We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jovan Clark a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jovan, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I guess I’ll combine a few of your questions into one since they all kinda relate.
Let’s start with the mental health side. Since about 12 I’ve struggled with depression, & on & off anxiety. Early 2020 I was inches from committing suicide. That night changed my life forever. The next day I took a plane ride home, which was like my new system update. I became a new person. I knew my purpose, & started pursuing it right away.
That purpose became an obsession, & has lead me into fulfilling a variety of roles in the arts & entertainment space (painter, designer, photographer, model, creative director, stylist)
Which has definitely come with challenges that can ramp up my depression and anxiety at times. But finding outlets to keep me in the right headspaces has been very important for my overall wellbeing & my success as an artist. Art being my favorite outlet….I’ve been able to take whatever I’m going through & transform it into something positive. The time I spend on my pieces is like therapy for me. During that time I do a lot of reflecting & releasing. I also found journaling, meditating, following a healthy diet, working out, going on drives, or lately, playing video games, to be good outlets too. The more I’ve cured myself, the more I’ve been able to explore myself, & in turn the deeper my art has become.
It all feels like drops in a river. Each is playing its part to keep it all flowing.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Originally from Lancaster, PA, I started creating in various mediums from a young age.
My start in photography quickly turned into getting in front of the camera, where I made a solid career for myself in modeling. In 2018 I got signed by my first agency in New York City, and spent 2 years traveling between New York & West Chester University, where I got a B.S. in Finance & a Minor in Accounting.
During that time, I realized my true passions lied in creating & building my personal brand, JVNCLRK. As my social media following quickly grew, I decided to move to Miami, FL in 2021 to expand on my business & creative abilities.
In 2022, I held my first public display, “THE PROGRESSiON COLLECTiON”, inspired by nature and my hometown roots. With over 250 invitees in attendance, it was a night full of various types of entertainment and a debut of my art. The experience brought more attention to my abilities and allowed me to sell my first piece, legitimizing myself as a professional artist.
In the same year I also showcased my talent for fashion design with the launch of my clothing brand, WAS (Wolves Among Snakes).
Since moving to Miami I’ve continually dove deeper into my creativity through various mediums in the arts & entertainment space; as a model, influencer, stylist & creative director to name a few.
Now known as a multifaceted artist and entrepreneur with a bright future, you can find me working on myself & my many projects across the US.
A primary focus of mine is continuing to expand upon my creativity. Currently I have a few projects I’m working on that I’m excited to release later this year.
One of the next steps is finding more ways to provide value to others; whether that be through education, financial assistance, or simply lending a hand or ear to someone in need.
I believe everything starts with self and as we better ourselves, we can better the world around us.
See more of Jovan on his social channels: @jvnclrk
Or on his website www.jvnclrk.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’d say your skills & knowledge can be enhanced as time goes on.
That’s all part of the beauty of the process.
Our main focus needs to be on our core qualities / mindset first.
My top 3 would be resilience, patience, & versatility.
I think the creative field comes with a lot of ups & downs. Being ready to “keep going no matter what gets in the way” has to be your mindset at all times. You can, you will. Know that above all. But with that, you have to understand it’ll take time. Not your timing. The right timing. Trust. Be patient. & as time goes, keep expanding on your skills & knowledge. Be versatile. You never know what’ll make you pop, what will present you with the right connection, or what you might learn from exploring something new. I’m always pushing myself to keep expanding on what I’m already doing while still trying new styles, forms, etc. For every addition I explore, I’m able to carry a piece of that into other forms. For example, photography led me to modeling, & that combo got me movement on social media. From there I got into styling & fashion design, then all those experiences gave me a strong understanding of marketing & brand development. Now I can do it all. Photo, video, editing, paint, draw, model, style, design, events, & so much more.
This helps me curate & come up with ideas constantly.
Which is a large reason I’m always creating. I have so many avenues to place my creativity. & the more I do, the better I’m seeing they all get. One step ahead in one forms leads to advancements in another.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m definitely interested in collaborating with the right individuals if it aligns; however, my primary focus is on brands. I like taking on the role of a curator/tastemaker & coming in to enhance what’s already in place or figure out ways to make the 180 make sense. Whether that’s through products, marketing, events, etc. I’m always open to hearing how we can bring something new to life. My top picks will always be fashion brands & in house products. But I also love to come into shops to curate a new aesthetic, help with hosting events, specialty desserts (I’m a huge sweet tooth), or as simple as creating some dope content for socials….the ideas & opportunities are endless!
Just shoot me a dm or email & let’s get cookin!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jvnclrk.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvnclrk
Image Credits
Pablo Hernandez – https://www.instagram.com/pablojhphoto?igsh=MWNjNDFob3pkMzlrYw==
Steven Lin – https://www.instagram.com/shottastee?igsh=d3V4N281b3F1MHc3
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
