We had the good fortune of connecting with Heidi (HiD) Schwartz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heidi (HiD), what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success, and the success of Paint Your Event, is staying true to my voice as an artist…while never losing sight of the human connection.
My work lives at the intersection of fine art and real-time storytelling, and I think people respond to that authenticity. I’m not trying to paint a perfect replica of a moment; I’m capturing the emotion, the energy, and the creative story behind it all. That commitment to honest expression, paired with years of showing up consistently, paintbrush in hand, high heels on, heart wide open…has been the foundation of everything.

There’s no way I would’ve continued doing this if it didn’t align with who I am at my core: as a human being, and as an artist.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is my life. It’s been shaped by lived experience, not textbooks. Paint Your Event isn’t something I sat down and invented; it’s something I discovered. Or maybe… it discovered me.

I always joke that I “Forrest Gumped” my way into this. I didn’t have a master plan; I just kept showing up, following my curiosity, saying yes, and somehow ended up building a career that blends art, storytelling, and human connection.

It all started when I was combining my paintings with music. Someone noticed my artwork, and opportunities kept unfolding. Eventually, I was asked to paint live at a dinner at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. I didn’t overthink it, I just did it. Then came another call. And another. Slowly but surely, this became my vocation.

I’ve been doing this long before live event painting was trending on TikTok. My first live painting was in 2008. One of the things I’m most proud of is that I carved this niche blindfolded. I followed my gut, pulling from what I knew about art, performance, and people, and built something entirely original. Even the dress and high heels have become part of the installation and now it’s all part of how I show up and tell the story.

My painting style blends abstract and impressionism with a deeply emotional, symbolic approach. I create a collage-like piece live at the event, capturing meaningful details and transforming them into something layered, colorful, and expressive. I didn’t go to art school, in fact, I was kicked out of my high school art class, which is both hilarious and fitting. Everything I’ve learned, I’ve learned by doing. Messy, bold, instinctive doing.

Because I didn’t follow a formula, my work has its own voice. And that’s something I hold sacred and I’m proud of.

It wasn’t painting live that felt vulnerable. It was showing who I was through the process. Inviting people into that raw, intuitive space, where I’m not performing perfection but creating something real, that’s what took courage.

What started as something deeply personal has become something I get to share with others, in real time, surrounded by energy, emotion, and meaning. And that’s the reason I keep showing up: because at its core, this work is about presence, and about making something that lasts far beyond the moment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve lived in Nashville for a long time, so I tend to skip the Honky Tonk scene unless someone’s visiting, then of course we go. Because honestly, there’s nothing like seeing the raw, world-class musicianship that spills out of every bar downtown. It’s part of the heartbeat of the city, and it never gets old when you’re seeing it through fresh eyes.

That said, when I’m playing tour guide, I like to mix it up with places I genuinely love. We’d head over to East Nashville, Butcher & Bee is a must. They have this honey feta dish that I swear is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. We’d probably follow that up with a drink at one of the chill East Nashville dive bars…maybe Dino’s for that classic, unpretentious vibe.

No trip is complete without a proper brunch, and Adele’s is hands-down one of the best brunch buffets I’ve ever had. Everything is fresh, seasonal, and absolutely delicious, and you’ll want to try one of everything (and then go back for seconds).

I’m also big on nature, so I’d carve out some quiet time with a paddleboarding session at Hamilton Creek Marina, tucked over near the sailboat docks. It’s peaceful, beautiful, and a great break from the city buzz. Especially at sunset.

Throughout the week, I’d want to hit a few creative spots too, maybe catch a show at The Basement East or Third Man Records, and if there’s a pop-up market or art crawl going on, we’re going to that. And I’d leave room for spontaneity, because Nashville has a way of surprising you when you least expect it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is such an overwhelmingly hard question, because the truth is, we all stand on the shoulders of so many people who’ve helped shape our stories.

First and foremost, my biggest champion is my mother. She has 1000% believed in me from day one and always told me I could do whatever I wanted. And the thing is, I believed her. That kind of wholehearted belief, especially when things seem impossible or unconventional, is its own kind of superpower. She knows me deeply and knows the kind of grit I have, and that steady faith has carried me through more than I can say.

Mentor-wise, I’ve been incredibly lucky to have a very special person in my life for over 20 years. I don’t think she’d want the credit, but she knows exactly who she is. She’s changed my life forever. Sometimes people show up and become gifts you can never repay. My greatest hope as I grow is to offer that same kind of guidance and presence to someone else one day. Her selfless goodness is proof of the true beauty that exists in a human soul.

And finally, some books find you at just the right moment, and these were so deeply impactful that they feel like they have become part of my bloodstream. The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron helped me understand that creativity is not about control or perfection: it’s about flow, freedom, and play. That childlike playfulness is often dismissed, but I see it as one of the greatest forms of resilience.

The other is a lesser-known book called Zen and the Art of Making a Living by Laurence G. Boldt. It’s a big one, philosophical and layered, but it’s been a quiet lamppost in my life. I stumbled across it years ago, and I’m so grateful I did.

Website: https://paintyourevent.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintyourevent

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidimschwartz/

Twitter: https://x.com/paintyourevent

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paintyourevent

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/paintyourevent

Other: Studio work
https://heidischwartz.com/

Image Credits
Green Dress Photo: Ana Monique

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