2009 Feature Artist

Jessica Turale

When Santa left a camera under the tree for Jessica Turale when she was only eight years old, it had a profound impact on her. Since those early days photographing her teddies in the backyard of her Penguin home, Jessica has single-mindedly followed her dream of becoming a photographer.

Jessica went to Penguin High School before completing her education at Hellyer College where she studied photography and graphic design, and was encouraged by her inspiring art teacher, Cath Thomas.

With the support of her family, Jessica completed a school based apprenticeship at TAFE doing Cert 3 in pre-press and graphic design, which she completed in November 2008.

Now the 19 year old Penguin girl works as a graphic designer in Ulverstone and has a part time photography business taking

wedding and glamour images, complimenting her other creative work.

Her personal photography ventured into the realms of surrealism with the encouragement of her teacher and her boyfriend James Brewer, who is also a graphic designer.

One of her favourite artists is digital artist, Maggie Taylor, who designed the opening sequence to the popular TV series "Ghost Whisperer". But Jessica finds ideas and inspiration in everything she sees from a TV program, looking out of her window, to exploring the North West Coast of Tasmania.

Jessica is a meticulously planned person. She composes her images from rough sketches of ideas, then takes the photograph, before digitally manipulating them to present the completed work.

She has already tasted some early success in her career. When she was in Grade 10 Jessica designed a book cover for successful Tasmanian author Troy Barnes' book "Deadlight" and again for his second book "Monochromacy" in 2008 when she was still at school. In 2009 and 2008 her work was exhibited in the touring exhibition "Art Rage", featuring the work of young Tasmanian artists.

Jessica is hoping that this opportunity will get her another step closer, to her dream of owning her own photography studio. She also hopes that it will encourage other young people, to think about where they would like to be, get a plan and to follow their dreams, because anything is possible.