GREETING CARDS, POST CARDS AND MORE

Photo Shop,

  I never thought that I would be doing greeting cards, and post cards.  who would have thought there was so much involved in either one of them? I recently received a hand out saying "HUE ARE YOU" first off hue is color, and every color has a different meaning.   How many times have you heard or said "RED HOT" or "WHITE AS SNOW", "GREEN WITH ENVY"?   What about the color "BLUE" which can be referred to as happy or sad.  Every culture sees them differently and that's why  greeting cards, flyer's and yes, even the color paper on your resume,  play a big part in how the reader sees what you have written or what they are looking for, this along with the font style, size have an impact, these are the things that I continue to learn on a daily basis.  Did you ever notice that almost everything related to  Christmas sales has either big white letters on a red background or vice/verse? how about a newspaper white background with large black letters?  here's some things I did in Photo shop as examples.



Digital Times My Own News Letter

Digital Times :

 This was my very first article, from beining to end.  I did not know how detailed it was untill It was my turn to do it;  the name of the paper, the fonts, the color, the articles, the interviews, and yes the letter from the editor, Me!  The experience in DMA has been awesome Blogg's, Photo Shop, Art, Computer Art, it all ties in one with the other.   I will show you a little of each one of these subjects for you can see what it's like for a real green freshman getting into it.

Interview with Jaxon Flores
                  by

Eliseo Hernandez

Mr. Flores so Where are you from?

I am originally from Nicaragua.

What Classes are you Teaching now?

Web Development, which includes html, xhtml, css, side scripting, ecommerce, cms. Although, the class I really enjoy is digital video production.

What did you do before teaching?

I started off as an artist, was drawing since I was a young boy. My parents were totally against me being an artist, as I became older I started to study on my own in different disciplines. Print making, drawing, etc. Then I had a pretty good run in San Francisco showing in galleries.

Why did you become a DMA teacher?

I came to New York to study painting, because I felt like you couldn’t be an artist unless you painted, not only painted but painted realistically. If you could do that you could be an artist, I was mistaken. I studied at school of visual arts and after I graduated I was totally lost, didn’t know what to do, so much information. Then I came to TCI to learn electronics and while I was here I started working with students, teaching them about video programs and 3D programs. I fell in love with showing people so I became a Teacher.

What advice do you have for students in succeeding in Digital Media arts and school?

work ethics is major, how you deal with work and pay attention to details and if you apply that, then you can’t help but get better. focus in on something you really love, give it the detail, make it perfect, beautiful. Have the people that know a lot about what you are doing critique your work, then improve it some more

.Do you have any success stories of former students?

Oh yeah, Heidi Gomez, she is now a free lance graphic designer and she’s working on helping students from TCI to find jobs with people she knows and, thus shares her success with others.

Interview With a Digital Media Arts Student

Questions for a DMAstudent:

Where are you from?

I was born in Manhattan, raised in different parts of the city, a nomad traveler who now lives in Queens.

What did you do before TCI?

I was actually in Kansas City working with my cousin working in a media business, called PRO TECH  ENTERPRISES. This was doing graphics, computer work, and construction, even some farm hand stuff.

What made you interested in DMA?

After graduating I was looking for something to do, so I figured I’d get into game design. My long life passion was, to create video games and I decided to get involved making them. I’m currently working on one right now called, “Awaken State.

Prior to TCI when was the last time you were in School?

I had actually, finished taking my GED before coming to TCI. I went to the mid Manhattan Adult Learning Center.

How do you feel about the e-books?

This is to you TCI, “I hate the ebook system, so you should just demolish it.” Get e-book that you can actually keep, the way you’re running things now, “It sucks.” You have a trail that’s for 180 days and most of the books don’t have a hard copy so, you need to get a digital copy. If you get the copy you can’t return it because it’s already opened. I have no good things to say about the system.

How has the adjustment to TCI been for you?

Actually it’s pretty smooth, after graduating from my GED class, I really had nothing to do. I look forward to getting up in the morning and coming into TCI. I’m learning more of what I like to do, I’m doing something that deep down inside I know, this is what I want to do. Oddly enough my favorite class is, Speech class. Mr. Elliot Is a great teacher.

A note from the Editor
Do I use TCI services? You bet!

I am a fan of the library more for its conference room that I used with class mates to discuss class projects or help each other out in our week spots. On my own, I have used the tutors and labs in both the main building and on 56th street. The DMA labs are a great way to bounce ideas off fellow students, while working on projects.

I would really be lost without TCI services, I spend most of my time in school or at home doing projects, not so much because I have too but because I like it. I feel that DMA has been the right choice for me I get to use my imagination as a tool for work.I am a person, like millions of others who has reached a cross road. Just as so many others have stopped and said; now what? I found a new path, one that was inside me all the time, but never bothered to look. One day visiting TCI having enrolled in a different course I saw a flier as I was walking through the student lounge and it read; "Digital Media Arts, were creative minds run free."

This was like a slap in the face because, I felt that my creative mind had lost it’s glow. Needles to say, I changed my major to DMA a few days later and now feel like this is what I was supposed to do.

The diversity of students was refreshing, different, and expected. Young and seasoned with the desire to move forward. The teachers I have met with, have always steered me in the right direction. I know they have there hands full with some students, I admire there drive and
appreciate the time they spend with me.

