March 20, 2025 • 14 mins
Creativity as community, therapy, and livelihood form the heart of our conversation with Heather Donis, founder of Heather Donis Designs. Heather guides us through her artistic entrepreneurial journey that began in 2010 when she left corporate life to stay home with her young son. What started as freelance graphic design evolved into mobile paint parties by 2012, creating unique spaces where participants could "try on being an artist for a couple of hours."
With warmth and candor, Heather reveals the multifaceted nature of her business—from guiding paint parties at corporate events and private homes to creating her own vibrant, symbol-rich original artwork. She's developed creative workarounds for accessibility, transforming her designs into products like bags and pillows so "everybody can have a little piece" regardless of budget. The joy she witnesses when someone connects with her work provides profound fulfillment and drives her creative purpose.
Our conversation takes a poignant turn as Heather shares how she navigated the devastation of COVID-19 on her community-centered business while simultaneously losing her stepmother to cancer and her father—"my biggest cheerleader"—to Alzheimer's and dementia. Through these hardships, art became her voice and healing mechanism. "Art has always been a way to express my emotions," she reflects, demonstrating how creativity serves as both livelihood and therapy. For aspiring creative entrepreneurs, Heather offers this gentle reality check: "It is a hustle," recommending solid business foundations from the start. Follow Heather's colorful journey on social media @HeatherDonisDesigns or visit her work at the Painted Tree in Hilltop, Virginia Beach.
Heather Donis Designs
Heather Donis
Virginia Beach, VA
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Denise Taylor.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hi, today we have Heather Jonas with Heather Jonas
Designs.
Welcome, heather.
Well, thanks for having me.
Of course, tell me about yourbusiness.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
So my business is all about expression.
I do paint parties and with thepaint parties I have the
opportunity to create community,whether it's amongst friends or
like a corporate event or justopen registration events.
So that's really fun.
It allows people to try onbeing an artist for a couple of
(00:49):
hours.
You know, let go, some let go,it takes, or some it takes a
whole two hours to let go andthey get to express themselves
and just drop in and it carvesout time for them to try on
being an artist.
And then with my personal pieces, when I do shows, I'm also
connecting with a community in adifferent kind of way and I
(01:12):
love to hear stories.
When they look at my pieces,you know how it affects them
emotionally, or you know, or thegrandmother loved hummingbirds,
you know, however it it affectsthem.
Um, so that brings me great joy, um.
So basically, I do the paintparties and I do my personal
pieces.
I you can't, you can't see onthe podcast, but there's one
(01:33):
behind me and every piece hassymbolism and I paint colorful
and whimsical pieces and then Ialso get products done from them
, like bags, pillows et cetera.
So everybody can have a littlepiece, whether you, you know, if
you can't afford a big piecefor your wall, you can at least
have a bag or a magnet, even.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, that's really beautiful that you see how
people are connected to yourwork through your expression
expression.
So I know you just shared that.
People you might go to home orwork with corporate events.
Right, you do that.
People can also come to no.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
so, for example, last night remax um, you know
realtors, they had me last nightcome to their office.
So I go to offices and a lot ofprivate parties, so just homes.
So I don't, I mean, I'm in myhome is not set up for a studio.
I have been currently lookingfor a space for retail, but not
(02:36):
much luck yet.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
And when you do these parties, do you do one piece
that everybody creates their ownversion of yes, so I have one
piece, but I um from the get go.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I'm like please explore your creativity, you can
change up anything you want,colors, you know, or I've even
had some people just sit downand do their own thing.
I think, again, it's justcarving the space for these
people.
You know, people just to havefun, you know, allow themselves
to relax.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
How long does a typical paint party either a
corporate event or private eventtake for them to complete a
piece?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Right, so two hours is the max, sometimes an hour
and a half, but those are aboutthe typical times, an hour and a
half to two hours.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
And just say there's somebody is setting up a party
with you.
Do they pick the art or thekind of mood that they want to?
Or do you kind of say, hey,this is what I was thinking,
this is what we're going to dotonight.
How does that work?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Nope, it's totally up to them.
I have a gallery site on mywebsite that they choose from
from the paintings, so that'stotally up to them.
Oh, that's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, it's great when you do parties, do you bring
some of your other pieces forpeople to see and set them up so
they can kind of see the piecesthat you actually have
cultivated and they could putinto their home?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Right, so I used to.
But you know it's a lot tocarry around a whole art studio
and set up.
