Art & photography history - Sedusa Crudella

In this section, I will tell you more on my history in art and photography, as well as some of my writing work. The photos below include some of my older art, as well as new sketches, some old photography, and my more recent cat and colour manipulation images. I will try and add some more things to this section soon.

It wouldn't make much sense if I didn't reveal anything about my history in art and design, while I've now displayed most of my stuff. So I think it's time I divulge more information on when I first really got into art and photography, and what initially attracted me in to it.

I was very young when my artistic side was first uncovered, at five and recently having started school, this was when my drawings were picked up on. I suspect my art then was merely scribbles, however it obviously still somehow managed to stand out from other kids of that age group.. nearing six years of age, I was put forward by my teacher to have one of my drawings displayed in a local gallery, this being an adult display it was a huge honour for a child and this alone was to play a major role in boosting my confidence in any future work I did.

From then on, my 'scribble skills' developed, as I advanced my art followed. Before starting high school I went on to be chosen, alongside two other girls, from multiple other school entrants to have our work displayed in a local gallery, I decided to add these photos here, they can be found below along with the drawing that won me that position. This was another massive confidence boost, for a 12 year old that was still very much an amateur compared to other works that hung in those galleries. But I learned, everything counts, no matter how small.. we all have to start out in that amateurship field.

Throughout my early high school years, I went on to get some more of my work noticed, once more in the local newspaper. It felt right to put up the article along with the others. All these opportunies meant a great deal to me, and still very much do, if it wasn't for those chances throughout my teens I possibly would of lost faith in my art and gave up doing it.

Once I left high school I decided to put art aside for a while, a part of me regrets doing so but I wanted to persue new things, this being nail art. Around this time I also wanted to experiment in journalism, I wanted to expand my horizons, without restricting myself too much in one field. My art days however were never far from my mind, but once my nail designing took in most of my time I never quite got a chance to revive my old 'pencil to paper' days. Until recently, that is!

Photography

My early interest in photography started far before I even owned a camera. I first discovered it through my father who studied in this field in his twenties, during the 1970's, photographic slides is what he started out on. These same slides is what was to capture my initial interest, as I sat flicking through them all as an eight year old. It was these coming years that I obtained my first camera, very basic compared to today, this is what I used until I reached my teens. In these early days however, my photos, juvenile in nature, consisted of scenery, animals and people, but I was only young, as time went on I was self taught on what went right and what didn't, the sneaky little tricks to improve a poor image and how to manipulate colours. My photography, unlike my art, never got me anywhere to begin with, basically because I didn't dare reveal any of my stuff to most, racked with self doubt, I never felt my work was good enough for anyones view. Once I forced myself to put that mindset aside, it wasn't until I was at least 16 before I started to get a few of my photos published in one or two magazines, this went hand in hand with my interest in journalism, by 18 I went on to take courses in freelance writing. Today, I have had some of my work published in paranormal magazines, and animal care.

But even now, at 26 I m still learning on what makes a truly great photograph, I would be lying if I said I look at my stuff and feel satisfied at what I've taken, I always feel there is room for improvement. I believe though self doubt is what spurs me on, then, now and possibly for the rest of my life in photography, and everything else I do, this alone reminds me to never fall in to complacency, as being cocksure sets you up for a hard fall.

I will wrap up now in my words, I hope I've gave a little insight in to my background on my interests and work. I'm sure though I'll look back on this later and find fault somewhere!