Earlier this year I worked on a freelance design project with Anne Likes Red. I was contacted to create and illustrate several characters for a postcard set, animated promotional video, and trade show display for NASW Assurance Services, Inc. focusing on professional liability insurance for social workers.
If you are interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please email Carolyn Belefski at info@curls-studio.com. View my portfolio: http://www.behance.net/CarolynBelefski
Hi Spooks! Thanks for reading Curls. Use hashtag #CurlsTrickOrTreat on social media to receive special treats from Curls. It's like digitally ringing my door bell. XOXO, Carolyn Twitter Instagram Facebook Tumblr Vine Subscribe to Curls!
There is a Kickstarter anthology project that I am a part of called RISE: Comics Against Bullying, which ends in 5 days. As of this writing, the project is funded a bit over 75%. This comics series dealing with bullying is geared to be distributed free by organizations such as GLAAD, Stand for the Silent, and Prism Comics. The story I am illustrating is written by Amber Love. It’s about the consequences of teens who feel they are mature enough to take nude selfies and the damage it does to one girl and her loved ones. There are several other artists and writers to check out as well who are working on this project with their own stories. To find out more, please read Amber's blog post about the project and pledge towards the Kickstarter to make it become a reality.
On Wednesday, October 22, 2014, I led the Design & Doodle Workshop during DC Design Week. The event was hosted by AIGA DC, General Assembly, and DC Fem Tech. Only 25 people could attend and the registration sold out in less than a day. Even the wait list was sold out, so I knew the attendees were paying close attention to the design community and that means people are craving this type of creativity. After introductions, I talked about doodling techniques and showed the attendees some warm up hand exercises to get loose. I have two main hand exercises – one I call finger taps and the other is more wrist based I call CM Punk. Oftentimes, I believe designers are stiff and it's an experience I've had to overcome and am constantly working on. Not only are we sitting at desks for ten hours a day staring at a screen, but we sometimes work under rigid guidelines and dun dun dun... the horrible (not so horrible) grid! Only one of the attendees had decided to draw digitally, but the others brought their own supplies of drawing tools and paper. After our decision about drawing, I learned that there was some interest in drawing apps, but most people felt like drawing with physical objects was the way to go. I mostly do linework on paper, then scan, and color digitally with a tablet.
A few years ago I did a project called Sketch Before Sleep where I drew each night for 365 days. All of those sketches were done digitally. I showed a film clip of all the Sketch Before Sleep sketches. I had not shown the film since 2011 at the GV Expo, but it's now available online here.
The two prompts I gave at Design & Doodle were selecting two words from my "Inspiration Owl" and showing the vintage novelty doodle pad from David Jablow's Do It Yourself Doodler Project. Free issues of Magic Bullet #9 and postcards promoting my comic strip "Curls" were given out as well.
The rest of the evening was spent doodling and several of the attendees showed me their sketches and had one-on-one talks with me about their drawing skills. It was great to meet some new faces and also recap with Anthony and Mila from the AIGA board. Thanks to everyone who attended the event.
New York Comic Con 2014 was a sweet success for Curls Studio and by all reports it seems like NYCC has now surpassed San Diego as the most attended comic convention in America, as NYCC reported 151,000 people. There is no denying NYCC has majorly grown in the course of one year.
In previous years, Thursday was slow and was only for those with VIP or special pro badges. This year there was already a crowd as soon as we arrived at the convention with our cart to set-up at noon on Thursday. Of course our morning was filled with packing the car in the dark morning light of Virginia, getting gas, and withering the New Jersey Turnpike until we pulled into the Javits Center to unload. The night before we recorded our podcast with Teresa Roberts Logan from Laughing Redhead Studio who exhibited with us at booth #1162 for the second year in a row. Next year we should leave a bit earlier to be fully prepared for the noon crowd charge and it was a pleasant surprise to have a successful Thursday.
I noticed several vendors had already given away their free promotions by Friday. For example, Cirque du Soleil had tote bags that did not replenish for the weekend crowds and Ghostery was giving out blue ghost stress balls that were gone quickly. I don't think anyone anticipated the Thursday crowds.
