-日曜の晴れ着 | SB Postcard project-

This project started when I saw some boxes. I loved how they looked, and I wanted to use it for something. As my friend's birthday was approaching, I also wanted to get her something that was totally awesome. So I got the idea of putting some of her designs/characters into postcard form.

I began with just scrolling through some design work that I've seen from her, and see what would be suitable for this project. I came across a lot that worked, but some of them, I didn't have the skill to pull off yet. So from there, I reworked the sizes, see what could work and what didn't, and put together a final draft, with a much more uniformed size and I started having a clearer idea of what it would look like.

I had decided that at that point, depending on how many I would complete, I would put in some new characters/design as well, so the last few boxes are just that. As I was putting this together, scanning, touching up, colouring, I began the search for a method to print this onto postcard format, as the original plan was to send this off to Japanland in time for her birthday.

At this point though, I was having a lot of trouble trying to figure out what colours to use. I noticed that while if I had an idea of what I wanted something to look like before, I would have no trouble. But I began this with just pencil drawings, and I hadn't thought about the colours at all before, so I felt like I didn't know what to use, and concluded that I still needed to learn about how colours worked. But even for actual painting, you could just try until you find the right colour, in electronic creation, this was an easy task. Plus, ultimately, rather than thinking very specifically about which colour looked good, I found that having a broader view and stepping back, not worrying so much about the details, the process became much easier, and it turned out pretty well, I would like to think!

All while this was happening, time was running out, and I came to a point of decision about how I was going to carry this whole project out. I inquired about printing, but I had trouble looking up information on very small scale printing. This and the fact that I've become much more environmentally conscious, I decided that instead of printing it out, and having it sent, both of these being inefficient use of resources, as my present ultimately was more the design than the actual card itself, I decided to create an electronic version of it instead.

This turned out to be a much better idea in the end, and the present was well received, which I was actually quite nervous about. It was a good project though, as I felt the practice I got from it was quite valuable, hopefully meaning that the next project will be a little smoother.

Labels: process, project, sb postcard

tommy @ |Monday, June 22, 2009 and 12:34:00 PM| --- 1 comment

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:D
I love how you posted the process, it's so cool!!! I should start doing that, too, for my projects... I always want to make tutorials but then figure it's too much work and I'm not sure who'd be interested, but I think I'll do it anyway :)

Thanks again so much, I really loved it <3<3<3

By  Kiki, at July 3, 2009 at 9:53 AM  

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-giving it my best shot-

If this calender by Oscar Diaz(Click on Ink Calendar under Products) isn't the coolest calendar ever, I don't know what would be. But then again, I wouldn't mine being proven wrong. Maybe I should look into making one, (which I actually have attempted to do before, funny enough.)

So it's been an exciting day! As in productive, and things are done. ish. I finally got a chance to speak to the lurkfish again, and <3<3<3 it is always great. I am always amazed and inspired by the things she sets out to accomplish, and all the great ideas and things that she puts her mind to. There will definitely be great things in her future.

But today! I was able to really get down to it, and over came obstacles and finally finished one of the projects I've set out for myself! I am pretty happy with the way it turned out, and I hope it will be well received when it is ready. E.X.C.I.T.E.D. Indeed.

Now that I have that finished with, I have sometime to get a few things around the house done before I start on the next task. I feel like, I really need to give myself a little credit, and not be so afraid, as my conversation today revealed. I need to go ahead and do things and get out there and take classes and try to accomplish things. Go go go! That is the plan. Shall we attempt to begin?

tommy @ |Tuesday, June 16, 2009 and 4:10:00 PM| --- 0 comment

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-sun chasing-

The other day after work, while it was still beautiful out, I had a little time in the evening before meeting up with some friends. I decided to head down to the seawall downtown, and hopefully catch a few shots to fill up my second roll of 120 film for my Diana F+.

The evening was gorgeous, many people were wandering about. There had been an anime convention going on as well, so there were many cosplayers around as well. (Such nostalgia~)

In any case, I managed to get a few shots, and I can't wait to see if I'll do better on this roll of film.

On the other hand, I've done just about absolutely nothing else this week. My allergies has been killing me (itchy eyes @_@) I suspect that it's the reason why I've been completely exhausted as well, or at least that will be my excuse. If it's any consolation, I've looked like crap all week, and, well, that has just been plain sucky. I think I need some allergy medicine.

There has been some good news this week though, I managed to take my MacBook in, and it turns out that the battery and the adapter were both to blame for the problem's I've been having, so I got those replaced and MackyB is all good to go again. Does this mean tommy will be more productive?! I sure hope so.

One more.

