Meet Heidi Kidd | Visual Artist , Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heidi Kidd and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heidi, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My career as a textile artist changed when I was furloughed in April 2020 due to Covid-19. This was the push I needed to get started. While I was furloughed, I began a daily painting practice where I would post paintings to Facebook & Instagram. During this time, I painted a friend’s dog and posted it on his FB page and received an amazing reaction.  His wife then reached out and asked to purchase it. That is when Heidi Kidd Art was launched.  For years I have been a weekend painter while working full time. I enjoyed belonging to local art guilds like the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco.  I found a passion for ecological art to raise public awareness about the amazing animals and the environments they live in.  I also have a custom painting business and paint portraits and pet portraits.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Professionally I balance my schedule between textile design freelance jobs and painting in my studio.  I am constantly juggling between priorities, deadlines, and business goals.  I am currently working on projects for my client’s and studio paintings.  What set’s me apart is my ability to move from digital art to hand painting. I paint in the mornings when the lighting is best.  I love the translucent quality of watercolor building up my paintings with layers from light to dark. I paint from nature and am transported by the magic of the natural world. Mostly though I put my wings on and fly around my studio playing all day. Sometimes creating magic but mostly cleaning up messes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would start with a morning walk at Stewart Creek Park where we can see white cranes and blue heron by the lake shore.  Then head over to the Star and enjoy brunch at one of the many restaurants.  The next day we would go to the Dallas Art Museum or Nasher sculpture center.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I will dedicate my shoutout to a my running group Run Texas Frisco Training Group they have being a huge motivation.  One by one they commissioned family portraits and pet portraits and with every painting, I gained more and more confidence to continue.  Their support has helped me grow in incremental steps giving me the courage to pursue my creative goals.  I would like to give a second shout-out to the Visual Arts Guild of Frisco, the friends, and peers I have made that have taught me so much.

Website: https://www.heidikidd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidi.kidd.art/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidi.kidd.art

Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeidiKiddArt

Image Credits
Photo of me with the chicken taken by Chase Fantoli.
Photo of me painting at Hall sculpture park was by my husband Lawrence Fantoli