Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Mccoy

Hi Dani, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

Like many artists, I have always loved art. As a child, it served as my outlet—a way to process intense emotions and translate my thoughts onto paper. Over time, as my mental health improved, my relationship with art shifted. What began as a refuge for processing pain and darkness evolved into a space of joy, freedom, and creativity.

College was a transitional phase. I was still unpacking trauma, but I also started creating work that simply made me happy.

After graduation, I felt like I was embarking on a side quest. I dreamed of juggling multiple jobs, building a network, staying up late on creative projects, and hustling my way into a full-time art career. For a while, I gave it my all, but then my health began to decline. After being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, the financial burden of medical bills and the loss of parental insurance at 26 hit me hard. I remember sobbing to my partner, heartbroken and feeling as though I was abandoning my dream.

To stabilize my life, I took a full-time 9-to-5 job and made art on the side. At first, I thought, “I can do this! So many artists work full-time and eventually make a living from their art.” However, balancing work, art, and my unmanaged chronic illness became overwhelming. I found myself creating not out of passion, but out of obligation. My art no longer brought me joy; instead, it became a source of stress. I ultimately burnt out and stopped making art altogether for a while.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of my journey. Over the next few years, I worked on myself. I learned how to manage my chronic illness, spent time in therapy, got diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and ADHD, and started medication. For the first time in my life, I could truly enjoy living.

I call this period my “Fuck It Era”—a chapter where I fully embraced who I was, what I loved, and what I wanted to create. I began making art again, solely for myself, and rediscovered the joy I had lost. Eventually, I realized that I wanted to share my art with others—not just to create, but to make an impact.

That brings me to today: I am still working a full-time non-creative job, but I am finally pursuing my dream of creating art for others. I launched my first online shop in November and am already preparing for my next shop launch in February!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

One of my biggest challenges has been navigating the intersection of my health, career, and creative passion. Early on, I faced the reality of living with a chronic illness. My autoimmune disease came with physical and emotional tolls—fatigue, medical bills, and the stress of ensuring I had access to care. At a time when I was trying to build my art career, I had to make the difficult decision to prioritize financial stability and my health. It felt like I was abandoning my dream, which was incredibly hard to process.

Another challenge has been managing burnout. Juggling a full-time job, creating art, and dealing with an unmanaged chronic illness led to overwhelming stress. For a long time, I felt like I had to make art to survive rather than because I loved it. That pressure sucked the joy out of creating, leaving me creatively drained and disconnected from something that had always brought me happiness.

On top of that, living with undiagnosed depression, anxiety, and ADHD made it even harder to stay motivated and organized. I struggled with perfectionism, procrastination, and the constant feeling that I wasn’t doing enough. Therapy and medication eventually helped me address these obstacles, but it was a long journey to reach that point.

Lastly, learning to redefine what success looks like for me has been another challenge. I grew up believing that “making it” as an artist required nonstop hustle—working multiple jobs, sacrificing personal time, and constantly striving. Letting go of that mindset and allowing myself to create at my own pace has been an ongoing process.

These challenges, while difficult, have shaped the way I approach art and life. They’ve taught me resilience, the importance of prioritizing mental and physical health, and the value of reconnecting with art as a source of joy and expression, not just a means to an end.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I’m an artist and illustrator based in Pennsylvania, where I live with my amazing spouse and our precious pup. I’m proudly bi, neurospicy, and chronically ill—a fun little trio that’s shaped both my life and my art.

Currently, I work full-time as a Program Analyst while running my art business on the side. My journey back to art has been a winding one. Reconnecting with my creativity has been transformative, and I’m so excited to share my passion for creating with others.

I dabble in all kinds of media, like illustrative paintings, digital art, and polymer clay, but I usually share my digital stuff. My style is quirky, fun, and whimsical—just trying to add a little joy and lightness to a world that can feel pretty heavy sometimes. I want to create pieces that make people smile and that I enjoy making too!

I’m really proud of how far I’ve come on this journey. Launching my shop this fall is a huge step for me, and it feels amazing to finally chase my dream of creating art for others. What makes my work stand out is the heart and humor I put into it, along with the unique perspective I’ve gained from being a chronically ill, neurodivergent artist. My art is all about joy, resilience, and loving the little things that make life brighter, and I hope it can inspire those same vibes in others!

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?

I think taking risks is a natural part of growing, whether it’s in life, work, or art. For me, it’s all about finding that balance between feeling scared and chasing after something awesome. It can be pretty nerve-wracking, but I’ve found that some of the biggest rewards come when you step outside your comfort zone.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was diving back into art after feeling burnt out for a long time. At that point, I was stuck in my head, thinking I wasn’t “good enough” and that the excitement I once felt about creating was gone forever. Restarting meant I had to put my work out there, be vulnerable, and face the possibility of failure—or even worse, losing my passion all over again. But choosing to embrace art despite those fears ended up being one of the best choices I’ve made. It reminded me that it’s always worth it to take a chance on something you love, even when it’s scary.

Another big leap for me was launching my online shop. Balancing a full-time job, dealing with a chronic illness, and running my art business has been a lot to handle. There’s always a chance it might not work out, or I could get overwhelmed again, but I’ve learned to take it one step at a time and trust myself. I’d rather try and see what happens than wonder what could have been.

I wouldn’t say I’m a natural risk-taker—I really enjoy having stability and a plan—but I’ve started to see risk as an opportunity. Even if things don’t turn out perfectly, taking risks helps me grow, learn, and move closer to the life I want. For me, it’s all about balancing risk with some good thinking: knowing why I’m taking that leap and being mindful of my limits so I don’t push myself too hard.

In the end, I believe every creative endeavor comes with its fair share of risks, whether you’re trying something new, sharing your work with others, or turning your passion into a business. But those risks also bring the chance for joy, growth, and fulfillment—and that’s what makes them totally worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DaniMcCoyArt?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danimccoyart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danimccoyillustration/