Check Out Dani Romay’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dani Romay.

Hi Dani, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in Nixa, MO, and spent most of my life in southwest Missouri. Art started as a hobby. Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved drawing and creating things. When I got to high school, I was in speech and debate and theatre, where I found my love for teaching. I was a peer mentor in speech and debate and a student director in theatre. After high school, I got my bachelors in Secondary English Education, with a certification in Speech, Debate, and Theatre. I taught high school English and Theatre for nine years. I have my masters in Educational Leadership and work three years towards a doctorate in Education Leadership. I loved my career as a teacher, mainly because I loved my students and I loved creating every day in the theatre world. So, I’ve been creating large-scale art for 10+ years because I’ve painted sets, built props, and designed costumes for most of my life. I wouldn’t have ever left teaching, but then 2020 happened. Amidst the world’s chaos, I was also involved with a very toxic individual, and I had a lot of personal turmoil at the time. I found myself in a very dark place. I sought counseling and moved from Springfield, MO, to Kansas City, MO, to heal. That is when I found my love for drawing again. Art became a safe place for me, and I kept drawing. People started to notice and ask for commissions, which was wild because, until then, I had never sold my artwork. I was still teaching but online at the time, and when the year ended, I had to decide if I would move back and teach in Springfield or do something else. Honestly, I had no idea what I would do, but I knew I couldn’t go back to Springfield. Kansas City had become my home and haven., so I resigned.

I have always lived by the motto, “do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” so when teaching became work, I knew I needed to do something else, and art wasn’t work. It was love. In July 2021, I joined the Artist Academy because I was curious if this art thing was even possible. I went to a mural meetup hosted by my now mentor, and I met all these wonderful people pursuing their dreams of becoming full-time artists. Something clicked on that trip, and it all made sense. I left knowing I would be an artist. I would make it work. I moved in with my dad to try out this new profession with less worry and dove in. At first, I did everything under the sun to paint. I painted smaller murals, shoes, jackets, paint classes, and anything that let me paint and make money. I drove Lyft in the mornings and worked at a local brewery to pay my bills. Somehow, I just knew I would make it happen—one way or another. Around May 2022, I started to see my hustle pay off. I started getting more and more mural gigs, and then in October 2022, I landed my big break. I painted a giant outdoor mural in River Market, which has led to many other large-scale murals. Now, I travel worldwide doing what I love and getting paid to do just that. It’s been a whirlwind of an adventure, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I had to break to find myself again to find my creativity again.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have been married twice. Once when I was 21. I was divorced a year later. That one boils down to I was young and dumb. But my second marriage was much more challenging. I was 26 when I married my ex-husband, and we were divorced 2 years later. We were together for five years in total. He was a very verbally abusive and controlling man. I lost myself in that relationship, and it felt like I had ceased to exist. When it finally got bad enough, I found the courage to leave. I was a shell of who I once was. It took two years to understand what happened to me and what I allowed into my life. I finally started to live again, but I wasn’t completely healed. At 30, I started briefly dating a man I lived with, but that relationship took a very dark turn. He was an alcoholic, and my life seemed to center around that destruction. Eventually, when it all fell apart, my mind and body had had enough, and I broke down completely. I needed to go through these experiences to be where I am today. If I hadn’t married an abusive man, I wouldn’t have found myself, and if I hadn’t lived in a world of chaos with my alcoholic ex, I wouldn’t have found the strength to truly heal my mind and start the real process of loving myself.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a professional artist and own and operate my business: Dani Roma Creations LLC. I specialize in large-scale murals. I am most proud of my designs. I never thought I had a “style,” but then I started to see it take shape, and I now know my artistic voice. I had two KC hearts last year, and I have one this year, so that is a big accomplishment for a newer artist. What sets me apart from other artists is my drive. I will do whatever it takes to grow my business to do what I love for the rest of my life. Unlike many artists, I also love working with people. I love helping a client bring their dream mural to life. I love the design process! I also travel all over the country, painting murals in air BnBs, and I love that part of my job. I get to paint and explore new places. Plus, I take my pup, Ellie, everywhere I go, so I am unique in that way.

Do you have any advice for those just starting?
Do it all! Try everything! Create every chance you get! I am entirely self-taught, but I also have an extensive network of artist friends I lean on when I need assistance. Having creatives in my corner is a huge part of my success, so if you want to make it in this world, I suggest you join a community of artists and make some friends. I wish I hadn’t been so hard on myself in the beginning. While I did know in my soul that this was what I was meant to do, I knew I was way too motivated not to make it happen. I did struggle with a lot of self-doubts. Making money as an artist is a long game. You have to be willing to wait it out. Do not sit around and wait for it to come to you, but know that the universe is hearing you and watching you work your tail off – good things come to those who work hard, stay diligent, and practice patience.

Contact Info:

• Website: daniroma.com
• Instagram: @dani.roma.art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dani.roma.art