Biography: David Burnett
Enrolled Tribal Member: Hupa Valley Tribe
Edu: College Of The RedWoods

I am the second oldest of 6 kids. My father Jesse Burnett (German, Irish) and my mother Vicky Burnett (Hupa Indian, Chinese). I grew up moving back and forth from my reservation to different places. My father and mother enjoyed traveling and ministering at different churches in Indian Country. Even as retiree's my parents continue to help people, and more specifically Native People.

From as early as I can remember I have been involved in artistic expression. As a teenager I would spend many hours painting and drawing photograph like pieces and sell them or give them to friends.

In 1995, my daughter Brooke was 5 years old, and I was in my fourth year as a carpenter. I hurt my lower back on the job and was forced to find a new occupation. I found myself drawn to my born talent of artist. I began to look for a school that had a course in 3D animation. At that time 3D animation was not available. I took out a sizable loan and put together my own 3D Animation/video editing studio. Out of this my first business, "Sterling F/X" was born. It was at this time I also began doing Print Graphics and Web Development (self taught). Amid all of this career adjustment, in 1998 I had my youngest Daughter Kinsa'an who is now 13 and an awesome artist.

In the year 2000 I divorced and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where I began working as a multimedia artist for Sandia National Laboratories. It was here that I learned that I had a knack for working with Architects and Engineers producing maps and fiscal documentation illustrations.  A few years went by, and then found myself working for Intel Corporation as a programmer and graphic deisgner for the Instrucitonal Design team. I assisted in putting the documentation of how to make the Pentium III on the local Network with two other employees. Two years later I found myself needing to be closer to my children who were then living in Riverside CA. so I moved to Las Vegas, NV where I worked for The American Gem Society as a Multimedia Specialist. At this level I felt I had made it to the height of my career, as I was creating print design material that was available at Jewelry stores Nation wide and through publications such as the Robb Report, NStyle and the N.Y. Times just to name a few. Since then my work has also been seen on local commercials and surrounded customers at restaurants from the colors on the wall to video menus and print menus, billboards on Highway i40 and more.

I appreciate your interest in our Media Firm! If you get the chance, ask me about the rest of the story!