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
My Teaching Method
When I teach privately I like to use the paint along process, where the student paints along as I demonstrate. This is how I learned, sitting next to my father and painting what he painted. I call it full immersion study. It usually works out as a win-win. The student...
The Political Divide
Collective fear stimulates herd instinct, and tends to produce ferocity toward those who are not regarded as members of the herd. ~Bertrand Russell (Book: Unpopular Essays : https://amzn.to/3PvxdDo) It’s strange to be a member of a group (democrats) that is so feared...
My Furry Friends Demo
Recently, I had the pleasure of creating an oil portrait of my dog, Bailey, as the subject of my "Furry Friends" demo, begun at Art on the Square Gallery, where you can also see some of my latest work. I finished the painting in my studio. Here's my Youtube video of...
The Slavery of Work and AI
We are witnessing a transformation of our economy, as the unpleasant tasks we formerly performed for money will be done automatically by AI. We all will someday soon receive a guaranteed income and be free to do whatever we like. Whether that is pursuing our art or...
How to Appreciate Art
Steve Anthony Cefalo created some great tips for appreciating artwork, with which I agree whole heartedly. This is not anti-intellectual dribble (heaven forbid). It’s a way to expand your intuition and use your lifetime of experience to enter a work of art. The...
One Man’s Trauma
We refer to life's obstacles as “formative experiences” or “trials” when we’re mature enough to process the challenges they present. We may succeed or fail but we are emotionally prepared to accept the consequences. And when we are not emotionally prepared to deal...
Dare to Paint Badly
You have the choice. It’s just paint. No one will get hurt if you lay down paint where you choose to put it.
Picture Lights
A Circus Barker: See the video on FB. Heres's the transcript: Folks, ya simply won’t believe how you've managed to live without picture lights. The light reflected by an original oil painting into a room is at least 375 times richer and warmer than any fancy lamp...
A Vortex of Hoplessness
This is a very difficult subject and I'm probably out of my league discussing, because I'm a member of white middle class by birth. But maybe, that is what makes me the most qualified. I have lived the entitlements heaped upon my demographic. Yes, I have struggled,...
My Shatner Experience
For those of you who are aware of the depths of my admiration for a man whom my son and I may or may not have met last Saturday . . . I have a recurring dream where Shatner is a main character and we are just hanging out like brothers. His Captain Kirk has not only...
Shatner in Space – the poem
William Shatner in Space by Robert Maniscalco Consider the young and the old Shatner, both, who, in the understatement of any century, I deeply admire. But I don't go to Star Trek conventions because I am not a joiner. That’s because of my emulation, often to a...
Tactically Necessity
Remember Affirmative Action? Every generation has their name for the effort to create true equality. And as always, there are many who will cry "no fair." That's just "reverse discrimination," another buzzword from the recent past. Its three steps forward, two steps...
Would you like to get inspiration in your inbox, rather than ads for more stuff? Welcome to ManiscalcoGallery.com
Maniscalco Gallery on Facebook
My portrait of Miss Susie Jackson, along with "The Tan Suit," will be part of the upcoming MOJA exhibition at Charleston City Gallery, part of the city-wide MOJA Festival. ...
maniscalcogallery.com
maniscalcogallery.com
Thank you Tom for your insight and perspective on the age old debate on nudity. Apparently, even male nudity from the waste up is a thing. I think ageism may have also been a factor - no one wants to see my sagging carcass. I'm proud I won, but I've been around long enough to know it could have easily been a bust - just not my bust. "Reflections" goes to Cincinnati next for a national show. I'm proud of the high quality this show is attracting, raising the artistic standards, if not the moral standards, of our region. This was my second 'best of' in as many years of the Lowcountry FA Showcase. Now, the question dangles tantalizingly over the horizon: should I go for three next year? Or quit while I'm ahead (but not a semi nude body!)? ...
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.I am excited to announce my painting, "Gratitude" has been juried into the Fall 2026 Open Juried Exhibition of the Portrait Society of Atlanta! The exhibition will take place at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center in Gainesville, Georgia from October 3 to December 5, 2026. If you're in the Atlanta area definitely come check out the show! This painting will be available for purchase during the exhibition.
maniscalcogallery.com/product/gratitude/
#portraitsocietyofatlanta #painting #portraitpainting ...
Call Now
You are invited to an exhibition of my work and a lively Portrait Demonstration
PORTRAIT DEMONSTRATION
SEPTEMBER 15, @ 11:00 AM
at IOP REC CENTER, 24 28th Ave,
Isle of Palms, SC 29451
info: 843.886.8294
The exhibition will run from August 31 - September 19 ...
...
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.Still wet on the easel, The Tan Suit has great significance, not only because Obama infamously wore one as President . . . Remember when this was such a terrible transgression? But making billions on buisness deals as President is okay? But I digress. This painting is from a pic I took in 2010 in front of Mother Emanuel Church, in a simpler time.
maniscalcogallery.com/product/the-tan-suit/ ...