A native of Missouri, David has been painting in watercolors since the 1980s. In 2018, he participated in juried plein air events in Tequesta, Florida; Cumberland, Maryland; and the Hudson Valley of New York. At Plein Air Richmond last year, he took third place in the quick draw. David retired from teaching high school English in 2017 and now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, with his wife and daughter.