This week we have interviewed group member/artist Jess White

1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your equipment?

My Name is Jessica White, I’m eighteen years young, Currently living around the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. At the moment, I’m studying a full-time TAFE course in Multimedia, and doing some Photography on the side.

While my main focus is on Photography, I also enjoy Digital Manipulation and have recently gained an interest in Digital Drawing.
I try to make the best of the equipment I’ve got, as my budget is pretty low. I’m currently working with a Fujifilm Finepix S5700 I’ve had my camera for a couple of years now, and would love to buy myself something a little more professional, but it’s definitely my most worldly possession; I never leave the house without it, because it seems when I do, I see perfect shots everywhere.

My lack of models means I quite often use myself as the subject of my photographs, which makes it a little harder to get what I want, using timers and mirrors, and taking hundreds of shots until I get the right one.
Until recently I was creating all of my drawings and T-shirt designs using my mouse. I finally got my hands on a Tablet from one of the other students in my class and fell in love with it. I soon went out and purchased one of my own… And it certainly makes life a lot easier. As for programs, I mostly use Flash to do my drawing; I find the draw tools are really easy to use.

2. What first inspired your interest in art? What continues to inspire you?

My late mother was also really quite artistic. When I was young, my grandmother handed me a collection of my mother’s art that she had kept for me. She also had a couple of Photo Albums with Pictures she’d taken. I then went in search of my grandfather’s old film camera. He lent it to me and I soon filled it up; with pictures of my cat, and unfocussed pictures of flowers and grass. That was probably the beginning of my interest in art and Photography.

3. What type of art do you enjoy the most and why?

I’d have to say Digital Photography, while I really admire Film Photography; it’s far too tedious and expensive. I also like having the ability to come home and edit my photographs when I’m done or fix any touch-ups that are needed. I love seeing that clean, crisp final image. I’m not sure what attracts me to Photography so much. I love being able to capture the real moment, a piece of time.

4. Where is the most spectacular place you’ve ever been?

I’m yet to do the travelling I would really like to, only having left school last year. Hopefully in future years I will have the opportunity to travel for a few years at a time, bringing my camera and capturing shots of the world. At this point, the most spectacular would probably have been a beach I was exploring this year, down here in Nambucca. The sea was really rough that day, and I had climbed around onto the rocks behind a cliff. I was standing there with huge waves crashing onto the rocks in front of me, I was worried I was about to be washed away. One of the photos Breach in my gallery was taken that day.

5. What are your dreams, goals and aspirations as an artist?

Of course, I’d love to become famous, known for my art around the globe.
I’d love to be able to support myself simply on what I make for my art, to live off my hobby. I’d love to leave this world with photos on walls.

6. What has been your greatest accomplishment as an artist up to the present date?

I’ve yet to accomplish much, as I’ve only just begun to explore my creativity. But probably just getting my stuff out there, the fact that people I’ve never met, people around the world, are enjoying my art. It’s a nice feeling.

7. Do you have an inspirational message you would like to share with other artists?

If art is your dream career, your goal, you’ve got to keep pushing yourself in that direction. Get your foot in the door of that career path, and a world of opportunities will open up for you.