BLOG #10 WORDS OF ADVICE

Well, well, well the end of the road is almost near. Time to say our good byes, pack up our Macs and move on into the next phase of our DMA lives. The introductry  to the world of media acts has been quite interesting and very informative.

I remember when my instructor Mrs.H introduced me to blogging (chuckle). I can't lie I was a little skeptical at first but once I did my first blog called The college freshman I fell in love with blogging. "So be on the look out for thegraphicconnection.blogspot.com. I will be dropping blogs 3 times a week".

 "Now back to our regularly scheduled program" All of the assignments I had to do from the Imovie, newsletter, and presentation was a great experience.

I learned alot about myself as well, for one I did'nt realize how interested I was about video production until I did the Park Slope M4V using the Imovie program, or when I made my first comic book using comic life.

Well people I could sit here for days and days rambling on and on about my experience as a freshman coming into the world of DMA. But I dont think there's enough time in a day for me to say all I have to say. What I would like to do is say
                                                                        a few words to my up and coming fellow DMA students.
                                                                        I put together a couple of phrases for you guys to look at,
                                                                        I pray that they inspire you.

                                                              Always do your best.

                                                              Don't waste time.

                                                              Visualize your dreams.

                                                               Inspire those around you.

                                                              Can't is not in your vocabulary.

                                                               Excellence lies within you.

Take a few minutes and check out my video from me to you... Thanks for stopping by hope to see you soon and feel free to comment, bye for now.



BLOG #9 ZAC POSEN

Born to design, American fashion designer Zac Posen has grabbed americas eyes by its coat tail. He may not be a household name yet, but he is on the verge of becoming one.



Zac Posen was born October 24, 1980, he was raised in the Soho neighborhood of lower Manhattan. Zac is the son of artist Stephen Posen, so his interest in fashion design started early: As a child Zac would steal Yarmulkes from his grandparents Synagogue to make dresses for dolls. A young Zac attended Saint Anns School in Brooklyn, and in his sophomore year interned with fashion designer Nicole Miller. At age 16 he enrolled in a pre-college program at PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN. Zac graduated in
1999 and spent 3 years under the teachings of Richard Martin at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In 2000, Posen got his big break when a dress he made for Naomi Campbell went through a few hands of fashion insiders who loved his work. The following year Zac was chosen to present a capsule collection for Gen arts fresh faces in fashion New York 2001. After his first runway show Zac began to be contacted by some of the greatest for Eg: Sidney Toledano (CEO of Christian Dior), Domenico Desole (President and CEO of Gucci) and many more. Following the success of his presentation, Posen established his design studio in Tribeca. Where the likes of clothing designer Sean Combs invested in Zac. Posen continues to receive awards and accolades for his work, most notable award was the A Council of  fashion Designers
of America 2004. Swarovski's Perry Ellis award for womens wear.



Zac has become a favorite of style leaders including Rihanna, Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce Knowles; He has collaborated in a capsule collection with target. Zac states "this is only the beginning" of many projects to come: so I guess it is safe to say Zacs gonna be around for awhile.



BLOG#8 SEAN COMBS "HERO AT LARGE"

"Can't stop,Won't stop", "I've been doing this for over ten years", are just some of  the many lyrics by the man who call himself Sean(Puffy)Combs.


Sean John Combs is the son of Janice and Melvin Combs, born November 4,1969 in Harlem, but grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. As a young kid Sean played football at Mount Saint Michael Academy; where he later on graduated (1987). Sean attended Howard University where he found his niche for marketing and had a reputation for being a party promoter. He eventually became an intern at UPTOWN RECORDS as a talent director. Mr.Combs was instrumental in developing the careers of the group JODECI as well as signing and producing hits for MARY J.BLIGE. In 1997 after leaving uptown records Sean established his own company called BAD BOY RECORDS. Combs began signing acts to Bad Boy; some of that talent was Carl Thomas, Faith Evans, 112, Total, and Father MC. He also produced tracks for the likes of Usher, Lil Kim, TLC, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, and Aretha Franklin just to name a few. The man we call P.Diddy didn't stop there: known for his sleek style and aggressive attitude to be great at what ever he does, launched his clothing line SEAN JOHN in 1998.

His clothing line was nominated for the council of fashion designers of america (CFDA) award in 2000 and 2004. Puffy also designs the green alternate jerseys for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2008 Sean acquired the Enyce clothing line and helped develop the Ciroc brand which is a premium vodka line. And remember "Don't Drink and Drive". In addition to his clothing line Puffy owns an upscale restaurant chain called Justin's named after his son in Atlanta. He also launched his fragrance "I am King" under the Sean John brand. The list for this gentlemen goes on and on. Fortune magazine featured him as one of the 40 richest people under 40 in 2002, and his estimated worth is 475 million in 2010.

