A beautifully written bio see the "High Profile" in the Post & Courier

Short Biographical Sketch

Since 1980, Robert Maniscalco's exquisite commissioned portraits and fine art have become part of over 850 distinguished private and public collections throughout North America. Born in Detroit in 1959, he is the son of internationally renowned portrait artist Joseph Maniscalco, with whom he apprenticed during the early 1980's. He moved to New York City in 1986 where he continued his studies and professional activities. In NYC he also worked as an actor and director on numerous stage, film and TV projects. He returned to Detroit in 1997 after a three year residency in New Orleans. In Detroit he founded the Maniscalco Gallery, which showcased many local and international artists. As host of Art Beat, the critically acclaimed PBS series on Detroit Public Television, he explored the creative process with his celebrated guests.

He has created two DVDs on painting portraits, called The Power of Positive Painting and published a novel called The Fishfly. Though his creative muse has taken many forms he has discovered a common thread which connects them all together. Robert speaks to the basic need we all share to communicate aesthetically about the human condition. He shares his remarkable path toward personal growth and creative self-expression in his new book, Point of Art. In addition to his portraits, Robert has created several bodies of work, including "Faces of China," "Italia," and a series of pastels on velour entitled "Chromo Sapient." He has begun work on a series of paintings depicting the Gullah people in and around the Carolina Lowcountry. Robert currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina where he continues his work and where he is raising his two wonderful children, Danny and Mary.

Since 1980, Robert Maniscalco's exquisite portraits and fine art have become part of over 850 distinguished private and public collections throughout North America. He has created portraits for a number of prominent individuals, including Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive (Michigan), L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive and Detroit's beloved news anchor, Carmen Harlan. Among others, Justices Blair Moody, Eugene Black, Marilyn Kelly, Edward Sharpe and Augustus Woodward of the Michigan Supreme Court; Judges Horace Gilmore, Cornelia Kennedy and Anna Diggs-Taylor of theUnited States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals; Patrick M. Schott, Dennis A. Barry and Howard Taylor, Chief Judges of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals-Louisiana; Dr. Lewis Flint, Chief of Surgery, Tulane University, Louisiana; Richard Huegli, founder, United Community Services of Detroit, MI. In addition, Maniscalco has rendered Chris Noth, star of TV's "Sex and the City," Gilda Radner of SNL and Rees Jones, legendary golf course designer. Still others include William McNary, Chairman of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan; James Tottis, Curator of American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Mike and Marian Ilitch, founders of Little Caeser's Pizza, Richard Fontaine, President of Barnes and Noble; Jerry Zucker, Governor and CEO of Hudsons Bay Company (Toronto); John Weinman, Ambassador to Finland; and E. Ray Scott, Executive Director Emeritus of the Michigan Council of the Arts to name only a few of the amazing individuals for whom he has created world-class portraits.

Extended Biographical Sketch

Robert Maniscalco grew up in a home filled with of music, acting and of course, lots of drawing and painting. He recalls as a child sitting on his father's lap for hours as he worked at his easel. Luckily for him, his father happened to be internationally renowned portrait painter, Joseph Maniscalco. Dad would occasionally let him "skumble in" the large background areas of his canvasses. Rob sold his first painting, a copy of David's Napoleon on horseback, when he was seven for three dollars-he asked for five. It was his first lesson into the real workings of the art world.

At 19 he began his formal apprenticeship with his father, earning enough money painting to put himself through music school. In 1983, Rob received a bachelor of Music at Wayne State University, where he was principal clarinet in the symphonic band and orchestra in the first university concert tour of China. After graduation Robert was drawn to acting in 1984, performing the role of Mozart in "Amadeus" with the Grosse Pointe Theatre.

In 1986 he moved to New York City and completed an intensive Professional Actor Training program at Circle in the Square Theater. In New York he performed in over 50 stage, television and film productions. He was a member of several award-winning arts organizations, including the contemporary music/theatre ensemble, New Renaissance Chamber Artists, where he participated in the creation and performance of several groundbreaking multi-media works; he made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 1991. Robert's time in NYC culminated in a one-person exhibition of fine art and portraiture at the Limner Gallery in SOHO in 1992. In 1995 he took up residency in New Orleans, where he focused on his commissioned portrait career.

