"Up North Series: Homage to Michelangelo Birch Bark Body" is an original watercolor on birch bark by David Barnett. The artist signed and dated the piece lower right on the backing board. This piece pays homage to the internationally celebrated sculptures of human anatomy by Michelangelo. Though this 6-inch-long piece of birch bark is significantly smaller than Michelangelo's 17 ft tall David, they are reflections of the same inspiration. Since our earliest beginnings, humans have seen the reflection of their form in nature, a phenomenon that is known as Pareidolia today. Michelangelo carved the human figure out of massive blocks of marble in the same way the female form is carved from this inconspicuous piece of birch bark. The discrete size of the birch bark harkens back to an even more ancient time when early humans collected rocks and stones that had the essence of the human form. 

10 1/2" x 6 1/2" art
17 3/4" x 13 3/8" frame
Framed to conservation standards. Mounted on 100% rag foam core in a shadow box style frame with a contemporary natural maple moulding, all glazed in Museum Glass that filters 99% of UV rays to inhibit fading.

David Barnett, an artist, collector, appraiser, and gallerist has been passionate about art from the early age of five. David’s career as an art dealer began at age nineteen when, as a fine arts student, he sponsored an exhibition of work by fellow student artists. In 1966, he opened his first gallery in a converted basement apartment at Wisconsin Avenue and 21st Street. In 1985 David moved his gallery from Wisconsin Avenue into the Old Button Mansion on State Street and has been active ever since. David’s talents for recognizing undervalued artists and for meeting the needs of art lovers, art collectors, and artists have created a vibrant, flourishing gallery and collection of over 6,000 works of art. 

David was born and raised in Wisconsin. He has been painting in watercolors, acrylics, oil pastels as well as fine art photography. David has more than 10 different series he has developed over the years. They include Abstract, Surrealism, Morph Dog, Up North Birch Bark, Impressions of Mexico City, Southwest, Fireworks, Famous Artist Paying Homage, and Garden Panorama. Influential artists include Vermeer, Miro, Kandinsky, Chagall, Nolde, and Klee. David has been featured in many magazines, newspapers, and public television programs regarding his beautiful gallery, collection and knowledge, and passion for fine art. David also has work in the permanent collection of Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Arizona.