Portraiture Blog
Several Important Feature Story Prompts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 7, 2026 "Now, that's Art to Believe" rm Contact: Robert Maniscalco, artist/author [email protected] mobile: 313-689-2993 click on text for links ↓ Identity and Self a solo exhibition by Robert Maniscalco at Park Circle...
Dennis Drew Portrait
Portrait of a Hero As a Portrait Painter I am always interested in getting deeper into the mind and heart of my subjects. Charlestonian, Dennis Drew came to me originally looking for a portrait to celebrate his life and legacy. Many around him felt a portrait was an...
The Archeology of My Art
I think of my paintings as a piece of archeology, not a snapshot in time, or another scrolling image. I don't mean to artsplain, but a physical painting (not the image of the painting) literally contains the millions of choices made by an artist, in this case mine,...
Empathy is the Truth of the Matter
I remember moving to Andover high school in my sophomore year, on the other side of town. I found myself sitting alone every day at the cafeteria table during lunch. I had enjoyed a certain popularity in my previous school. At least I was well known by my friends, who...
The Long Lost Portrait
I Ran into an Old Friend At a recent art opening, I ran into Nancy Delewski, the sitter of my old band mate Marie. When I was at Wayne State, in the music department, I was putting myself through music school painting portraits in exchange for accompaniment, or for a...
Fame and Fortune
My PR person (me) should win an award. I have had more than my share of media coverage over my 45-year career. It's not just an ego boost. It is necessary for my career to get my name out there, to remain relevant, even though I am actually a shy person (believe it or...
A Commission as Collaboration
We're Jamin' Once in a while a client allows me to do whatever I want. Of course, what I want is to please my client. I have found the best and only way to please the client is to please myself. But pleasing anyone, including myself, is a funny thing. The truth is...
Expressive Realism
"Looks like a photograph" Many people tell me paintings look like a photograph. While I know this is meant as a compliment, I would like to make the case that my work as painter is far deeper than a mere photograph, with apologies to fine art photographers everywhere....
The Real Deal
What Should you Expect from a Legacy Portrait? Basically, you are looking for an excellent likeness that will capture and express the world of the sitter, both inside and out. You really want an excellent portrait of yourself, your family or the founder of your...
Father’s Day
Losing one's father is a sad moment in anyone's life, no doubt. But it is also a necessary and meaningful milestone. Even as we honor and acknowledge how much our fathers have done for us to make us the individuals we have become, we need to put in perspective the...









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What is existence? Are we really spiritual beings, made in God's image? #existence #charlestonsc #painting #artcollector ... See MoreSee Less
This dramatic, colorful, painterly, expressive self-portrait is an example of what I can do for you. ... See MoreSee Less
Thanks Robbin.
As Americans marked Presidents’ Day — a holiday traditionally reserved for honoring the nation’s leaders, their legacies and the arc of presidential history — Donald Trump found himself in the middle of a growing controversy over how his legacy is framed in one of the country’s most revered cultural institutions.
Trump reportedly requested that the Smithsonian Institution commission a new official presidential portrait that would encapsulate both his nonconsecutive terms — a departure from the usual practice of unveiling an official painted portrait only after a president leaves office. An earlier portrait commissioned after his first term, painted by the late Ronald Sherr, was never displayed because Trump was running for reelection when it was completed. But now, Trump wants a different image to represent his full tenure. At the same time, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has already stirred debate by replacing Trump’s previous photographic portrait in the “America’s Presidents” exhibition and stripping wall text that noted his two impeachments and the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The new display features a stark image by White House photographer Daniel Torok with minimal context, a contrast to other presidents’ portraits, which still include fuller biographical captions. At the same time, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has already stirred debate by replacing Trump’s previous photographic portrait in the “America’s Presidents” exhibition and stripping wall text that noted his two impeachments and the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The new display features a stark image by White House photographer Daniel Torok with minimal context, a contrast to other presidents’ portraits, which still include fuller biographical captions. ... See MoreSee Less
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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.... 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.A looser approach to this demo ... 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.First self portrait in a while. I didn't see the point unless o had a spin on the genre. ... 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.