In 1997 Rob returned to Detroit to open the Maniscalco Gallery, where he created and exhibited his portraits and fine artwork along with other exceptionally talented local and international fine artists. The Maniscalco Gallery gained a national reputation for presenting excellent exhibitions, along with arts events devoted to the exploration of the senses and artistic transformation. Rob took a leading role in Detroit's arts community as well. He has chaired the Arts Committee on the Board of Directors at the Scarab Club of Detroit and is past President of the Wayne County Council for Arts, History & Humanities. He was also a member of the Board of Visitors for the Wayne State College of Fine and Performing Arts. He has taught painting and drawing at College for Creative Studies, University of Detroit/Mercy, Adult Learning Institute and the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. In 1996 he released an instructional video on portrait painting and teaches workshops nationwide entitled, "The Power of Positive Painting®" He has since gone on to create another portrait DVD, a more comprehensive elaboration of the original P3 concept.

Rob was host of ART BEAT, the highest rated local program on PBS in SE Michigan, on WTVS, channel 56. He also was host and producer of Inside Art, on WMTV-5, which aired three times daily in Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods. Both programs explored the Detroit arts scene and the artistic process, featuring a rich variety of talented artists active in the Detroit Metropolitan community.

Maniscalco is a tireless advocate for the arts. Though his creative muse has taken many forms he has discovered a common thread which connects them all together. Robert speaks to the basic need we all share to communicate aesthetically. He shares his remarkable path toward personal growth and creative self-expression in his new book, Point of Art. He maintains an online newsgroup, SCAN (South Carolina Arts Newsgroup) with over 9,000 members.

Rob has raised over $250,000 through donations of his art to fund-raisers and silent auctions, for medical research, homelessness and education. Among his many awards, Robert was awarded Best in Show in the Westbank Art Guild Fourth National Art Competition for his portrait of Ms. Diane Olsen.

Rob has also published The Fishfly, his critically acclaimed debut novel. The Fishfly is the inner monologue of Donald Michael Spinelli, a portrait artist, turned hit-man.

Today, Robert Maniscalco's exquisite portraits and fine art have become part of over 850 distinguished private and public collections throughout North America. He has created portraits for a number of prominent individuals, including Robert Ficano, Wayne County Executive (Michigan), L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive and Detroit's beloved news anchor, Carmen Harlan. Among others, Justices Blair Moody, Eugene Black, Marilyn Kelly, Edward Sharpe and Augustus Woodward of the Michigan Supreme Court; Judges Horace Gilmore, Cornelia Kennedy and Anna Diggs-Taylor of theUnited States 6th Circuit Court of Appeals; Patrick M. Schott, Dennis A. Barry and Howard Taylor, Chief Judges of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals-Louisiana; Dr. Lewis Flint, Chief of Surgery, Tulane University, Louisiana; Richard Huegli, founder, United Community Services of Detroit, MI. In addition, Maniscalco has rendered Chris Noth, star of TV's "Sex and the City," Gilda Radner of SNL and Rees Jones, legendary golf course designer. Still others include William McNary, Chairman of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan; James Tottis, Curator of American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts; Mike and Marian Ilitch, founders of Little Caeser's Pizza, Richard Fontaine, President of Barnes and Noble; Jerry Zucker, Governor and CEO of Hudsons Bay Company (Toronto); John Weinman, Ambassador to Finland; and E. Ray Scott, Executive Director Emeritus of the Michigan Council of the Arts to name only a few of the amazing individuals for whom he has created world-class portraits.

In addition to his work as a portrait artist, Robert has created several bodies of work, including "Faces of China," "Italia," a series of pastels on velour entitled "Chromo Sapient." Currently he is working on a series of paintings depicting the Gulllah people in and around the Carolina Lowcounrtry.

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The Power of Positive Painting is a lively multi-media "performance art" presentation that explores the process of being a professional artist. Robert will paint a portrait using a live model chosen from the audience as an entry point into another world, the world of an art spirit. During the course of this informative and entertaining presentation Robert reveals more than his considerable technical skill. It is a personal, humorous and ultimately inspiring look into the creative process itself and the journey of an art spirit toward self-actualization.