So you know doing when Istarted doing markets and art
shows.
I kind of you know I get tiredof taking everything around.
So now I have, I actually havea place, a little retail spot.
(04:29):
It's called the Painted Tree.
Oh at Hilltop.
Yeah, so I direct people thatway if they're interested.
My business card has one of mypersonal pieces and every, every
, almost every party.
They're like, oh I wish wecould have painted this.
And I'm like, well, that's myartwork and that would take like
an eight week course.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
But yeah, tell me some myths or misconceptions
about your particular businessor industry.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yes, that's so people think art's really easy, which
you know, they find out quickly.
If they do a class, they'relike gosh, this is hard, oh, my
arm's tired, you know, and it's,they're the business aspect of
it.
So you know, I'm, I'm doing thebooks, or I'm doing my own
(05:28):
advertising, or you know, andthen I own a home, so you know,
and then I have a child, allthese little things.
So I wish I was painting allday and I wish all the ideas
came easily, but no, it doesn't.
Ideas came easily, but no, itdoesn't.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
So tell me, tell me one hardship you, because it
sounds like you've probably hadthe whole gamut of emotions and
how long has your business beenin business?
Speaker 3 (05:57):
So I started Heather Donna's designs in 2010, when my
son was a year and a half, okay, and I left my corporate job to
stay home with them.
I really want to stay home andso I continued freelance.
So it was based on freelancegraphic design when I first
started, and then I wanted tofind the perfect part-time job.
(06:20):
So I had a friend tell me aboutmobile paint parties her cousin
was doing in Florida and atthat time nobody was around in
Virginia beach doing it.
So I did a little research andjust came, develop my own style
and went right out there in 2012.
So 2012 is when I kind oflaunched the paint parties and
(06:40):
then I was doing a little showhere and there, dabbling with my
personal work.
And then 2020, I decided to tryOld Beach Market it's at the
oceanfront the art market andFebruary well, march, yeah, and
I was completely thrown intobeing a full-time market artist.
(07:02):
So, yeah, so I would say since2012, I would consider like the
business, your launch, yeah, sobeyond COVID, what has been one
of the?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
this is what my original question was what is
one of the hardships that you'veovercome in the business?
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Right.
So I would definitely say COVIDwas a mean hardship.
It's been a really tough fiveyears.
So COVID was definitely becauseI had to jump in there and just
because paint parties was.
You know, you're doing thiscommunity and so you're not
allowed to be in community.
So the challenge was how do Ido markets, how do I come up
(07:46):
with setups, how?
You know, I had to learn allthat.
Where do I go find markets?
And then, in the meantime,through all that, my dad's wife
had cancer and then, short, shepassed away in 2023.
And then he has.
He had dementia and Alzheimer'sthree and then he has.
He had dementia and Alzheimer'sand he passed away last year.
(08:09):
He was my biggest cheerleaderand, um, even though you know so
, this has been a real challenge.
It's been a real tough fiveyears.
So I would say I'm still kindof at the the tail end of the
biggest challenge and hopefullyyou know just as business owners
you're.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
You're continuing to grow your business.
But life happens, life happens.
You somehow manage that.
It's not.
You can just take off if youwere a W-2 employee and take
time off for bereavement or taketime for you know whether it be
a surgery, and I think, as abusiness owner myself certainly
(08:46):
you just kind of have to keepgoing, even when you find
yourself in a situation that'snot ideal but it's life.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
It's life.
Yeah, and he died tragically.
So you know, on top of that, itwasn't a regular like passing,
so it's been a lot of healingthis past year.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, how do you feel like art's played a part in
that?
Oh gosh.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Well, art has always been a way to express my
emotions, where um just havethis depth of feeling, and so to
talk about feelings as onething, but to put them, you know
, put them um through mind andhave them come out on a canvas
is, or any medium really, butit's definitely an expression
(09:31):
and it's a way to get my voiceout there, I guess.
Yeah, it's definitely helped,and I see the way it helps
people in these parties and whenthey buy a piece of my work and
just their face lights up, andso that's my why and fulfillment
.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
That's really great.
I mean, a lot of people don'thave that outlet.
We all try to find outlets, butthe fact that you are able to
use your talent to be able touse and help other people and
help yourself what a great, whata great gift.
It's a win-win.
It is yeah for sure.
Yeah, what thing do you wishour listeners knew about your
business?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Oh well, it is a hustle.
So you know, I love to see newbudding artists and I love to
pass on encouragement, but I do,I wish for me.
