I am an artist enjoying the craft of painting as a hobby. I began to draw and paint at an early age and continued to do so until about the time I was a young teenager. Then, I just stopped, while pursuing other interests, and did not return to practicing art for another 35 years! I went on to graduate school, received a Ph. D., and entered academia. I was a professor of Political Science at the University of California, Riverside and am now retired. 

At the age of 51, I had my mother to thank for stimulating my renewed interest in painting. She sent me a small oil and brush set and suggested that I again take up the hobby. I am grateful I did. For me, art is another form of expression that allows me to visualize the world in a different way. I want to represent the subjects and objects I see, but not perfectly. I am not attempting to mimic the power and precision of a camera, but I am looking to capture something real and interesting about people and nature. If there is a style in all of this, I am not exactly sure of what that may be. Musicians who are creative refuse to be pigeonholed into one category or genre, whether it be rock, jazz, or country. Same for me. I simply paint, and if viewers appreciate what I have done, I am content.

What is displayed on this website are paintings and sketches done since 2003, and are arranged by theme. There are portraits, landscapes and cityscapes, beach and coastal views, floral and fauna scenes, as well as still life images. I hope that you enjoy viewing these paintings and sketches as much as I did crafting them. If you'd like to contact me to discuss the artwork, you can reach me at david.pion@ucr.edu. You can also follow me on Instagram @dpionber.