Visit to B&H



                  

I was impressed with the conveyer built system  that they had through out the store, this cut out the need for shopping carts. Of the service I did get only two stood out for me.

   

                         

We did enjoy checking our the equpment and trying it out. these pictures wre from and Olympus camera which I added my memory card, so we could take some pictures to see the difference between my nikon.

Did anyone say Photo Studio?





              Like a kid in a candy store!   

I saw everthing I could imagine and things I did not know even existed, if you ever get the chance go there 34th  Street and 8th ave. you will like what you see.

Me Creative? You be the judge

A lot has happened since the last post, so I'll try to keep it short. I have found the course that feeds me what I love most, my creative side. I don't know if any of this is true but, I am a Libra, left handed, and see things in a different light most times.  This course has has made go look into things I did not know get me going, Computer Art has let me see, hey I can "draw" and; I like it. I've had to draw with paper, pencil, and computer, I've learned to see things that I did not know where there.

 What does this look like to you?  maybe a wolf howling at the moon? with his head looking straight up and his ears are upright, like in a werewolf movie.  I'll show you this photo again in a little bit; from a different point of view.
  Photo shop is teaching me how to work with illusion, making things look as they belong when they don't and this is just the beginning. I started to take my own pictures so I can create different things, looks, feelings, art at a different perspective.

 Today I went to Rockefeller Center and looked, I mean, really looked and saw so many things.  A father and his young son, a mother who has a daughter that could be her sister, a boy that looks like he is tomorrows hockey pro.  The look of a woman who sees herself as the young figure skater once again.   oh, and she can skate, it looked so easy for her.  I continued up to the top of the Rock and the view was amazing, I can't wait until Monday to share the pictures I took and to get my sketch book back so I can draw once again.  But in the mean time I will write and express what I see, the best I can, I have a paper to write for Monday so I'm going to finish for now showing you the first picture once again from a different angle.

WHERE I'M FROM.

Where I’m from; your alarm clock is the music of the roosters in the morning, like the sounds of the waves crashing into the shoreline wave after wave.   The smell of the coffee, lets you know the time of day, you don’t even look at the clock.   The street vendor passes everyone’s yard yelling “EL PAN, FRESQUESITO, EL PAN”.

Where I’m from; the mall is like a beauty pageant, every day of the week and, the models are every shade of color and they all speak Spanish.   The best drinks can be made fresh, right from your back yard; just add the ice, mint leaves, and a little rum.

Where I’m from; your pet pig, chic, duck, or goat disappears, but there’s always plenty of food on the table.   Your house dances to the beat from the neighbor’s music, as if the congas were in your own living room.   The Christmas season starts in October, ends January 6^th, where Santa Clause and, the three kings visit all the children.

Where I’m from; jingle bells, a Belen Pastores and Feliz Navidad are holiday songs.  Christmas day can be celebrated on the beach, suntan lotion; sun screen can  be a gift package.

Where I’m from; you need to be careful of the thugs and the police because they have the same identification. Not even parking your car under the security tower means you will see it when you come out of the mall.

Even with all this, I still love where I’m from.

Where to find Help part 2

 Wow, it's been a couple of weeks since my last blog and I have to add about HELP.  These past couple of weeks have shown me a lot, I've had tutoring in the main building and on 56th street campus.  They have proved to be great for me, and I am going to become a partime resident at the training centers; my plan is not to do just good, but great.  "HE WHO STRIVES FOR GREATNESS, ACHIEVE'S SUCCESS." 
 Today the group I was in, presented the project we were working on, and it felt great!! we worked hard at it, going to the library, staying extra time, and video calls on "oovoo." We connected, searched for, and brought our information together almost every day. Even taking a writing  refresher has been fun, putting your thoughts and ideas down on paper, watching the paper come to life.  The lines create a picture of what's in my mind, giving a small preview to those who read it. I see now creativity is not only in painting, drawing, creating something with your hands but, using this form of mental interpretation.

At this point in my life, still learning, what a great thing!  

Where to find the help you need

I feel lucky, it's very easy to find help here if you ask for it!
  The school has labs were you can go over things you missed or don't understand, and if that's not enough the teachers do give you  some time and clarify things if you're lost.   Here's what I like most of all, the diversity of  students knowledge also helps and like I said before, all you have to do is ask, make friends, get names and numbers, find out strength's and weaknesses so you will always have someone who will help you.  who knows maybe you can help them or someone else?  I found some people like this and they have already made me feel comfortable.

You're in the big time now

Well, I'm past the parties and have been a dedicated worker most of my life, so deadlines & work are okay with me.   Now exams, quizzes, papers and more reading I'm not used to.

I like that I have a new goal and direction, focused on learning and applying myself  as if this was a new job.  Now I spend more time looking for useful things on the web as opposed to watching TV, be on Facebook or Yahoo.

My experience in school has been good walking to class and seeing the younger students, knowing what lies ahead for most of them and what's ahead of me.   Even though I was not the a great student when I was younger, life has taught me that dedication and persistence get you the things that where impossible, possible.
*I've learned to believe*

I've had to prioritize myself again, to accommodate my study time, homework, and daily life.  One thing  that I do is, take a break and go to the park to play my sax or walk around midtown and people watch.

Yesterday for the first time I actually drew a portrait of myself and I'd say it came out okay.  Once I started I couldn't stop, I was trying to make sure I got most of the details.  Fun, fun..