I’ve been on a Poirot kick lately, so here’s one of my favorite detective.

M. Liebhaber, David Suchet as Hercule Poirot, iPad Drawing, 2013,

A view out my studio window. Two days of sunshine in a row! I couldn’t help painting the view this morning.

Spring Day, watercolor & ink, 6 x 4 in.

Marktstraße looking towards the Shiftkirche, iPad, 2012, Michael Liebhaber

I was commissioned by the Kaiserslautern Media Center to “update” old photos with a new look. Mr. Peter Turgetto made photographs all over southern Germany from the 1920s to his death in 1960. I selected several of Mr. Turgetto’s photos and painted the scenes on my iPad. My goal was to make it appear as if I was standing next to Mr. Turgetto, painting, while he took the photograph.

I had a big problem when I began the project. The photos are black and white, but what were the original colors? Some of the buildings that are still standing have been remodeled, parts of the present-day Shiftskirche (Collegiate Church) fountain are different from the one in the photograph (thankfully part of the original is in a city museum), and the Synagogue is gone (colors of a model built by the University in Darmstadt are only a best guess; no one is alive who remembers the exact colors).

So what did I do? I looked at current architectural styles, some old colorized postcards, and any other photographic resource I could find. After much study, I gave it my best guess. An example is my painting above. It is from a photo taken along Marktstraße (Market Street), looking towards the Shiftskirche (spire is on the right in the distance). No one today knows the colors of the store awnings or the flags or even if it was a holiday. But here is my drawing, as I stood next to Mr. Turgetto, some 70 years later.

Photograph of Marktstraße looking towards Shiftkirche by Peter Turgetto. Date unknown (ca. 1930s-40s)

After a long hiatus. Lot’s of work to catch up on and this is a good day to do it. It’s snowing heavily – the intensity increased AFTER I had shoveled the sidewalk and driveway.

Whenever I have lived in a snowy climate, the most significant snowfall usually happens in the middle of March, just before or on my birthday. I have a theory about that. Maybe later, but for now…

I’m updating my website today with my latest paintings – all iPad.

From my balcony.

Bodhisattva – In Buddhism, a person who has attained Enlightenment, but who postpones Nirvana in order to help others to attain Enlightenment.
Guan Yin – Goddess/God of mercy, who sees and hears the cry from the human world.

I’m working on a new project. Painting Kaiserslautern on my new iPad. I’m stoked.

Reputation?  Google Joan Jett.

… and boy are my arms tired.

The series is on my website.  Click here to go directly to the Landstuhl Series, or just step through the gate.

Landstuhl City Gate, Watercolor & Ink, 7×5″