As an exhibitor it is hard to see the scope of the show, attend panels, or even step away to go to the bathroom. This year I got to see most of the show by arriving early on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the show started.I was most impressed with the Weta Digital booth which featured a gigantic resting dragon. The dragon's eyelids would slightly open to reveal glowing eyes as if visitors were interrupting a nap.
Adventure Time #29, the exclusive cover I did for Boom! Studios did very well. I also premiered new Comics Heart t-shirts available in aqua and asphalt in sizes XS, S, M, L, and XL as well as the new Sad Fish button collection. I plan to have both available online shortly, but you can email me at info[at]curls-studio.com if you'd like to purchase!
I enjoyed my time on Friday signing at the National Cartoonists Society booth. It was great to meet people interested in what we do and they were selling special t-shirts as well. On Friday evening we also got to see the "Juanjo Guarnido in the Freak Kitchen" panel. He is the artist of one of my favorite books, Blacksad.
On Saturday I tried to see a panel in the day, but that was quickly shot down as it was full and tons of people were sitting on the floor waiting for the room to open. At that point I really just wanted to go back to my booth, where I should be anyway! Gone are the days of NYCC a few years ago where there were some lines, but you could basically walk into a panel. However in the evening, we got to see the "Eastern Championships of Cosplay" event. It really made me want to create an outfit! Cosplay was amazing this year for sure.
NYCC 2014 was enjoyable, but exhausting! It does take a few days to recover back to 100% after preparing for the show, interacting with so many people, traveling, and overall visual stimulation. It was great to hang out with Joe and Teresa once again the share the booth. I think we really work well together and we are already discussing ideas for next year.
I've posted many more fabulous photographs taken by Joe and I on the Curls Studio Facebook page. Check them out and give us a "Like" while you are at it.
Thanks to everyone we met and everyone who keeps coming back to our booth each year! That's why we do this show -- to meet you! Hope to meet you in the near future.
Joe and I will be at Annapolis Comic-Con this Sunday, October 19, 2014. It will most likely be our last tour date this year. After that my next appearance is this Wednesday, October 22, 2014 hosting the sold out Design & Doodle Workshop for DC Design Week.
This Sunday, October 19, 2014, Curls Studio will be exhibiting at Annapolis Comic-Con from 10AM to 4PM. Admission is only $10 and children under age 10 get in free! Hope to see you soon.
Roger "Pip" Moyer Community Center 273 Hilltop Lane Annapolis, Maryland 21403
You can find Curls Studio ALL FOUR DAYS of New York Comic Con 2014 at Small Press, Booth 1162. Like last year, we will be joined with Teresa Roberts Logan of Laughing Redhead Studio in the same booth location. We both represent the Washington, DC chapter of National Cartoonists Society.
New York Comic Con is held at the Javits Center (655 West 34th Street) in Midtown Manhattan.
SHOW FLOOR HOURS - VISIT BOOTH 1162
Thursday 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Friday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
SIGNING AT THE NATIONAL CARTOONISTS SOCIETY BOOTH 1307 Friday 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
New York Comic Con is the East Coast's biggest and most exciting popular culture convention. We hope you can join us there and stop by to say hello!
The workshop I'm hosting for AIGA DC Design Week sold out in one day! I did announce it on Twitter, but I didn't even get to post a blog entry about it before it sold out. That's a good thing and I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of fresh faces. The wait list is also full, but you can still sign up to be on the wait list. Thanks to AIGA DC, Rica Rosario, Dian Holton, DC Fem Tech, General Assembly, and everyone else who helped construct DC Design Week.
