Born in Pontiac, Michigan in 1952. After receiving a degree in fine arts at UC Santa Cruz in 1977. While in college, Dave visited Carmel often and was impressed by the work of Californria painter Alexander Dzigurski. Dave worked hard on his art, working at night while keeping his day job as a teacher. His work paid off as he was represented by a prominent gallery in Los Angeles. He now resides in the Sierra foothills near the town of Coursegold, California.

Although he spent most of his early career painting seascapes, he now paints scenes near his home of California hills covered with oaks, or taking excursions to paint the graudeur of Western National Parks.