Winter Garden Magazine September 2018 | Page 18

Artist Spotlight DAVID BENDER D avid Bender was born in Erie, PA to a father who retired as colonel in the Army and a mother who majored in Latin, English and Music. At the age of three David began drawing with pencils and charcoal, and quickly recognizing his unique talent, his parents sent him to art school at the age of five. David moved to Florida and attended high school where he took drafting classes and initially considered going to college to become an architect. It was the fine lines and intricate detail that he loved. Throughout high school David was in a separate group of students that were considered accelerated artists and graded on a different scale. While attending junior college David was drafted into the army and served two years, one in Vietnam. After his time, he returned to Florida to attend the University of South Florida where he graduated with a Bachelor degree of Fine Arts. One of his most influential teachers was Theo Wujick, a nationally 18  | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2018