The Hastings Prescott Arts Council (HPAC) is pleased to announce that David Geister from  Prescott, Wisconsin and Andy Evansen from Hastings, Minnesota are the HPAC Arts Heroes for 2023. They will be honored at the 13th Annual HPAC Gala on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at the Hastings Arts Center. The Hastings and Prescott communities are very fortunate that David and  Andy live and work around the Mississippi-St Croix Rivers confluence area of Minnesota and  Wisconsin. While David primarily uses oils to paint detailed and accurate historical scenes and  people, Andy paints scenes from around the world. With practiced and artful strokes of his  brush, Andy’s talent allows him to bring to life whatever he is painting.  Though David and Andy focus their efforts on two entirely different styles and methods of  painting, it is evident that both are very successful artists who love what they are doing. 

 David Geister 

David Geister grew up in Prescott and spent many hours in the Prescott Public Library  reading and studying both history and art. As a young boy, he used miniature army figures,  costumes, and maps to understand and paint historical scenes. In high school David was  mentored by his art teacher, Karl Saksheck, who encouraged him to continue to expand his  artistic skills. David attended Dakota County Technical College for Visual Merchandising and  then spent four years in the Marine Corp where he was a graphic specialist and illustrator.  These successes with history and art continued as David worked as a costumed interpreter at  the Historic Fort Snelling, which connected him with both the Minnesota State Historical Society  and the Hastings Historical Society where he and his wife Patricia Bauer participated in Civil War reenactments. Today, David continues to expand his artistic reach across the country. In 2019, David and  Patricia lived at the Gettysburg National Military Park for five weeks; as the Artists-in-Residence,  they brought the past to life through artwork, songs and poetry. His works have been featured in  the History Channel magazine and he has illustrated over two dozen picture books; historic sites  and museums use his work to tell the story of local and national history and a growing number  of collectors have his paintings on their walls. This is what David Geister always wanted. He is a  storyteller with a paintbrush. For more information about David, his books, paintings, and  current activities, visit his website at www.davidgeister.com/meetdave. 

 Andy Evansen 

Andy cannot remember a time when he was without a paintbrush as he grew up in a large  family in Neenah, Wisconsin. He attended the University of Minnesota for Medical Illustration  and began his career as a medical illustrator. In the mid 1990’s he returned to fine art and began  watercolor painting. Influenced by the British landscape artists, Andy was inspired by the way  that they were able to capture everyday scenes with surprising beauty. Because he was raised in the rural Midwest, his love of simple farm scenes and small towns is evident in his paintings.  Today, Andy lives in Vermillion, Minnesota, a farm community close to his studio in Hastings.  After winning an international watercolor competition through American Artist magazine  and appearing on their cover in 2005, he became a sought-after workshop instructor teaching  his method of simplifying watercolor to students in Europe, Mexico, and China. He became a  signature member of the prestigious Plein Air Painters of America and was elected their  President in 2015. Andy’s list of international honors and awards is extensive and includes his  invitation to join the Pure Watercolor Society in England as their only international member.  Andy is known throughout the watercolor world not just as an important painter, but as a teacher  who provides inspiration and insight for his students who are learning from him from all over the  world through computer technology. To view his work, go to www.EvansenArtStudio.com.