Meet Jovana Djoric

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jovana Djoric. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jovana, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I think keeping your creativity alive is really important. Some days it can be really hard to find that spark in you to create something magical. There are a few ways I make sure to keep my creativity alive. One thing I do to ease the pressure of making something perfect is sketching. I’ve recently been sketching a lot more because it gives me a way to be creative, to practice and just let ideas flow without needing it to come out a certain way. If I start on a canvas and mess up or don’t like how it comes out, I’m putting a lot more pressure on myself. Instead, I have found that sketching is a great way to get my creative juices flowing because I’m not as focused on the outcome but the process. Additionally, I like to make sure I have some fun music playing while I begin crafting because it allows me to have fun and eases my mind. Lastly, I make sure to step away when I’m feeling blocked and take a mental break. Creativity comes and goes- when I feel it, I act on it. Whether it be sketching something down, saving an inspiration I found, or writing an idea in my notes, I make sure I save the thought and then I can bring it to life later.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

In short, I’m an artist. The longer version is that I’m an artist of all kinds of art- paintings, jewelry, oddities, and more. I like to think of myself as a one-stop shop where you can find something for pretty much anyone. I love my art because I truly put so much love into everything I do. I have ventured out into more oddity art recently, such as framed butterfly and spider taxidermy, preserved terrariums, and bone art. For many of my taxidermy pieces, I meticulously place the pieces to tell a story. I sort through various types of crystals to see which best match the vibe of the specimen and background. All of my specimens are ethically sourced and have passed naturally, meaning some of them may be in silly positions. To capture the essences of such an interesting pose, I may create a more in depth scene. I actually just finished a very silly one. It is a round glass jar with a lizard. The lizard was preserved in a curved shape, leaving it to look like a wacky artist. I took the perfect opportunity to make it an artsy lizard. It sits on an amethyst cluster, holding a paint brush and palette, with a paint set and canvas in front of him. He is a work of art creating another work of art. I truly enjoy making this fun kind of art through my taxidermy. I would definitely say that I have grown to favor my taxidermy pieces most!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three qualities that were most impactful in my journey as not only an artist, but a small business owner are resilience, adaptability and confidence.
It is important to be resilient because you may face some setbacks, but you must be able to rise above them. For example, as a vendor, when doing events, there will be good days and there will be bad days. Sometimes business is booming and you feel on top of the world. Other times, it’s slower, and you have to be able to see past those slow moments. You must remind yourself that it will pass and you can bounce back from it. This goes hand in hand with adaptability.
When you’re faced with challenges like those slower days at events, you can either feel defeated or you can use that free time to film, create content or to brainstorm new ideas. Additionally, some events might not be your crowd, and it happens. There are times when you may go through an adjustment period, trying to find what works for you-events, customer base, product display. When one thing doesn’t work, you need to be able to adapt, evolve and come back stronger than ever!
Lastly, confidence is super important when running a business. Being confident shows! You want people to see your art, but they really love to see the passion and confidence behind it too. It shows customers that you know yourself and that you know your worth. Being confident allows you to learn from your mistakes and own up to them; it shows strength. For those who are early into their journey, I recommend taking it slow and being kind to yourself. You will make mistakes, maybe many, but you will learn from them. Also, just because something works for someone else, doesn’t mean it will for you. You just need to go through trial and error to find what works for you.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

I have experienced a lot of growth in the past 12 months. I think my biggest area of growth has been personal, spiritual growth. By this I mean, connecting more to myself, finding what brings me joy, and leaning into what feels right. A lot of that ties into my art. Creating has always been a safe space for me. It eases my mind and makes me feel good. I feel like we are always growing, learning new things, finding new hobbies, and creating new habits. I’ve grown to live by my own rules, not what others expect of me. I may not be exactly where I want to be in terms of my growth, but it’s a lot stronger than before. I know my worth and I remind myself of that every time someone doubts it. My growth has definitely been seen through my art. There are so many creative ideas flowing within me that I can’t wait to share with the world.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcoreart/

Image Credits

Zachary Brown