When I started, I didn't reallyhave a good foundation.
So I suggest, like, setting upsystems and foundations first.
(10:35):
I know you don't, you can'tknow everything, but definitely
have some things in place.
I had to kind of just jumpright in and things have been
organic.
The way I've learned them, youknow it's I feel like I'm
constantly in college every day.
So, yeah, which keeps your mindsharp.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yes, yes, yes, yeah, so definitely so tell me in
Virginia Beach, how are youinvolved in the community?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
So I do, I still do the local market.
So right now it's every firstand third Saturday and it's
called old beach art market andthat's in it's called the vibe
district down there and thecommunity is just so supportive
down there.
So I really try to get downthere as much as I can.
(11:25):
If there's not a conflictingshow, um, and like this Saturday
, I'll be down there and then inApril it starts every Saturday.
So, um, I get involved that wayand, um, I try to support, you
know, friends shows when theyhave them, or go see music that
you know some of my friends arein bands and I try to go see
(11:46):
them, um, so, yeah, try to getout there.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
And then what do you do for fun outside of art?
It sounds very fun and right,trusting yourself, but how do
you let loose?
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Right, so fun.
I feel like I'm always working,but you know I try to carve out
some things, like in themornings.
Um, I, it's a mellow kind offun, but I go for a walk.
It's called seashore state park, first landing now.
Yeah, yeah, so I go to thebeach.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
It's seashore.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Yeah, seashore, and so I go every morning that I can
, that the weather allows.
Um matter of fact, I just gotback a little bit ago, and so
that's my nature bathing in themorning, and then I'm seeing a
lovely man, and so we'll haveyummy dinners and, like last
weekend, we played tennis, youknow.
(12:37):
So just kind of mellow stuff.
Like I said, if a friend ishaving an art show or a band's
playing, I'll try to get outthere and see them.
I do try to take two trips ayear, something to look forward
to in the future.
My niece lives in Brooklyn, sohope to go in a few weeks for my
(12:58):
son's spring break and go seeher.
So yeah, that's great.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
So, heather, tell us how our listeners can see more
of your art.
Is it online?
What's your website?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
It is, yes.
My website'swwwheatherdonisdesignscom and
you can sign up for mynewsletter.
You can find out differentthings.
I have that kiosk it's T3 atthe Painted Tree and Hilltop and
then on Instagram and FacebookI'm at Heather Adonis Designs
(13:35):
and I post where I'm going to bein the markets.
You can see kind of some of mywork that I'm doing.
I posted the paint partypicture from last night, so yeah
, Great.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Thank you so much, Heather, for being here and
being a part of our community.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Oh yeah, thanks for having me.
I appreciate it Of course.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go tognpvirginiabeachcom.
That's gnpvirginiaBeachcom, orcall 757-797-8852.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place
where local businesses andneighbors come together.
Here's your host, Denise Taylor.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Hi, today we have Heather Jonas with Heather Jonas
Designs.
Welcome, heather.
Well, thanks for having me.
Of course, tell me about yourbusiness.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
So my business is all about expression.
I do paint parties and with thepaint parties I have the
opportunity to create community,whether it's amongst friends or
like a corporate event or justopen registration events.
So that's really fun.
It allows people to try onbeing an artist for a couple of
(00:49):
hours.
You know, let go, some let go,it takes, or some it takes a
whole two hours to let go andthey get to express themselves
and just drop in and it carvesout time for them to try on
being an artist.
And then with my personal pieces, when I do shows, I'm also
connecting with a community in adifferent kind of way and I
(01:12):
love to hear stories.
When they look at my pieces,you know how it affects them
emotionally, or you know, or thegrandmother loved hummingbirds,
you know, however it it affectsthem.
Um, so that brings me great joy, um.
So basically, I do the paintparties and I do my personal
pieces.
I you can't, you can't see onthe podcast, but there's one
(01:33):
behind me and every piece hassymbolism and I paint colorful
and whimsical pieces and then Ialso get products done from them
, like bags, pillows et cetera.
So everybody can have a littlepiece, whether you, you know, if
you can't afford a big piecefor your wall, you can at least
have a bag or a magnet, even.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Yeah, that's really beautiful that you see how
people are connected to yourwork through your expression
expression.
So I know you just shared that.
People you might go to home orwork with corporate events.
Right, you do that.
People can also come to no.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
so, for example, last night remax um, you know
realtors, they had me last nightcome to their office.
