to raise...
Our Sublime Purpose
A call to action Beings come and go on this Earth, each to sing their own sweet song, muttering them almost imperceptibly as they pass. Or sometimes shouting them from the high ground of a flood. I awoke from a dream this morning on which my grandfather,...
A Tribute to Ann Kennedy
Love languages of Ann Kennedy Thank you all for coming today. "Never trust a person who doesn't love animals." You could trust my mom. Tigey's here to protect her from the indignity of being paraded out on display. There's been much written and said about the Five...
Realize Your Dreams
Prepare a Place for Your Dreams If you expect things to fall into place in your life, to realize your dreams, you must be willing to prepare a place for the dream to become real. If you dream of great wealth and success, you owe it to yourself to put structures in...
What’s In Your Universe?
Art as a Metaphor for Life Have you ever thought of a painting (fill in your respective creative poison here) as a metaphor for your life? We all struggle with the desire to control our universe, our circle of influence, and to accept those things we cannot change....
A Rant on Values
Sometimes Having Strong Values Means More Than Just Being a Nice Guy* Sometimes a value that appears to be correct in a painting is anything but. You've got to know and understand how light works on form if you want to make your paintings look lifelike. Excellent...
Drawing for the Ages
Drawing for the ages Ridge came to my studio for a quick sketch this morning. He was a delightful model and his mom really liked the drawing. Ridge was a very patient model for a 5 year old! I really enjoy sketching from life and as I always tell my students, life...
No More Smooshing Paint Around
Getting it Right the First Time Rather than getting the wrong value on your brush and then working it into the painting, try getting the right value on your palette and painting directly onto the canvas, without apology. Smooshing the paint around only weakens the...
Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
Joe Maniscalco Returns Fom the hey-day of illustration Here's one of the vintage Joe Maniscalco illustrations I have re-purposed. I wonder what they were used for originally. They are masterfully painted in the hey-day of illustration. I was thinking of other...
Joe Maniscalco Illustrations
Joe Maniscalco Retrofitted I've really been enjoying excavating my father's legacy by digging out these vintage illustrations and re-captioning them. I am re-purposing and compiling images of his and my work, along with witty and not-so-witty aphorisms into a coffee...
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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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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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