While David is known chiefly as a painter, he has been involved in printmaking since 1977. In several aspects, Thauberger's prints are an extension of his painting. After working initially as a ceramic artist, he turned primarily to painting around 1974, when he returned from studying in the United States. At this point he discovered Saskatchewan folk art, which was of particular importance to his subsequent work. The folk artist's reverent delight in everyday objects and familiar surroundings attracted him in his own search for a sense of place.