David grew up in a suburb of Buffalo, New York. He was always fascinated with animals and nature and was frustrated that there was very little wildlife around his home. Songbirds were plentiful and David spent hours a day observing and watching birds. He kept a daily journal of the bird activity at his feeders and used to ask for birdseed for Christmas.

Even before attending kindergarten, it was obvious that he had artistic talent. In the third grade he had a one man art show in one of the school hallway display cases. Other kids always asked him if he was going to be an artist when he grew up and the answer was always a solid no. David loved animals and had plans to be a veterinarian.

Freshman year in high school, David found an advertisement for the College of Environmental Science and Forestry and he knew that was where he was going. He paid his own way to college and graduated in 1989 with a BS degree in Forest Biology. With dilutions of becoming a Wildlife biologist for New York State, David thought he was on his way to a career in the natural resources. After twelve years as a seasonal with the Bureau of Wildlife and fifteen terminations he threw in the towel.
Artwork moved from a once in a while hobby to a career pursuit. A self-taught artist, David decided to try to make a living with his artwork. Fascinated with moose, he bought a shed antler by mail from Wyoming. After receiving it he thought how neat it would be to draw a moose scene directly on the antler palm. Using regular No.2 yellow pencil he created a scene of a bull moose being confronted by wolves. Since that first antler, David has been purchasing moose antlers wherever he could and drawing northern wildlife scenes on their palms.

The burned wildlife scenes developed from a curiosity of what he could do with a hot iron. A crafters wood burner was bought at Ames and he toyed around with it burning coat racks. David said he has learned quite a bit and developed ways of creating different textures. He tried a more expensive professional wood burner, but abandoned it for his cheaper model. He does most scenes using just one tip.

"There is no doubt that I get better with each piece. I love working with wood and antlers. I am able to make things that will last and maybe become a family heirloom for someone. It's very satisfying. I should have done this a long time ago."