It’s not every day that you get to paint the #1 NFL Draft pick live in front of a roaring crowd. But that’s exactly what Harvey Dunn of PaintJam did at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, as part of the 2025 NFL Draft festivities hosted by the Tennessee Titans.
This marked PaintJam’s fourth collaboration with the Titans (here is a video of PaintJam performing at half-time in 2021), a partnership that continues to grow stronger each year. What started years ago with Dan Dunn performing for the team has evolved into an ongoing relationship—and it’s safe to say that PaintJam are Titans fans for life.
Draft Day Drama… and Preparation
The stakes were high: PaintJam had to be prepared to paint one of four possible draft picks. With secrecy surrounding the team’s final decision, Harvey had to create full-speed painting concepts for all four players—Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, and Abdul Carter. Each painting was meticulously prepped, down to every brush stroke and the choreography of each segment.
“I had to be ready to go live the moment the fireworks ended,” Harvey said. “They told me, ‘you’re on after the pick and after the fireworks.’ And when they finally called Cam Ward’s name, boom—fireworks exploded, and it was go time.”
The Pressure (and Paint) Was On
In true live-show fashion, not everything went to plan. An hour before the performance, Harvey discovered that his paint and brushes had been misplaced somewhere in the stadium. Panic could have easily taken over—Paint from an earlier date had been left behind from our friend, fellow speed painter Evan Struck.
Harvey was prepared to use Evan’s left over paint and brushes. It was a safety net in the midst of the chaos. The show must go on! And then, moments before show time, someone found Harvey’s own supplies and brought them to him. Huzzah! The show always goes on!
Art Meets Athleticism
The NFL Draft is one of the most-watched events in American sports, and performing in that environment brought a new level of energy to PaintJam’s usual corporate and charity shows.
“It’s different,” Harvey said. “The budget, the production, the crowd—it’s electric. You can feel the magnitude of the event when you’re standing behind the stage with your canvas, watching tens of thousands of people reacting in real time.”
The audience, made up of local fans and national sports media, saw Harvey unveil his portrait of Cam Ward moments after the pick was announced. This once in a lifetime opportunity included signed prints —featuring both his and Ward’s signatures.
Behind the Scenes: Planning and Logistics
Working with the Titans meant navigating tight NDAs, short timelines, and high expectations. PaintJam was first given a list of five potential picks, later narrowed to four, just three weeks before the event. From there, Harvey researched each athlete, selected reference images, and choreographed a unique composition and execution strategy for each.
“The challenge with some of these players is that they’re not very expressive,” Harvey explained. “So it’s harder to capture emotion or presence. But you go with what’s authentic—you paint them how they are.”
The prep work was intense, but it paid off. The client, David Schindler of the Tennessee Titans, was thrilled with the results and the lengths PaintJam went to ensure success.
PaintJam x Titans: A Creative Dynasty
With performances for the Titans in 2019, 2021, 2023, and now 2025, it’s clear that the NFL franchise sees the value in live speed painting as a powerful visual and entertainment tool. And while PaintJam may not have been born in the world of sports, its ability to adapt to the scale and spectacle of events like the NFL Draft proves it can hold its own on any stage.
Whether it’s a corporate gala, a global fundraiser, or one of the biggest nights in American football, PaintJam continues to bring a unique fusion of art and performance that captivates audiences—and leaves a lasting impression long after the final brushstroke.
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