Dave was born in Missouri and raised in Tucson, Arizona.  Dave attributes his success, in part, to the absence of formal training as an artist.  “I enjoy the freedom of having no rules to apply when starting a mask.”  As a native of Tucson for over thirty years, Dave primarily chooses the Sonoran Desert as inspiration for his art because of the stark beauty of the desert.  He has a profound reverence for Native American tradition and culture, and as such, his creations are guided solely by his own imagination.

  Currently residing in San Diego,  his work is now a fusion of both Southwestern and Pacific influence.  “I’m discovering the symbiotic relationship between the fluidity of the ocean and gourds, which presents infinite possibilities with respect to my evolving gourd art.”

Dave uses a combination of traditional materials, including leather dyes, precious stones, feathers, horsehair, and porcupine quills to create contemporary masks.  His breathtakingly beautiful and sometimes haunting masks have been commissioned from all over the United States, as well as parts of Europe.  He has been featured in numerous magazines and publications, and has won a myriad of awards throughout his lucrative career as a gourd artist.   Despite his success as an artist, Dave believes it is imperative to “give back to the community.”  He donates one mask per show to a different non-profit organization supporting the arts, and also participates in local fundraisers and auctions.

Dave’s work is currently only available at select Fine Art Shows and by individual commissions.

                                                                                 photo by Chris Richards