World Views Blog
The Last Supper
More rough draft from my journal in Haiti. . . I was in lock down at the Watermission compound in Porta Prince for the weekend so I decided to make the best use of time by painting a 12' mural knockoff of da Vinci's The Last Supper (slightly less than actual size) on...
Haiti, Into the Light
I am working on the picture book, chronicling my personal experiences in my recent trip to Haiti. The working title is, "Haiti, Into the Light." I took over 1,600 photos and wrote pages of notes in preparation for the next phase of The Quench Project. Here are are...
Are You a Tetrachromat?
How would you like to be able to see 100 million colors? There are those among us who have this super power, called Tetrachromacy, which I'm guessing, many artists would give their right nut to have. Unfortunately, it is a women only thing. Men cannot be...
Art Is Where You Find It
Chalkboard art makes a comeback! I love discovering beauty where others see only a mess. Some of my favorite artists use found objects as their sole medium. What a great way to recycle trash. These are a couple of the endless examples of the amazing things and...
Control
People first approaching the arts often assume that total freedom is achieved through the abandonment of structure or giving into complete chaos. Seasoned artists know that true freedom is the result of structured chaos. On the other hand, the idea that we can...
Enlightenment
In every story there are pieces of the problem that cry out for resolution. There is often confusion and pain. We wish things were not what they seemed to us to be. But present also in every problem, are pieces of the solution which will eventually lead to...
Dorothy Lee Barnett Courtroom sketch
Dorothy Lee Barnett Arraignment Aside from the historical significance of this notorious, unsolved mystery finally being resolved, another piece of Charleston history was made on Monday, September 29, 2014. So far as I know, I was the first court sketch artist to...
Judgment vs Discernment
Distinguishing between Judgment vs discernment is the first step in the creative process. Observational drawing is not about pleasing myself; it is about pleasing God. rm I've written extensively about how ego is the main saboteur in our creative process. That's why...
Shapes – A Lesson in Drawing
The Best Realists Deal with Shapes as Abstractions. In over 30 years of teaching I have noticed the people who are interested in drawing and painting realistically, make the worst realists. Why? Because they are so ardent in their desire to recreate the thing they...
Quench Project is Moving Forward
Again, a huge thank you to those of you who contributed to The Quench Project. Here's our video thank you. The project is getting bigger all the time. The big news, I am going to Haiti from November 3-12! While there, I am going to be working with a school in Port...










Would you like to get inspiration in your inbox, rather than ads for more stuff? Welcome to ManiscalcoGallery.com
Maniscalco Gallery on Facebook
Here's the entire portrait. I love judicial portraits. What do you think of this portrait? Know anyone who wants a portrait legacy created? A portrait is how people know us when we're gone. ... See MoreSee Less
"Reflections on Nothingness" #existentialism This #painting is not a design choice; it’s a commitment to keep looking into the #mystery rather than numbing out. “Reflections on Nothingness” is a #meditation on the space between presence and absence—the quiet, unsettling recognition that everything we cling to is, in the end, temporary. This piece is for collectors who are not afraid to sit with the bigger questions: mortality, consciousness, and the strange beauty of existing at all. Hung in a study, retreat space, or #contemplative corner, it becomes less a decoration and more a companion for the long, honest conversations you have with yourself. Let me know if you'd like to the whole painting ... See MoreSee Less
A lot goes into making a #oilportrait. Hands, drapery, leather chairs. I am going beyond #likeness; I make every element as true and deep as possible, without them taking away from the main event, which is soul of the sitter. That's the #art of #portraiture. Let me know if you want to see the entire #portrait are interested in creating your legacy ... See MoreSee Less
“Light” is a #painting about the moment before everything changes—the quiet split-second when intention becomes action. Set against a swirling, cosmic backdrop, the hands of God (or man?) hold earth or another planet to the flame of destruction (or enlightenment?). The painting invites you to consider both the beauty and the weight of what we choose to ignite in our lives. It holds the tension between our power to create and our responsibility to care. #Light is for those who think deeply about #purpose, #stewardship, and the mystery of #existence, “Light” becomes more than an artwork. It’s a daily reminder that even the smallest spark—an idea, a conversation, a decision—can shape entire worlds. There’s a moment—right before we act—when everything is still possible.
“Light” was painted for the people who feel that weight: the therapists, teachers, spiritual guides, scientists, and quiet leaders who know their choices ripple out farther than they can see. If you’ve ever looked at our fragile little planet and felt both awe and responsibility, this piece is meant to live in your space. A reminder that what you choose to ignite today matters. Where in your life are you ready to strike the match? ... See MoreSee Less
Have you had an #oilportrait of your #children made yet? Now is the best time to #create an #heirloom #portrait by one of America's top portraitists. ... See MoreSee Less
"Jennifer's Flowers" is a recent painting. Can you see how it is a depiction of lovers? How does it make you feel? ... See MoreSee Less