Today we’d like to introduce you to Clanci Jo Conover
Clanci Jo, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I dabbled in freelancing during the pandemic, but it wasn’t until I was working at a gallery full time that I decided to commit to my own business. I was helping run an American art gallery that’s been open since the 1850s, and side gigs just kept coming my way. I reached a point where I was becoming overwhelmed with work, so I had to decide if I wanted to do my own thing or continue with the gallery. I ultimately chose to run my own business because of the positive feedback I’d received on these side jobs – it was really encouraging that people were happy with my work. Now I’m in my second full year working for myself and it’s been a great, albeit challenging, experience. I chose to focus on archiving artist portfolios and estates, fine art photography, curation, research, catalog design, and advisory services because those are the areas I have excelled with my clients.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road is never as smooth as we want it to be! One thing that has really worked out is that I have hardly done any advertising or marketing, yet I always have plenty of work through in-person connections and referrals from existing clients or colleagues. I may have to work harder at some point to find clients, but so far I have mainly operated with referrals. The biggest challenge for me is overcoming the anxiety of being self employed; even with my wonderful list of clients, there is no guaranteed paycheck or promise that there will be work tomorrow. I try to do my best everyday and deliver for my clients so they keep coming back, and it is no small responsibility. I am constantly working on keeping that anxiety at bay, reminding myself to take a break when I need to and finding reassurance in the positive feedback I get from clients.
Another struggle that may seem obvious is taxes! I had to learn to set money aside to be able to pay taxes as a self employed freelancer, what does and does not count as a write off – all that fun stuff. I’m still learning the best practices, but for anyone considering working for themselves: Do your research on taxes and finances ahead of time or find a trusted expert that can advise you, it will save a lot of headache.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Clanci Jo Fine Art Services specializes in archiving artist portfolios and estates, fine art photography, curation, research, catalog design, and advisory services. What sets me apart in this area is my background working with myriad artistic movements from across time and space, giving me a global insight that influences my understanding of and approach to each new project. Prior to starting my own business, I worked for different New York art galleries and advisories, which has given me a deeper understanding of the field, helped me foster relationships with vendors, and hone my skills so that I can offer my clients wide-ranging assistance.
I have cataloged a number of artist portfolios and estates since I began working for myself, and this has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of what I do. By interacting with an artist’s body of work and familiarizing myself with it, I build an understanding of the artist’s oeuvre and resultantly become a pseudo-expert on their catalog. It takes time and repetition to become familiar with a body of work, and once I have completed a project like this, I feel confident in my comprehension of the artists’ different styles and movements, opening up new possibilities in advisory and collaboration.
In combination with my experience, my network of art galleries, artists, and advisories provides fantastic opportunity for me to assist collectors in starting a new collection, or adding to an existing one. Whether you are looking to buy artwork for $100 or $100,000, I can help find those key pieces that fit you and your personal aesthetic. A good eye is necessary when acquiring artwork, especially when it is meant for a particular space, and you do not have to break the bank to get what compliments your style and space.
Recently, I partnered up with long-time colleagues and launched a new project called Fine Art Donations, a digital platform that connects collectors with museums. The platform is meant to simplify the process of donating fine art to accredited institutions, providing donors the opportunity to list their artwork for donation, while offering museums the ability to simply scroll through available works and select any that may be of interest to them. The system really streamlines the process of donating, as it can become tedious reaching out to institution after institution to find a home for your artwork. On the museum side, sourcing donations is equally tricky. Our platform exists to minimize the headache of placing works within an institutional collection, becoming just another way for me assist clients in all aspects of their art world needs.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I am a huge fan of Google apps – I’ve created entire artwork inventory databases using nothing but Google Drive for clients that want a good way to keep track of their art, but don’t want to pay recurring subscription fees. It’s an awesome tool. It may sound a bit mundane, but a physical pocket calendar has also been a huge help in keeping things organized. I use a calendar app, as well, but being able to look at my schedule offline and write things down really helps me!
Of course, my favorite app is Spotify – I make custom playlists for both myself and for clients, tailored to different settings, moods, time of year, etc. It’s a great outlet for me to get creative in weaving together the perfect playlist for any occasion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ClanciJo.com
- Instagram: @clancijo.fas
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/122356021?si=-cycsvQsQ3WrwyR9CJxMgA
Image Credits
Photos by/courtesy of Clanci Jo Conover