We recently had the chance to connect with Danielle Cowdrey and have shared our conversation below.
Danielle, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I’ve only been painting for a little under two years, and it’s been such an exciting journey so far. I’ve had some success with online competitions and exhibitions, but recently things have grown in a really meaningful way—I was selected to exhibit at the Women in Art London Exhibition hosted by Artio Gallery, and next week I’ll be in Dallas for the For the Love of Art Exhibit with the ArtCentre of Plano. The past year and a half has been a period of learning, growth, and exploration, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see others connect with and value my work. To have my paintings displayed alongside so many talented artists is both humbling and deeply inspiring.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Danielle Cowdrey, and I’m a contemporary painter exploring the intersection of nature, memory, and imagination through vivid, electric color. I’ve been painting for less than two years, but art has quickly become an essential language for me—a way to translate emotion and wonder into something visual and alive. My work often transforms familiar subjects—flowers, animals, even prehistoric figures—into glowing, dreamlike forms that blur the line between the real and the surreal.
This past year has been an incredible period of growth and discovery. I was recently selected for multiple in-person exhibits in Texas, California, and London.. Each opportunity reminds me how universal creativity really is—how color, light, and imagination can speak across cultures and experiences.
What makes my work unique is its fusion of natural forms with neon intensity. I’m fascinated by the tension between the organic and the electric—between ancient stories and modern energy. I want my paintings to feel alive, to pulse with emotion, and to remind people of the beauty and mystery in the world around us.
Right now, I’m continuing to evolve my style and experiment with new techniques and scale. It’s a journey that still feels like it’s just beginning, but every piece brings me closer to understanding the world—and myself—through art.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
When I was younger, I think most people would have described me as a free spirit. I was curious, creative, and never afraid to be different. I’ve always been a lifelong learner—someone drawn to exploring new interests and perspectives.
The real shift came when I joined the military at 22. It wasn’t the structure or discipline that changed me—I actually thrive in those environments—it was the realization of how deeply sexism can be embedded in certain systems. That experience, and later my time in the corporate world, taught me how often women are underestimated or labeled when they challenge the status quo.
Before leaving my corporate role, I was pursuing a Master’s in Organizational Leadership at Oxford University, and I tried to apply what I was learning to create meaningful change. Instead, I was often called “difficult” for speaking up. It was frustrating, but it also became a turning point.
Transitioning into consulting and building my art business allowed me to return to the person I was before the world told me who to be—someone who trusts her own instincts, values her voice, and leads with curiosity and creativity. Now, I’m guided by experience and authenticity rather than others’ expectations.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me something that success never could—how to rebuild from the inside out. Success can validate you, but struggle reveals who you really are. Through some of the harder chapters in my life—whether it was facing bias in male-dominated spaces, pushing through burnout, or navigating major personal transitions—I learned to stop chasing external validation and start trusting my own compass.
Art entered my life during that space of rebuilding. It wasn’t about achievement—it was about expression, about finding beauty and meaning when things felt uncertain. That creative process healed something in me that structure and success never could.
Suffering taught me patience, humility, and empathy. It gave me the courage to slow down, to listen, and to create from a place of honesty instead of perfection. In many ways, it stripped away everything that wasn’t real—and what was left became the foundation of both my art and my peace.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One of the deepest truths in my life is that beauty and strength are often born from contrast. Light only means something because of the dark beside it. I think that’s why I’m drawn to vivid, electric color in my art—it’s a reflection of that belief that opposites can coexist, and that something vibrant can emerge from struggle or imperfection.
Another truth I hold close is that authenticity is freedom. For a long time, I tried to fit into molds—whether in the military, corporate life, or even just society’s expectations of women. I’ve learned that the more I return to my own voice, the more at peace I am. It’s a quiet truth, but it shapes everything I do now: my work, my art, my relationships.
And finally, I believe that curiosity is a form of courage. To keep learning, evolving, and creating—especially after life’s challenges—is a way of saying yes to possibility. That mindset keeps me moving forward, both as an artist and as a person.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
If I laid down my name, role, and possessions, what would remain is curiosity, empathy, and color. Those are the constants in my life—no matter the chapter or title.
I’ve worn many labels: soldier, consultant, student, artist. Each one shaped me, but none of them define me. What remains underneath all of it is a deep desire to understand, to create beauty from complexity, and to connect with others through that process.
At my core, I’m someone who finds meaning in transformation—turning chaos into something luminous. That’s what my art really is: a reflection of resilience, of learning to see light even when things feel uncertain.
So if everything else fell away, what would remain is a spirit that still seeks, still learns, and still believes that creation—whether through art, growth, or love—is the most enduring form of truth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.acdcart.com
- Instagram: @ac.dcart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-cowdrey-mba-pmp
Image Credits
Dustin Amodeo
