Meet Stephanie Dalton Cowan of Dalton Cowan Studio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Dalton Cowan.

Stephanie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 1996 I attended a digital illustration conference in New York City. I was so excited after the first day I told my husband Robert that I was going to make this a full-time career and I set that idea in motion as soon as I spoke it. At the time I was working as a Creative Director for an in-house corporate marketing group and I gave myself the task of creating covers for some of our in-house print projects. Shortly thereafter, I went out on my own and freelanced as a designer and Illustrator.

In 1999, I put my illustration portfolio online at The Ispot in New York City and received my first job from Showtime Networks illustrating 3 maps for a movie trailer. More illustration work came in after that assignment, and I began working full time as an illustrator. By 2006, I had signed with a top ranking illustration agency in New York City; Gerald and Cullen Rapp. Working with RappIArt is a great partnership for me and the best decision I made for myself as an illustrator and visual artist.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has been a relatively smooth move to transition to illustration and fine art because it was the natural progression of my knowledge and skills. Of course, working as a freelancer has its challenges when the economy is volatile and directly effects my client’s jobs as well as the amount of illustration that is purchased. All in all, my partnership with RappIArt has kept my work more visible in the marketplace and I stay busy year-round working on illustration assignments and creating fine art for my Atlanta galleries and design agents.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
What I am most proud of is the partnership I had with my husband Robert Cowan when we created Dalton Cowan Gallerie at Tula Art Center in Atlanta, Ga. from 2005-2008. We had a lovely gallery space and a good run working with various artists in Atlanta and beyond.

Robert ran the gallery and managed most of the curating. He was also a master framer so he added a lot to the success to our partnership. In 2008, we decided to expand our gallery to Santa Fe, New Mexico but realized shortly thereafter that our choice was poorly timed because the economy was about to tank in the fall of 2008. So that summer we made the choice to close our doors and concentrated our efforts full time in Atlanta.

We continued to sell art online through our website and Robert worked with commissions for frames, artist panels, and fine art jewelry boxes. During this time I worked in illustration and fine art which was a great balance for me because I had the full support of my husband Robert along with my agents in New York City.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Where I live has nothing to do with how I work. My clients are all over the country and worldwide at times. The great thing is that I can work anywhere and do what I love. As for living in Atlanta, I think the uptick in this part of the country is the cost of living and quality of life. Atlanta is a great place to live, although I would like to see more culture and art expand in this city.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.daltoncowan.com
• Phone: 770-509-1099
• Email: stephanie@daltoncowan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.dalton.cowan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaltonProjects/
• Other: www.daltonprojects.com

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