Here is more info about the event: Design & Doodle Workshop Wednesday, October 22, 2014 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM WeWork Wonder Bread Factory 641 S Street, NW Washington, DC 20001
Ever wish you had more time to draw and doodle? Well this is the event for you. AIGA DC, DC Fem Tech and General Assembly are hosting a hands-on illustration workshop led by DC’s own Carolyn Belefski, cartoonist, designer and magic maker. We’ll chat about illustrators that inspire us, get warmed up with a few drawing exercises, then sketch away! So bust out your Micron pens, Prismacolor markers and favorite stylus, and join us for an evening of design and doodling. Please bring your own doodling supplies, tools and materials—paper, tablet, your call. Drinks and snacks will be provided. This event is free and open to AIGA DC members and non-members. Registration will open at 12 PM on Wednesday, October 1 and is limited to 25 attendees. Carolyn Belefski creates and publishes original comics and illustrations, including her comic strip Curls. She became a National Cartoonists Society member in 2012, and is currently serving as a Washington, DC chapter board member. With NCS, she started the annual blood drive, Cartoonists Draw Blood, with the American Red Cross. Her freelance illustration and design clients include Boom! Studios (Cartoon Network’s Adventure Time comic), Clorox, and National Geographic. Carolyn has exhibited at many comic conventions and art fairs on the east coast. Beyond her self-motivated activities, Carolyn works as a professional designer who has contributed to projects for San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame Museum, Air Force Civilian Services, Gannett, and more. You can view Carolyn’s work online at www.curls-studio.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolynBelefski.
Small Press Expo 2014 was a fun time for us! When we drove into the hotel parking lot, I noticed a Farmer's Market at the adjacent parking lot, so after setting up our table we headed over to get our food supply for the day. I purchased a chocolate croissant and and baguette with leaf shapes from Fresh Baguette and at another vendor I got two peaches and a nectarine. Even though our lunch wasn't a full meal, it felt good to not go out during the event or eat fast food. I did notice the hotel got smart and had sandwiches and salads for sale near the event registration, but we figured we'd wait until dinner.
We spent most of the time at our table and were happy to see many people year after year. One of the great additions this year were giant balloons with letters to show each island of tables so attendees can find specific vendors easier. After you go to SPX for about three years you start to see the same faces and then SPX becomes a reunion – not only of comic creators, but also readers. A pal from high school and college who we had not seen in over a decade stopped by with his wife. I also saw friends who I know from AIGA and school. Early on Saturday I was able to cruise the outer parameter of the show floor and say hi to other creators. We distributed Magic Bullet #9 and also had several bundles out on the free table – which we kept refreshing because they went fast!
Animal Chronicles: Book Two was our new product at SPX. It is a series based on the aftermath of a solar flare barely passing by Earth causing animals to fuse with objects in their vicinity during the catastrophic event. Panel Patter did a spotlight on Animal Chronicles the week before SPX to showcase new publications.
I was able to sign my Adventure Time cover, Curls in the Team Cul de Sac book, The Legettes, and more for fans.
As always, SPX is great to discover comics you won't ordinarily see in your local comic store. I noticed many names in the program guide from people on Twitter or other online outlets – only to confirm the great influence of the internet and webcomics. Here is my Vine from SPX: https://vine.co/v/Oavu2BWwdpX Thanks to everyone who visited our table! The next time you can catch us will be New York Comic Con on October 9-12, 2014 at Comic Pavilion Table 1162 on the show floor.
This past weekend Curls Studio exhibited at Baltimore Comic-Con. This year the show expanded to three days. I was unable to attend Friday, but Joe was able to set up and bring Karen Michele, a model and SFX makeup artist he works with. Later on Friday evening, Joe and Karen checked up the Drink and Draw at Hooters, organized by Joe Sutliff. I had a sketch in the suction and the proceed go to Team Cul de Sac and the Michael J. Fox Foundation to raise money for Parkinson's research.
In addition to the third day, the space also switched to a larger part of the Baltimore Convention Center. I thought it looks more updated and the lighting was much more crisp and bright. We always have a great time at Baltimore Comic-Con. For some reason this is a show I always reunite with a lot of former co-workers at as I've seen people from my past three professional jobs there. I even got to teach my co-worker's new baby to create his first high five!
I enjoyed signing these autograph cards a fan made. They got really creative with the clipping path!
Quite a few people picked up the exclusive Adventure Time cover I did for issue #29, which came out a couple months ago.
Many people also picked up Magic Bullet #9, a comic anthology composed of mostly Washington, DC creator. This issue's theme is western and I enjoyed editing it. Here is a photo of Nick Galifianakis and I. Nick created this wonderful cover art for us.