So I go to offices and a lot ofprivate parties, so just homes.
So I don't, I mean, I'm in myhome is not set up for a studio.
I have been currently lookingfor a space for retail, but not
(02:36):
much luck yet.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
And when you do these parties, do you do one piece
that everybody creates their ownversion of yes, so I have one
piece, but I um from the get go.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
I'm like please explore your creativity, you can
change up anything you want,colors, you know, or I've even
had some people just sit downand do their own thing.
I think, again, it's justcarving the space for these
people.
You know, people just to havefun, you know, allow themselves
to relax.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
How long does a typical paint party either a
corporate event or private eventtake for them to complete a
piece?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Right, so two hours is the max, sometimes an hour
and a half, but those are aboutthe typical times, an hour and a
half to two hours.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
And just say there's somebody is setting up a party
with you.
Do they pick the art or thekind of mood that they want to?
Or do you kind of say, hey,this is what I was thinking,
this is what we're going to dotonight.
How does that work?
Speaker 3 (03:42):
Nope, it's totally up to them.
I have a gallery site on mywebsite that they choose from
from the paintings, so that'stotally up to them.
Oh, that's fantastic.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, it's great when you do parties, do you bring
some of your other pieces forpeople to see and set them up so
they can kind of see the piecesthat you actually have
cultivated and they could putinto their home?
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Right, so I used to.
But you know it's a lot tocarry around a whole art studio
and set up.
So you know doing when Istarted doing markets and art
shows.
I kind of you know I get tiredof taking everything around.
So now I have, I actually havea place, a little retail spot.
(04:29):
It's called the Painted Tree.
Oh at Hilltop.
Yeah, so I direct people thatway if they're interested.
My business card has one of mypersonal pieces and every, every
, almost every party.
They're like, oh I wish wecould have painted this.
And I'm like, well, that's myartwork and that would take like
an eight week course.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
But yeah, tell me some myths or misconceptions
about your particular businessor industry.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yes, that's so people think art's really easy, which
you know, they find out quickly.
If they do a class, they'relike gosh, this is hard, oh, my
arm's tired, you know, and it's,they're the business aspect of
it.
So you know, I'm, I'm doing thebooks, or I'm doing my own
(05:28):
advertising, or you know, andthen I own a home, so you know,
and then I have a child, allthese little things.
So I wish I was painting allday and I wish all the ideas
came easily, but no, it doesn't.
Ideas came easily, but no, itdoesn't.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
So tell me, tell me one hardship you, because it
sounds like you've probably hadthe whole gamut of emotions and
how long has your business beenin business?
Speaker 3 (05:57):
So I started Heather Donna's designs in 2010, when my
son was a year and a half, okay, and I left my corporate job to
stay home with them.
I really want to stay home andso I continued freelance.
So it was based on freelancegraphic design when I first
started, and then I wanted tofind the perfect part-time job.
(06:20):
So I had a friend tell me aboutmobile paint parties her cousin
was doing in Florida and atthat time nobody was around in
Virginia beach doing it.
So I did a little research andjust came, develop my own style
and went right out there in 2012.
So 2012 is when I kind oflaunched the paint parties and
(06:40):
then I was doing a little showhere and there, dabbling with my
personal work.
And then 2020, I decided to tryOld Beach Market it's at the
oceanfront the art market andFebruary well, march, yeah, and
I was completely thrown intobeing a full-time market artist.
(07:02):
So, yeah, so I would say since2012, I would consider like the
business, your launch, yeah, sobeyond COVID, what has been one
of the?
Speaker 2 (07:15):
this is what my original question was what is
one of the hardships that you'veovercome in the business?
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Right.
So I would definitely say COVIDwas a mean hardship.
It's been a really tough fiveyears.
So COVID was definitely becauseI had to jump in there and just
because paint parties was.
You know, you're doing thiscommunity and so you're not
allowed to be in community.
So the challenge was how do Ido markets, how do I come up
(07:46):
with setups, how?
You know, I had to learn allthat.
Where do I go find markets?
And then, in the meantime,through all that, my dad's wife
had cancer and then, short, shepassed away in 2023.
And then he has.
He had dementia and Alzheimer'sthree and then he has.
He had dementia and Alzheimer'sand he passed away last year.
(08:09):
He was my biggest cheerleaderand, um, even though you know so
, this has been a real challenge.
It's been a real tough fiveyears.
So I would say I'm still kindof at the the tail end of the
biggest challenge and hopefullyyou know just as business owners
you're.