Labels: film, macbook, photography

tommy @ |Sunday, June 14, 2009 and 11:44:00 PM| --- 0 comment

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-photograph+ squared-

Last week, a certain someone showed me what a toy camera was. I really loved the effect, so I went and grabbed one myself.


I started off with a roll of black and white film, all this was really new to me (and still is!) So I figured black and white would be easier to make things look good (also, it was the only type I could find at the moment of purchase.) But it turned out not too bad. I had a little trouble loading up the film at first, and I had ended up exposing the first two frames. Out of the 12 frames I got developed, only 10 came out, and only about 4 were decent looking. Not too bad for a first try? (Maybe?) In any case, I think I have a better idea about how to work it, and I've looked up some of the exposure time of different types of lighting settings and such. I am pretty excited about finishing up my second roll and getting that developed.

It is, however, a little pricey to develop, so I will have to... something. (Perhaps a good time to try and limit my other spending so I can do this.) In any case, excitement all round! I shall have to get some colour film at some point as well, maybe when I become more familiar with it.

Coincidentally, the other day, another someone had told me I suck at photography: to which I admitted to. While I believe I have an artistic point of view, I have yet to fully develop any sense of capturing scenery and/or people with a digital camera. (extent of my photography "skills")

Although there is some truth in his comment, I believe he was just bitter because he didn't like the picture I took of him, so, yeah, better luck next time? :)

here are a few more:

Labels: dianaf+, film, photography

tommy @ |Thursday, June 11, 2009 and 10:59:00 PM| --- 0 comment

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-bare essentials-

I was reading this article in Psychology Today about self and authenticity, and I remembered that at one point, this was something I had a lot of trouble with. This idea of self and what it means to be true to yourself, I don't recall the details, but I believe that my views on that was along the lines of a) telling people I was imaginary; and b) that I was simply an image of myself (which, in retrospect, would mean that there is a "true" self somewhere.) In any case, that brought back a lot of memories.

There were other articles of interest in this issue. One of them was this look into people who are often known as "doormats". People pleasers, people who have trouble saying no, these types of behaviour are apparently usually developed in childhood. With a constant re-enforcement of obey=conditional love relationship with parental figures, these children do not learn to assert themselves, and continue to develop this need to accommodate people, fearing that if they do not, people will not love them.

The article continues to say that those who have such self-reinforcing rooted behaviours expend so much energy into pleasing people that they lose sight of what they want from life. "They're often seized by the disorienting feeling that they're not in control of their own lives", and end up basically exploding, turning that feeling into anger towards the people they were trying to please.

While I feel like I had known this already, I was somehow still shocked by the insight into how "doormats" actually come to be this way.

In other news, I still need to find a place to develop 120mm film. Also, I promise I will be more productive this week.

Labels: film, magazine, photo, psychology

tommy @ |Sunday, June 7, 2009 and 11:11:00 PM| --- 0 comment

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-look inside: What's greater than 7?-

Welcome to Greater than Seven, a place where the collective creativity of the tommy come together to go in front of a live audience and shine like it has never before. Here is where I hope to keep myself organized and motivated, as inspired by a good friend of mine. I hope to use it to keep an active record of the projects I hope to bring to completion, but also a place to explore my ideas and therein hopefully lead me towards a successful exploration of something that I am passionate about.

So, a little Q&A then, shall we?

Q: Just who are you, mr. tea?
tommy is tommy.
I'm a university graduate who has a Bachelor's of Arts double majoring in Philosophy and Japanese. I love to read, sing, throw my hands up in the air like I just don't care, and collect things. I have a weakness for cute things. I am most active when problem solving, and I get a strong sense of satisfaction from organizing things and making things look nice.

Q: So why did you make this blog?
Like I said, it was mostly done so that I would be more motivated to do things relating to art-y and design-y things. This has been something I've been dabbling in for years now, and I've always been afraid to really go for it. No more! (Well, the fear will go away eventually)

Q: So what kind of things should we expect?
Well, I am currently doing several things that I think will at the very least, get myself into a more creative mode. These include art projects, ideas that need further fleshing out, work that still needs to be completed. And I hope to seek out more of these sorts of tasks and projects, in hopes of eventually creating a portfolio of a presentable type.

Q: What can we do to help?
Any sort of support is very welcomed, be it simply reading this blog, or giving me criticism and ideas, or directions to where I should be going. Whatever the case, it will be greatly appreciated.

Q: So what IS greater than seven?
I am! This is! Everything is! (Except for negative numbers, and one to six.) I've come a long way since I began to first play with photoshop, and I hope to keep growing in my skills, my creativity, and my work. The possibilities really are endless, like things that are greater than seven.

Labels: FAQ

tommy @ |Thursday, June 4, 2009 and 10:26:00 PM| --- 0 comment

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