Our hope is to exhibit again at Baltimore next year (save the date for September 25-27, 2015), but in the meantime you can see us this Saturday at Small Press Expo in Bethesda, MD at Table H10.
Admission (collected at the door the day of the show):
Saturday $15, Sunday $10, or $20 for both days
I hope to see you as we celebrate the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books and the discovery of new creative talent at SPX. Please click the map above to locate us at Table H10 with Jim Coon. See you soon at SPX or Baltimore-Comic Con (the weekend before SPX)!
Saturday, September 6 -- 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 7 -- 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Baltimore Convention Center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Stop by to see Curls Studio at Baltimore Comic-Con. We will be located in Artist Alley at Table A136. Click on the map image above (with Curls) to see a large map of where to find us. Buy your tickets in advance here. I will be doing sketch commissions and we'll have some new prints and other surprises up our sleeves!
Here are some "Curls Studio Visits..." Convention Films, produced by Astray Productions, to get you in the mood!
There are a ton of really great guests appearing this year including: Reilly Brown, Ben Caldwell, Frank Cammuso, Cliff Chiang, Frank Cho, Amy Chu, Steve Conley, John Gallagher, S.L. Gallant, Bryan J.L. Glass, Jimmy Gownley, Dean Haspiel, Lora Innes, Mike Maihack, Mark Mariano, Billy Martin, Andrew Pepoy, Gail Simone, Mark Wheatley, Thom Zahler, and many more!
Fantom Comics is re-opening at it's new larger location on Dupont Circle (2010 P Street, NW, Washington, DC). The grand opening party is this Saturday, July 26, and Joe and I will be signing along with other local comics creators from 1 to 4 PM. If you stop by, you'll be able to pick up your free issue of Magic Bullet #9. Hope to see you tomorrow!
Curls Studio will be at SuperNoVa Comicon in the Leesburg Firehouse (215 Loudoun Street, SW, Leesburg, VA 20175) on Sunday, July 20 from 10 AM to 3 PM. Hope to see you there. We'll have the Adventure Time comic available! Admission Price $4.00 Children under 12 admitted free Show your military ID for a $2.00 admission Door Prize drawings will be at 11, 12:30 and 2. From their website: Major Announcement for the Leesburg Show! Greg LaRocque, Andy Smith, Tom Raney, Steve Conley, and Carolyn Belefski will be attending our show. Greg has worked on Marvel Comics and DC Comics. His most notable work includes The Avengers, The Flash, Legions of Super-Heroes, Powerman and Iron Fist. Andy is an artist that has worked on Batman, X-Men Forever, and the upcoming Thanos Story with Jim Starlin and the special release weekend celebration Adventure Time 30 exclusive cover. Tom is an artist that is known for illustrating titles such as Annihilation Conquest, Alpha Flight, Ultimate X-Men and Uncanny X-Men for Marvel Comics, DV8 and Stormwatch for Image Comics, and Outsiders for DC Comics. Steve has worked on Bloop, Astounding Space Thrills, Star Trek, and more. Carolyn is the creator of the comic strip Curls. She also collaborates with writer Joe Carabeo on the comic books Kid Roxy, Black Magic Tales, and The Legettes. You won't want to miss them so mark your calendar.
I recently worked on a freelance design project for my good friend, Audrey Maiurano. Full disclosure: we have known each other for nearly half our lives, so when Audrey started her own dentist business she immediately thought of me to create her logo and branding collateral. A friendship evolves to include a client relationship as we grow up together!
Here is the initial sketch that sparked the final logo. I did several concepts to provide many options, but this was the one I liked best and that Audrey selected as well. Sometimes the first idea is the best idea.
Here is the final design. This "Sweet Tooth House" concept encompasses the client's initials AM, which form to create a house and tooth. The house represents family care and trust. The tooth resembles a heart shape as well as helps to create the door. The mark could be duplicated into a repeated pattern, which could be used in other materials.
