Born in Aurora, Illinois, David Hettinger exhibited artistic ability early in life. At the age of eight, he began drawing and had moved on to oil painting by the age of thirteen. Hettinger received his formal art education at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and after graduation, he continued his studies with the well known still life painter, David Leffel.

The Oil Painters of America have bestowed several awards on Hettinger and he has been featured in several national arts publications, including Artists Magazine. His work has been sought out for public and private collections for over forty years.