There may not be enough words to explain the great achievements this man has accomplished. What I can say is I admire his leadership, consistency, and never being afraid to take a chance. Sean Combs has exemplified in more ways then one how to be creative and short get paid for it as well (LOL). Many people see Mr.Combs as a Bad Boy, some see him as a hero, but to his family he is plain old Sean John Combs. Take a moment and check out Puffy's 2011 fashion show.
                                                                                 

                                                                                 

BLOG#7 PARK SLOPE

Brooklyn New York is our home town, it is the place we always get down. How many of you remember that song by Stetsasonic? LoL, that sure brings back memories, back then everybody wanted to Rep their part of town in Brooklyn. People would say "I'm  from Do or Die  Bedsty" or Brownsville "Never ran Never will", the funny thing back then is when people would ask me "where you from" I would say "PARK SLOPE"!!! and they would say "Where is that at"? Well people I am here to tell you....

Park Slope is a neighborhood in the western section of Brooklyn, New York. The Slopes (as we call it) is basically connected to Prospect Park  one of the biggest  parks in New York from the West to the East. Which is how Park Slope got its name, funny as it may seem it is surrounded by a park and on a slope.

   It is the most populated Borough with over 65,000 people  up 2,800 since 2000 . With over 68,000 / square miles Park Slope has the ability to Demographically  hold quite a diverse population . 7th and 5th Avenue are the primary commercial streets for the neighborhood , with a lot to see and do . 

Park Slope is known for its Historic buildings,Top Rated Resturants, bars, and shops. In 2010 it was ranked number ONE in New York by New York Magazine for its quality in Public Schooling, Dining, Nightlife, Shopping, and easy access to Public Transportation. The Slopes is considered One of New Yorks most desirable neighborhoods to live in. Its Landmarks range from:

• Prospect Park
• Brooklyn Academy of Music (B.A.M.)
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden
• Brooklyn Museum
• Brooklyn Conservatory of Music

This is just to name a few of the things that makes Park Slope what it is today.So to the guy that asked me "Where is that at" I would like to say "I dont think Park Slope is hard to find NOW..." (chuckle) "I AM PROUD TO BE A PARK SLOPIAN"......  

                                                                

                                                                                                   

BLOG#6 PLATFORM WARS

Hmmm... I was sitting here surfing the web, and all I noticed was how so many companies offer tablets and smart phones. I understand that this is the way of todays world,"TECHNOLOGY RULES". But have you ever asked yourself who is better, then who, and why should I pick them. What makes your system better then their's.
                                                                                 

We understand that there are Pros and Cons when it comes to these mobile platforms, so I feel it would be fair to say the applications the devices offer/use would be equally important as the purchase itself. Let's face it, what good is a tablet without the apps, thats like having a computer with no operating system, come on people... face it the better the apps, the better your investment is. So without further a do, lets take a look at some of the prominent applications out there today.

• APPLE'S App Store: The name speaks for itself Apple has been one of the most elite applications on the market. Besides the strict guidlines the developers must follow in order to provide quality work, the App store is host to more than 500,000 approved applications, as well as the IPAD having over 90,000 native Apps available for download. If you want to find more Information about the App store applications that were approved or the IPAD be sure to check out my links.

• ANDROID MARKET: In its two plus years out Android Apps has become the second biggest player in the mobile App world. "Two Thumbs Up" for GOOGLE, making their platform a force to be reckoned with. Having over 200,000 Apps, and 500,000 new device activations every single day. Another plus about Android is how they allow outside markets to be downloaded to their systems as well. You can transfer downloads via U.S.B.,Websites, and by downloading the A.P.K. file. By doing this they do chance the risk of installing bad codes, which is a chance they are willing to take, besides it is more then what you will get from IOS devices or the App store.

• There are many other Apps that are trying to make a way for themselves, like HP, and BlackBerry to name a few. Ultimately its up to you to decide what fits your needs. Excessive Apps with limited control then APPLE may be for you. Then there are those who want to be able to install Apps from external sources then Adroid is your guy. Maybe you are only interested in smaller easy to browse Apps then you may want to look at HP, or BlackBerry. Bottom line  people, just lie the old saying goes "THERE SOMEBODY FOR EVERYBODY" I say "THERE IS A PLATFORM FOR YOU"

                                                                                    
                                                                 Check out this video

                                                                                 

BLOG#5 THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY

The Industry, whos in it, where is it, and how do I get there. What Industry you ask?, I am talking about the Creative Industry. Where you are allowed to show case your stuff amongst the best, to prove why you feel you are the best! Can I get a Amen? (Preach on my brother)

Thats why I am here today to enlighten you about a great easy to use web site called "Creativehotlist.com". CHL as I like to call it, is a premiere job site with one of the most sophisticated search engines around. It allows users to find people, companies, and resources for any aspect of the creative market. Which includes, Job Openings = You can search by category or industry to help narrow down the job that's right for you.
Creative Services = allow CHL to do the work for you wether its a logo, website, or just needing help on launching a new product CHL can help.
Artist = Any and all information you want or need to know about an old or new artist from musicians to dancers or painters to museums can be found right here.

