David Laughlin was a life-long professional artist specializing in watercolor and oil paintings

with a past in multi-media materials from clay to metal.

He worked for over 30 years in Chicago, Illinois illustrating renderings for architects. As a sculptor of clay, steel, copper, bronze, and other media he designed

and built fountains, wall installations, walk-in buildings and statue exhibits for private and commercial clients. Laughlin moved to Arizona in 1978 to develop

his painting skills. Many subject matters graced his easel over the years.

In 1995 he began an intensive research project on the soldiers of the 10^th Regiment Cavalry of the U.S. Army, known as the Buffalo Soldiers of Southern Arizona.

Numerous travels to National Archives, the Arizona Historical Society and geographic sites, resulted in a formidable collection of work in oil, watercolor, pen and

ink, and serigraph prints of the soldiers’ lives stationed in the Southwest. His illustrations were reproduced in a number of publications by historians and

enthusiasts interested in the Buffalo Soldiers. 

In his later years, he elected to travel around the world; Peru, Italy, France, Mexico and other US points of interest offered plenty of subject matter. 

In addition to his art, Laughlin gave lectures on topics such as watercolor technique, the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, and the migration of the Sandhill Cranes.
He always enjoyed teaching art and especially watercolor to students of all ages.