Speaker 2 (08:26):
You're continuing to grow your business.
But life happens, life happens.
You somehow manage that.
It's not.
You can just take off if youwere a W-2 employee and take
time off for bereavement or taketime for you know whether it be
a surgery, and I think, as abusiness owner myself certainly
(08:46):
you just kind of have to keepgoing, even when you find
yourself in a situation that'snot ideal but it's life.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
It's life.
Yeah, and he died tragically.
So you know, on top of that, itwasn't a regular like passing,
so it's been a lot of healingthis past year.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, how do you feel like art's played a part in
that?
Oh gosh.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Well, art has always been a way to express my
emotions, where um just havethis depth of feeling, and so to
talk about feelings as onething, but to put them, you know
, put them um through mind andhave them come out on a canvas
is, or any medium really, butit's definitely an expression
(09:31):
and it's a way to get my voiceout there, I guess.
Yeah, it's definitely helped,and I see the way it helps
people in these parties and whenthey buy a piece of my work and
just their face lights up, andso that's my why and fulfillment
.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
That's really great.
I mean, a lot of people don'thave that outlet.
We all try to find outlets, butthe fact that you are able to
use your talent to be able touse and help other people and
help yourself what a great, whata great gift.
It's a win-win.
It is yeah for sure.
Yeah, what thing do you wishour listeners knew about your
business?
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Oh well, it is a hustle.
So you know, I love to see newbudding artists and I love to
pass on encouragement, but I do,I wish for me.
When I started, I didn't reallyhave a good foundation.
So I suggest, like, setting upsystems and foundations first.
(10:35):
I know you don't, you can'tknow everything, but definitely
have some things in place.
I had to kind of just jumpright in and things have been
organic.
The way I've learned them, youknow it's I feel like I'm
constantly in college every day.
So, yeah, which keeps your mindsharp.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
Yes, yes, yes, yeah, so definitely so tell me in
Virginia Beach, how are youinvolved in the community?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
So I do, I still do the local market.
So right now it's every firstand third Saturday and it's
called old beach art market andthat's in it's called the vibe
district down there and thecommunity is just so supportive
down there.
So I really try to get downthere as much as I can.
(11:25):
If there's not a conflictingshow, um, and like this Saturday
, I'll be down there and then inApril it starts every Saturday.
So, um, I get involved that wayand, um, I try to support, you
know, friends shows when theyhave them, or go see music that
you know some of my friends arein bands and I try to go see
(11:46):
them, um, so, yeah, try to getout there.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
And then what do you do for fun outside of art?
It sounds very fun and right,trusting yourself, but how do
you let loose?
Speaker 3 (11:59):
Right, so fun.
I feel like I'm always working,but you know I try to carve out
some things, like in themornings.
Um, I, it's a mellow kind offun, but I go for a walk.
It's called seashore state park, first landing now.
Yeah, yeah, so I go to thebeach.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
It's seashore.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Yeah, seashore, and so I go every morning that I can
, that the weather allows.
Um matter of fact, I just gotback a little bit ago, and so
that's my nature bathing in themorning, and then I'm seeing a
lovely man, and so we'll haveyummy dinners and, like last
weekend, we played tennis, youknow.
(12:37):
So just kind of mellow stuff.
Like I said, if a friend ishaving an art show or a band's
playing, I'll try to get outthere and see them.
I do try to take two trips ayear, something to look forward
to in the future.
My niece lives in Brooklyn, sohope to go in a few weeks for my
(12:58):
son's spring break and go seeher.
So yeah, that's great.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
So, heather, tell us how our listeners can see more
of your art.
Is it online?
What's your website?
Speaker 3 (13:12):
It is, yes.
My website'swwwheatherdonisdesignscom and
you can sign up for mynewsletter.
You can find out differentthings.
I have that kiosk it's T3 atthe Painted Tree and Hilltop and
then on Instagram and FacebookI'm at Heather Adonis Designs
(13:35):
and I post where I'm going to bein the markets.
You can see kind of some of mywork that I'm doing.
I posted the paint partypicture from last night, so yeah
, Great.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Thank you so much, Heather, for being here and
being a part of our community.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Oh yeah, thanks for having me.
I appreciate it Of course.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor
Podcast.
To nominate your favorite localbusinesses to be featured on
the show, go tognpvirginiabeachcom.
That's gnpvirginiaBeachcom, orcall 757-797-8852.
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Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.