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Three Little Birds

Young black boy, white shirt, holding backpack over left shoulder
Three little birds, 30×24 inches, Oil on canvas, 2023, Michael Liebhaber

I was in Castries, the capital city of Saint Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. I sat down to paint The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. I was in a parking lot across the street. Apparently a school was nearby because the area was suddenly swarming with elementary-age school children. This is one of three young boys who ran up to see what I was doing. I still remember their smiles and energy. When I think of them, I am reminded that everything will be alright, a line from Three Little Birds by Bob Marley.
FYI: If you get to Castries, visit the Cathedral. It’s plain on the outside but the inside is amazing; all wood, delicately painted.
The background design was inspired by island colors and the Saint Lucia flag.

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Ridge where the west commences

River valley in the mountains
Ridge where the West Commences, 40 x 30 in, Oil on canvas, 2022.

As soon as I saw this place I instantly thought of the song “Don’t Fence Me In” as sung by Gene Autry. It’s a view, looking due West, towards the headwaters of the of the Rio Grande river (in the distant mountains). The view is from Brown’s Lake Overlook (AKA Weminuche Wilderness Vista) along the Silver Thread Scenic Highway (CO 149).
https://silverthreadbyway.com/14-stops/33-rio-grande-river-browns-lake-overlook

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Go where there is no path and leave a trail

green plain with road coming in from bottom right. Low brown purple mountains in the distance. Blue sky.
Go where there is no path and leave a trail. Michel Liebhaber. 40 x 30 in, Oil on canvas, 2022.

My path paintings are about journeys, not destinations. The title is from a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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Moonrise over the San Luis Valley, Colorado

Moonrise over the San Luis Valley, dark sky, dimly lit Sangre de Cristo MOuntins, moon in sky at left, scrub brush in front of mountains.
Moonrise over the San Luis Valley (Michael Liebhaber, Oil on canvas, 40×30 in., 2022)

On a cool evening, the feeling of a moonrise over the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Looking East from near Alamosa, Colorado. Three 14,300+ foot (4359 m) peaks are visible towards the right: Ellingwood, Blanca (Sisnaajini), and Little Bear.

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14ers near Alamosa, CO

14ers near Alamosa
14ers near Alamosa, Michael Liebhaber, Oil on birch panel, 40×30 inches, 2022

Three fourteen thousand foot (4268 meter) peaks, east of Alamosa, Colorado. Viewed in the summer time. The peaks, from left to right, are Ellingwood Point, Blanca Peak (Sisnaajini in Diné), and Little Bear Peak

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Meeting the Oracle

The Oracle (Oil on canvas, 4x3 feet, 2017, Michael Liebhaber)
The Oracle (Oil on canvas, 48×36 inches, 2017, Michael Liebhaber)

What would it be like to travel to Delphi and meet the Oracle? Why did men seek her counsel? Why her? I used experiences from my travels and incorporated colors and symbols from earlier renditions of Oracles and Sibyls to create a plausible reality about being in the presence of the Oracle.

Please contact me for more information about this painting

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Evolution of Art

oil painting. 3 heads. 1 with cave art. 1 with Van Gogh art. 1 with computer bar code.
Evolution of Art; Michael Liebhaber; 2020; oil on canvas; 36 x 48 inches

Visual art is constantly evolving. The only common denominator is the expression of human thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Is there a next step? Can there be art without humans? My allegorical paintings are painted in oil on canvas. I rarely use any mediums other than Gamsol solvent.

Please contact me for more information about this painting