Born December 25, 1959, David D. Fernández developed his painting as a student at the Museo de Arte de Lima (Museum of Art of Lima) and the Escuela de Bellas Artes del Peru (School of Fine Arts of Peru). Leonel Velarde, one of Peru's finest artists and a professor at the School of Fine Arts, shared with Fernández his knowledge and techniques for manipulating color and perspective, and is named by Fernández as one of his major influences. Inspired by the work of modern masters including van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne, Dali, and Picasso, as well as by internationally recognized Peruvian artists such as Victor Humareda, José Sabogal, Fernando de Szyszlo, and Carlos Revillas, Fernández creates compositions with elements of cubism and post-impressionism.

Sabogal's "indigenous school" of painting revolutionized Peruvian art in the 1930s, and its goal of creating art that exudes a uniquely Peruvian character and spirit can be seen in Fernández's work. The expressive thick and vigorous strokes of simple yet harmonious and precise color that characterize the "indigenista" expression are evident in Fernández's paintings. During the 1960s, Szyszlo was one of South America's foremost proponent of abstract painting and a leading force in pushing Peruvian art toward the modernism embraced by Fernández and his fellow artists.

Fernández's work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, and many of his paintings are in well-known collections throughout South America. The artist shares his talent and skill not only with art collectors but also with his students at several art schools including the renowned Instituto de Diseño Jose Sabogal in Peru.