Robert's love of singing and acting began in high school when his men's octet placed first in state competition. He went on to earn his Bachelors in music at Wayne State University in 1983 where he was principal Clarinet in the symphony band and orchestra, leading a concert tour to China in 1982. He began singing professionally in quartets and as a solist in area churches. In NYC he sang in a cabaret quartet during his professional actor training at Circle in the Square Theater, going on to premiere several original musical/drama compositions with the New Renaissance Chamber Artists. Later, while in residence in New Orleans, Robert sang with the early music ensemble, Musica da Camera (on Centour Records) and with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus. At Grosse Pointe Theatre he has won two Clarence awards for acting (Mozart in Amadeus and a double award for City of Angels and Rainmaker). Robert directed GPTs production of Jesus Christ Superstar and Smokey Joe's Cafe; he was music director for A Chorus Line and has served on the Board of Directors.

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PRESS RELEASE (11/21/08)

I recently moved to West Ashley (Charleston, SC). Here are some items of interest, any of which might make an excellent angle for a feature story. To receive updates, join my emailing list.

• I recently appeared on The Today Show (NBC) on November 6, featuring a very evocative portrait for a special family with an amazing back story. See below for details.*
• Last November I was the subject for a "High Profile" in the Post and Courier - Thanks to Bill Thompson!
• Nationally known portrait artist, My work is in over 850 private/public collections throughout North America.
• Relocated to Charleston 3.5 years ago. I love my new home/studio on the marsh west of the Ashley.
• Recent portrait of the late Jerry Zucker.
• Recent portrait of the founder of Little Caesars Pizza, Mike Ilich.
• In February 2009 I will present my latest double portrait of Andi & Chuck Volpe for the new cardiac hospital at MUSC.
• I've been a professional artist for 28 years and have learned how to juggle the artist and the businessman.
• Lowcountry artist, specializing in paintings featuring Gulluh people and culture, in the context of the natural environment,
• Four years ago my debut novel, The Fishfly, was published. It's about a portrait artist turned hit man.
• Recently published Point of Art, an inspirational book about the creative process. A modern version of "Art Spirit" by Robert Henri.
• I teach painting workshops nationwide called The Power of Positive Painting©.
• Currently teaching classes in my spacious studio to talented Charleston residents.
• Created an instructional portrait painting video back in 1995, called "The Power of Positive Painting.©"
• I will be teaching (March 2009) a portrait workshop at The Gibbes Museum - in my West Ashley Studio.
• Two years ago Lilliedale Publications released my new instructional DVD "The Portrait, a value-based painting system.".
• Author of "SC Arts Newsgroup (SCAN)," an email blog with over 8,000 members
• Former host of Art Beat, on PBS in Detroit, a lively half-hour program, interviewing visual artists while they demonstrated their process. Was the highest rated local show on Detroit Public TV.
• Former gallery owner in Grosse Pointe, Michigan (near Detroit)
• Was a professional actor/singer in New York City
• I am an actor. Recently appeared in Shakespeare's Measure for Measure at the College of Charleston. Appeared last year in Footlight Player's production of The Full Monty. Will be appearing in Charleston Stage production of A Christmas Carol this December.
• Former classical musician. Played for a while in the Summerville Community Orchestra (Clarinet), just for old times.

* The story is very poignant. The Today show is doing a series called, “Everyone has a story,” where they solicited viewers’ life changing stories. One of them was about a family whose 3 young children were killed in a car crash by a drunk driver (the Drunk driver is serving a 30 year sentence). The parents survived, incredibly, and went on to adopt twins from China, named Faith and Hope after a 2 year ordeal. Having two small children of my own I have no idea how they could have handled it at all, much less embark on a faith and hope filled journey of love and devotion. From all my research I get the strong impression that they are incredible parents. Naturally, they feel a powerful connection to all five children. The producers contacted me about creating a portrait with all 5 kids together. They settled on me after researching portrait artists online. I wracked my brain on an effective way to make this dream meeting happen on canvas. With very few decent photos to work with I came up with several sketches and I am hard at work on the finished canvas. It was a complete surprise to the parents. How did they react? How would you react? The people I’ve spoken to are either horrified by the project or deeply moved with not much in between. Such is the nature of art. View the segment on The Today Show.

The family has a blog with lots of info about their story: http://www.threeinnocentliveslost.blogspot.com/

Click here for information about the commission process.

Robert Maniscalso's main portrait page