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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Overrun by Sociopaths
Do you wish we had politicians who were honest enough to admit the game is rigged, who had actual experience in business and understood how the economy really works, who knew exactly how to stop the illegal flow of immigrants flooding across our borders, taking our...
Dying
The Day After Roe Fell - June 23, 2022 No mail today; it's an unofficial holiday. Our master's heart is flying, as we hear the fireworks, decrying. At least the weeds I tried to kill are dying, even as our politicians all are lying, while mothers stuck with children...
Playing in the Mud
Stepping into the Arena A friend who took my workshop many years ago, posted today that she hadn't painted since, and wanted to. I recall how much she enjoyed herself and the wonderful results she got using my painting method. So I posted a reply, hoping to encourage...
January 6th Hearings
Have you been watching the January 6th Hearings? So far, we've learned there was no evidence to support Trump's claims of a stolen election, that Trump himself was attempting to steal the election, that he was behind the insurrection at every stage, that he tried to...
The Real Issue Behind the Mass Shootings
What is Really Behind all the Mass Shootings? Some people say it’s a mental health issue. Others say it’s a gun issue. What it is, is a political health issue. America is experiencing political psychosis. There’s an insanity, a deep illness, an acute political...
Headmaster Chad Lawrence
The Portrait Presentation was a Hit I'm very excited to present my portrait of Headmaster Chad Lawrence who is retiring from Holy Trinity Christian school in Beaufort, SC this year. The portrait was a senior gift to the school and will hang in the lobby of the new...
The Dynamics of Sharing Our Creativity
Blinders On When I ran the Maniscalco Gallery in Grosse Pointe, I remember more than once, artists coming through the door, head down, arms full of art, mumbling something like, “I don’t want to look at anyone else’s art. That’s how I know that what I’m doing is...
Palm Sunday Conversation About Dreams
Welcome to Psalm Punday! Today, we live in a world of guns and violins. Personally, I don’t condone violins. I’m rather partial to violas. Seriously, thanks for having me here at the All Souls Waccamaw Unitarian Universalist Church. We tried this once before. And then...
Portrait of Juan Wu Li
I have gotten to be very particular about taking posthumous portrait commissions. They pose some singular challenges to any portrait artist. My goal is to capture life, or at least to create portraits that have the feeling of being painted from life. This can be very...
LOVE
This Valentines I’d like to take a moment to admire those who take seriously the idea of love, integrating love into our daily lives. Love is a verb. Love is pure potential. Love is the life force that makes all things possible. Love is more action than feeling or...
Freedom and Truth
Plausible Truths In light of the trucker protests, essentially weaponizing their trucks and the anti-vax movement at large, my measured conclusion is that ignorance is a fatal disease. Not getting vaccinated may kill you and others. As we pray for the future of a...
Forever Young
The Portrait of Steve Holmes I love the adventure of creating portraits. I always have. Some portraits stand out, not just because they are amazing subjects, fun to paint, but because the story around their creation moves, touches and inspires me. They say you can...
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Nothing Celebrates the legacy of your children or your grandchildren for their grandchildren, like an oil portrait.
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Two paintings. One a commission portrait of Gedney Howe III. Another an exploration of "Unintended Consequences." Both part of "Identity and Self," an exhibition at Park Circle Gallery, open wed-Sat. Until April 25th! Disappointed my brand of realism is not in vogue at the moment. But I'm aware fashions come and go. I know my art will endure. What do you think? ... See MoreSee Less
A competent portrait of the former president.  ... See MoreSee Less
At a portrait unveiling at Syracuse University on April 14, 2026, Joe Biden jokingly called Board Chair Jeffrey Scruggs to the stage, asking the crowd, “Doesn’t he look like Barack?” Biden quipped that he often mistook Scruggs for Obama. While the audience laughed, some found the moment awkward. The event celebrated Biden’s legacy at his law school alma mater
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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.Behind the Scene 11x 14″ original #oilpainting on linen, framed by the artist. A behind the scenes look at the glorious #sunflower, the great back actor. This is a continuation of my micro series where we take a closer look at #Common objects found in #nature. this is an homage to the iconic Van Gogh #painting with the similar perspective of the underneath of a Sunflower. ... See MoreSee Less
Unintended Consequences 96″ x 30″ oil on panel
The Three Perspectives:
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EAGLE: Look at me. I know what I am doing. My glorious mission gives me certain rights. Certain allowances. My voice is louder than yours. But that’s not what makes me right. Yes, I am intentional. I know what I want. And I speak for millions. While you speak for no one. | But the thing that makes me right, is that I speak for God, because I know he is with me because I feel his presence and His righteousness in my blood. That’s what makes me right. | Look at me. I’m perfect. Determined. My team will always win. Why? Because God is on our side. And if my team doesn’t win the battle, we will win the war. | And if we don’t win the war it will be because we failed to listen to God OR the devil corrupted our intentions. Therefore we must destroy evil, wherever it appears. We will find it together and we will flush it out. | Trust that I am in control and that God is with me. If you fail to obey me, as God’s chosen vessel, you will surely parish. You cannot hide from my eye. You cannot resist my charisma. Fear me if you must. Love me if you’re willing. But obey me, for I am your only hope.
DOG: Look at me. Do you think I need help? You think I’m weak. But I’m not. Sometimes I feel so big and strong, even though I know I’m not very strong or smart. But one thing I do know, is that he is strong. My leash tender. I trust the strength of those who know. His certainty is my comfort. My leash tells me I am in good hands. My collar is my Shepard; I shall not want.
GIRL: Look at me. I am flying. I’m flying high above the fray. God is with me. Nature is with me. We are one. God will protect me because I trust Him. I know God is IN the Eagle and the dog. And I know I am part of a larger story. The journey I am on is longer than my life or the dog’s life, or the Eagle’s life. It began long before I was born and it will never end. I am safe in the knowledge that I will never die. So nothing can harm me. I am at peace. ... See MoreSee Less