Influencing with Purpose: Vanessa Daly of Dos Santos Fine Art
We started Influencing with Purpose to shine a spotlight on local social media influencers who use their platforms for more than self-advertising. Vanessa Daly is a psychologist, life coach, and marketing expert who turned her love of creating art into Dos Santos Fine Art. Who better to interview for Madeworthy’s hobby issue?

Madeworthy: Dos Santos’ mission centers on art as a way to pause, reconnect, and heal. What first showed you that art could be more than something beautiful on a wall?
Vanessa Daly: A life-threatening health situation changed my life. At the time, I was studying psychology, and ironically, I pushed myself beyond healthy limits. Like many people, I had mistaken stress for productivity. After spending four days in the hospital, I knew something had to change. I found an art shop and started taking classes. It helped me feel calmer, more present, and connected to myself. Art helped me move through life with more balance and intention. It helped me shift from survival mode to creation.

photo credit: @astrid_garces
MW: How did your background in psychology shape the way you create Art Experiences?
VD: Every individual or corporate experience at Dos Santos Fine Art is designed to help calm the nervous system. Many guests arrive worried about “doing it wrong.” We intentionally create a safe, welcoming environment where people can let go of expectations, reconnect with themselves, and enjoy the present moment. It’s amazing to watch people arrive stressed and leave feeling lighter, happier, and more connected.
MW: When someone walks into one of your Art Experiences, what do you hope they feel before they ever pick up a brush?
VD: They don’t need permission to create; they are already creative. This time is for them to confirm it. Once that pressure disappears, it’s time for laughter and connection. Especially for women, who often spend so much time caring for others, creativity can become a meaningful act of self-care.
MW: When did you begin your own art journey, and how did it lead to creating experiences for others?
VD: When I moved to the United States in 2017 and was waiting for my green card, my husband gifted me art supplies, and I started to paint again. Even after returning to corporate marketing, art remained my hobby. After I was laid off in 2024… we took a leap of faith and opened Dos Santos Fine Art, creating experiences where art, community, and self-care come together.
MW: Your work often draws from nature and the lessons it teaches us. How do you translate those ideas into an experience people can participate in?
VD: I believe we are all part of nature. More than painting flowers or landscapes, I encourage people to reconnect with their feelings, with their natural cycles, and to express themselves through abstract art. We use tools like balloons, toothpicks, Q-tips, brushes, and upcycled vinyl records so people don’t feel intimidated. Our classes feel like a return to our natural state as human beings.

James L West Class (senior dementia prevention)
MW: When we feature people in Fort Worth for our “Influencing with Purpose” article, this means you are using your platform for something meaningful. What responsibility do you feel as an artist, teacher, and community builder?
VD: Art transformed my life, and I’ve seen it transform others. That comes with a responsibility to create more spaces where people feel creative and connected. I am grateful for the art scene in Fort Worth, and I am constantly looking for more partnerships with local artists, small businesses, and nonprofits to keep adding value and involving more people in our city.
MW: What have you learned from watching people during your workshops? Can you share a specific story that stands out?
VD: People are often much more creative than they believe; they just need a safe space to express themselves. In our Bottles & Besties self-expression workshops, there are no strict rules or step-by-step instructions. At first, that freedom can feel uncomfortable. Then something shifts. People relax, experiment, and discover that they don’t need to get it right; they need to be present and let creativity flow.
More art means more love and more humanity. One experience involved a group of women supporting a friend undergoing cancer treatment. Together with fabric artist Melanie Summers, we transformed their search for a headscarf gift into a meaningful ice-dyed silk scarf workshop. Through the power of art, eight friends found a unique way to express their love and support for someone they deeply cared about.
MW: Many people say, “I’m not artistic.” How do you help them move past that into creating?
VD: I remind them that creativity is about letting go of our fear of failing. We spend so much of our lives feeling judged or not feeling good enough that we’re afraid to make mistakes. Our experiences are judgment-free spaces where curiosity and courage matter more than results. Once that pressure disappears, magic happens.

MW: Your work supports causes connected to children, women, and mental health. Tell us why you think this is important in today’s age.
VD: Visual art is much more than decoration. It’s a powerful tool for connection, healing, and community. We support nonprofits like Bumble Bee Yoga Community, Make-a-Wish paint parties, Steer Fort Worth, and senior communities like James L. West. Being able to use art in service of others is one of the most meaningful parts of my work.
MW: What do you hope people carry back into their everyday lives after spending time creating with you?
VD: I hope they leave knowing they are creative… I hope they see art as a new tool to reconnect with themselves, get out of the digital world, strengthen relationships, reduce stress, and build confidence.
And when people choose a Dos Santos Fine Art experience, they’re doing more than making art or attending a paint party at a bar. They’re supporting local artists, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations working to strengthen mental health and community connection throughout Fort Worth. That’s the creative ecosystem we’re proud to help build.
Vanessa’s Fort Worth Favorites
Coffee Shop: Summer Moon (West 7th)
Breakfast or Brunch place: Press Cafe Clearfork
Hangout with friends: Salute Wine Bar
Place to relax and recharge: Bumblbee Bee Yoga Community
Museum or gallery: House of Neville
Artist or musician: TCU Symphony Orchestra
Yearly event: ArtsGoggle
Boutique: Worth & Gray
Spot to take photos: Japanese Garden
Sweet treat: Tiramisu at Bocca Osteria Romana
Hamburger joint: The Social House
Mexican restaurant: Tinies Mexican Cuisine


