About DAVID

I was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1983. Soon after my parents moved to Bendigo, where I spent most of my youth growing up on a large property in the country. I have fond memories of my time in this small country town. It was all I knew. In 1999 my family moved back to Frankston where I live today. The move from Bendigo to the city is one I regret. As a teenager, a social network is important. I can't stress how true this was for me. I hated my new school and I knew not one soul. I was alone and it felt like I was a million miles away from home.

I left high school very early. A move I don't regret. I hated everything about the education prison and my marks showed this. I was failing miserably. I was now faced with the dilemma of what to do with my life. How is one to know at such a young age? I gained more shifts at Macca's and I did a little work with my old man who is a builder, but I had no idea what I really wanted to become?

As an alternative to VCE, In 2000 I enrolled at the Melbourne School of Art in a two year diploma course in graphic design and visual communication. I have such pleasant memories of this period of my life. I went from a situation in high school, which was the worst period of my life, to a new situation which opened up the 'doors of perception'. I was doing what I loved and I was happy. I made good friends and connections. I went from learning what X is in algebra (I still don’t know) to expressing my emotions through art. Which would you choose!?

The classes included photography, fine art, life drawing, art history, business management, and graphic design classes. This is when I was introduced to computer design and the Mac (G3 Model) which was to shape my early life. I fell in love with Photoshop and web design. I also had classes in Dreamweaver, Flash (What happened to Flash?), Fireworks, Illustrator and Quark Express. I was going to be a web designer!

It was quiet apparent that the majority of the design students had goals to gain their qualification and find employment within the design industry. I didn't want to work for a boss and I knew how difficult it would be to gain employment out in the real-world of limited positions. I chose to do things differently by putting some of my business classes into use, so I finished school, quit my job, and I started a business in web and print design. I gained some good clients, including one of Melbourne’s leading architecture firms and ongoing work for a real estate agency. I did this for a couple of years before becoming unwell. I still dabble in web design and I have a passion for Photoshop but I now enjoy it as a hobby. These days I try and dedicate most of my time to fine arts.

MY ART: I have always had an interest in the arts. Some of my earliest memories include receiving Derwent pencils for special occasions and collecting drawing pads and pens from the local Sunday market. I started taking art lessons in illustration and watercolour in my early high school years which later led to an interest in oils and acrylics. Most of what inspired me to draw and paint as a child and teenager had a lot to do with growing up in a country atmosphere. I painted a lot of landscapes and I also enjoyed drawing and painting the local architecture in a town full of historic buildings, which is something that still fascinates me.

Today I enjoy the freedoms of abstract. Whilst having a healthy respect for trees and flowers, they can become a little tedious to paint over and over.

INTERESTS:
I don’t believe in the word ‘boredom’ I have many interests that keep my mind busy. Obviously, my passion is art, but I also spend time researching many topics. I listen to podcasts, I study music and music history, I’m an avid reader and I collect books (Almost all nonfiction), I’m not religious, but religion fascinates me, I don’t wear a tinfoil hat, but I am a conspiracy nut... Don’t get me started! I love long debates and conversation, I follow the AFL, I’m a dog lover, I love philosophy - mostly modern day philosophy, I’m a professor in pharmaceuticals, Oh… and I spend hours watching kitten videos on YouTube!

MUSIC: (IN NO ORDER)
The below music is some of the stuff I listen to on a regular basis. I’m sure there are tonnes of other groups I could have added… but who cares, it’s just music Dave!!!!!!

Tool - A Perfect Circle - Puscifer - Radiohead - Nirvana (Their Back Catalogue) - Primus - Led Zeppelin - Porcupine Tree - Pearl Jam (Their Back Catalogue) - Sonic Youth - The Doors - Queens of the Stone Age - Rage Against The Machine - Pink Floyd - Buckethead - Smashing Pumpkins - Beck - Ozzy - Jefferson Aeroplane - Silversun Pickups - Alanis - Life Without Buildings - Chemical Brothers (When I’m in the right headspace) - Korn - Guns N Roses - Hole - Nick Cave - Iggy Pop - Rob Zombie - Powderfinger (Their first two albums) - Coal Chamber - Bjork - Tool (Again!) - REM - Placebo - TISM - Marilyn Manson - Nine Inch Nails - Mr. Bungle - Michael Jackson - Kyuss - Audioslave - Tori Amos - Alice In Chains - Neil Young - Jonny Cash - Leonard Cohen - The Offspring (Their early stuff) - Blur - Gorillaz - The White Stripes - MUSE - Jeff Buckley - John Lennon - Beastie Boys - Elton John - System of a Down - Bob Marley….. Plus many more!

BOOKS: I am an avid reader and I collect books. Almost all nonfiction. Reading is a passion. I was going to do the whole list thing of my favourite reads, but there are too many. I’m reading “The Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying” for the third time. I recommend this book to everyone. It should be made mandatory in school, instead of some other useless books I could mention. I love a good autobiography. I have chased books from all around the world, mostly first additions and rarities.

INSPIRATION:
This is such a hard one. I feel like I’m writing an online dating form. I love nature, but who doesn’t! I never learnt to play an instrument, but music plays a big part of my life. I never really grew up when it came to being a dedicated fan to some groups (As the tattoos on my arm will prove). You will never find me painting without music or a podcast playing.

Tool - Maynard James Keenan - Jesus Christ - Lex Fridman - Duncan Trussell - Max Igan - Alex Grey - Carl Jung - George Carlin - Tim Leary - Christopher Hitchens - Ken Kesy - Richard Dawkins - Doug Stanhope - Terence McKenna - Tim Dillon - SteveO - Kurdt Cobain - Hunter S. Thomson - Rene Magritte - Sigmund Freud - Howard Stern - The Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying (Book) - Salvador Dali - Bill Hicks - Fight Club (Movie) - Alan Watts - Bendigo - Joe Rogan - Jean Michel Basquiat - Psilocybin - Jim Marrs - Russel Brand - James Gleeson - Buddha - David Icke - Brett Whiteley - Other Peoples Art - Coopers Sparkling Ale - Plus many more!

I don't have a great amount of confidence when it comes to creative writing (I was a high school dropout after all) but especially when writing about myself, so thank you for making it through to the bottom. Cheers for visiting and have a nice day!