David was born and raised in Chicago.

He received a BFA in Photography from Rhode Island School of Design (studying under Harry Callahan).

He started his college education as a philosophy major at Denison University in Ohio; and was in the Masters program for City Planning at Illinois Institute of Technology.

He took classes in lithography & etching at the Art Institute of Chicago and in holography at Lake Forest College.

He was staff photographer for Chicago City Planning Department; and scenic design painter for Tom Fulham Scenic Design Company (Chicago).

He has been making art his whole life, interrupted by brief stints of work for his father’s garden tool manufacturing company.

In 1978 he and his wife Ann settled in Los Angeles, where he has continually produced art while they raised their two children.