Michael Banks is a young guy, born in 1972, but already he is a powerhouse of a talent and gaining recognition quickly. He was raised by his mother in northern Alabama, and she encouraged the talent and the drive he showed from a very early age. Her death in 1992 devastated him. He quit painting for five years, but then emerged from the depression in a dynamic way with his art. The earlier work shown here is painted on wood with earth tone colors, punctuated with illustration created by spontaneous carving into the surface. His more recent work features a more lively selection of paint color applied to a surface of wood treated with tar, again carved, almost gauged into. Michael Banks is a very personable, likable guy and his work extremely collectible.