                                                                                                              
These are just a few of the services you can get from Creativehotlist.com. One of my favorite things about CHL is that wether your company is one preson or a thousand through CHL  you can post information about your firm, the capabilities your company has, as well as job openings for your firm. And since resumes can be sent online you can manage your entire hiring service right through CHL and have your searches saved and filed by its personalized virtual filing system with anytime access. But you must become a member, so don't wait, join today and enjoy showing the world the "Creative You" right through Creativehotlist.com.

When I use CHL I like to put in different names in the category section, then switch up the industry section, and see what I come up with. Today I was searching about graphic designers. I was able to find 57 matches, but the one that caught my eye was a graphic design intern :-) for a Benefits Company. Qualifications were as followed
1. Currently enrolled in college = thats me!!
2. Studying graphic design = Hey over here....
3. Excellent communication skills = Im your guy...
4. Ability to design and work on Windows PC = " Thank you God"
5. And lastly capable of working independently or with a team = " Can you give me a sec im working on something" "OK people gather around I have a new idea"

LOL, But seriously Creativehotlist.com is user friendly, no real surprises when I did my research, only thing I can say is CHL is proficient in helping me showcase my talent. And keeps me in the loop about our creative world.

BLOG#4 COMIC LIFE

Remember as a little kid waking up Saturday mornings to watch cartoons.Or how about sitting in your room reading a comic book.Those were the good old days, now with the advancement in technology, you can watch TV on your phone, and download comic books right from the Internet.

This is why I want to tell you about a great program called Comic Life. You can use it for Windows or Macintosh, its easy to get and simple to use. Go to Comic Life - Pasq.com to download the program for a 30 day trial or you can buy it for as little as $24.95. If you are a professional artist or even a up and coming artist Comic Life is a great platform for you to showcase your work.

As I begin my own journey into the world of DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS utilizing Comic Life for my own comic book was quite interesting plus a lot of fun. It allowed me to tap into my creative side and use my imagination. I took some pictures  of my family and put together a story called "ARE WE HOME YET"



It takes place in Manhattan N.Y. where a nice family decides to go out for dinner at Red Lobster but I don't think everyone was on the same page. Now remember its just a comic book so you cant always believe everything you read. It may not be a Archie comic but it is my comic.

BLOG#3 THE HISTORY OF ART

When we think of art what comes to mind? For some it may be painting's for other's it could be dancing or a sculpture. The beauty about art is that it can be perceived in so many different ways.

Art started over 40,000 years ago, it was a way for people to express their thoughts, feeling's and beliefs through their sculpture's, painting's, or architectural work. We might as well say that art has existed for almost as long as humankind from early pre-historic art to contemporary art. The oldest art objects in the world are some tiny drilled snail shells that was discovered in a south african  cave. Since then many ancient civilizations like the GREEKS and the ROMANS have been influenced as well as fascinated by the craft that artists in the past possessed.

While art itself emphasizes on the individuality of ones creativity its history over the year's has been able to develop and influence many people across the globe.





BLOG#2 CREATIVE MINDS

For many years I have felt that I possessed the ability to create. But it was'nt until I arrived here at TCI studying in the major of DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS this is when I began to truely understand the authenticity of the art. Being able to utilize my mind on something realistic or imaginary and having the result of something end up being creative art. Meaning its my innovation or  my new creation is quite a fulfilling feeling. Have you ever asked yourself  "How creative are you"?

My reply would be I am above average in my craft. And with this said thats my main reason for taking DMA because I dont want to be just above average. My goal is to become exceptionally creative. And this is what I hope to achieve at whatever level it may take.



I have already learned a great deal in just a short period of time. But most of all I learned that there is a "CREATIVE YOU" in everyone.



BLOG #1 THE COLLEGE FRESHMAN

MY experience at T.C.I. has been quite interesting. I didn't really know what to expect in the beginning but these last 2 week's has definitely been a challenge for me. After reading the book "COLLEGE RULES" by Nist-Olejnik and Holschuh i must first thank them for all the detailed information that they provided. I realized that the first and most important tool i needed to use was my PATIENCE because without it my life would be pure chaos. Once i felt that was in tact i decided to work on my approach towards better learning. As the book mentioned "TIME MANAGEMENT" is a MUST!!! So in order for me to begin my "CLEAN SLATE PHENOMENON" i had to make sure i was doing better now then what i have done in the past which is,

1. Setting my priorities



2. Utilizing my time more sufficiently



3. Studying for classes

The fast pace of the college world is quite challenging there is so much to do in such little time. So it's my responsibility to be

• Punctual - so that i don't missing anything and fall behind.



• Independent - being able to work alone on any assignment given



• Inquisitive - never afraid to ask any question's for help.
  
  

Which leads me into the second chapter of the book KNOWING, UNDERSTANDING, and most IMPORTANT using the resources around me for assistance. "IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD" Well T.C.I. my teacher's are my parents i am the child and along with my peer's we all make up the village. I will do my best to not end up like Leslie did as far as not having any sort of relationship with her teacher's if i can help it. So in the end I pray to accomplish what I set out to do which is Graduate from college and most importantly not to disappoint myself nor my teacher's...