I was also able to design and arrange printing for Audrey's business cards (which included a custom map on the back) and letterhead, as well as refer her to Joe Carabeo at Astray Productions, who photographed her headshots. Thank you Audrey for the opportunity to work with you to create your brand and congratulations on becoming a businesswoman and successful dentist. If you are looking for a dentist in the northern Virginia area, please consider http://www.springfielddentalclinic.com. Available for Freelance Work If you are interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please email Carolyn Belefski at info@curls-studio.com. View my portfolio: http://www.behance.net/CarolynBelefski
Check it out! I did an exclusive comic cover for Cartoon Network's Adventure Time #29 published by Boom! Studios. It's a limited edition Cards, Comics, and Collectibles cover. Thank you for the opportunity.
Here is a rare glimpse at my thumbnail concept sketch. I provided five concepts to select from and they went with the underwater cover.
It feels good to say I am one of the talented Adventure Time artists. I'll have the covers at my table for Baltimore Comic-Con, SPX, and New York Comic Con (Curls Studio be at Small Press, booth 1162). See you then!
Here is the full one page Black Magic Tales comic Curls Studio did for Magic Bullet #8. Magic Bullet is Washington, DC's comics newspaper anthology. I feel like it's safe to release the page once the newspaper has been out for at least three months (in the case of this, it's been available in print form since February). We've been in every issue so far. On top of that, I've been editor starting with issue #6, so there's a lot of behind-the-scenes action that goes on with preparing a publication. Maybe in the future I'll do a post about what it's like to produce and work with over 50 people and manage the editorial team to create each issue, but for now enjoy the story! If you are interested in submitting your one page story to the next Magic Bullet, here's all the information: http://magicbulletcomics.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html The deadline for advertising and comic submissions is July 1. The theme for Magic Bullet #9 is Western. We look forward to receiving your submissions.
Last Saturday, May 31, 2014, we had our second "Cartoonists Draw Blood" blood drive event with the American Red Cross. I came up with the concept a full year ago and tracked down the appropriate Red Cross people to put the event in motion, in addition to finding the venue that could handle the blood drive, be cost efficient, willing to work with us, and near a Metro station.
Everything came together last fall when we held the first blood drive - and saved the lives of up to 90 people! This year was an improvement -- although we did hit one snag that was beyond anyone's control!
Thanks to Troy-Jeffery Allen for co-organizing the event. He really stepped up to bat. This year we were able to greet people directly near the front door, which was a better placement for our drawing tables. Since Troy was handling the sign-ins, I got to draw a lot more than last year.
So what was the snag no one could do anything about? Troy was on top of things when the water main broke from the construction crew across the street. It happened in the afternoon and the crew said they might have water back on in an hour. We had to stop the blood drive and wait it out. During this time Steve Artley, Joe Sutliff, Mal Jones, and myself drew up a storm hanging out with Red Cross employees Kamika and Janay. We also drew for many people who were waiting to give blood and were unable to because we had the shut the whole thing down when the water never came back.
The event was still a success in my eyes. There were even walk-ins who never knew about the event until they walked by the front window. I can't think of a better way to showcase our cartooning skills and give back.
Fairfax Timeshelped promote the event the week before in print.
Thanks to all the cartoonists who donated their time and talents: Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Bill Brown, Eric Gordon, Mal Jones, Teresa Roberts Logan, Jay Payne, Matt Rawson, Joe Sutliff
Thanks to our sponsors: Cartoonists Draw Blood, American Red Cross, National Cartoonists Society, Seekers Church
In celebration of reaching 1,000+ followers on Twitter, I'm giving away a bundle of goodies, including: - Curls original signed art - Kid Roxy #1 comic (written by Joe Carabeo with art by Carolyn Belefski) - Curls Cowgirl print - Curls postcard - Magic Bullet #8 One winner will be announced in one week (June 8). The winner must be following @CarolynBelefski on Twitter. To enter, all you have to do is follow me and RT this tweet: https://twitter.com/CarolynBelefski/status/473174922484006912
In celebration of 1,000 Twitter followers, I'm giving away original Curls art, Kid Roxy, and more! RT to enter. http://t.co/m6V2SLhnry — Carolyn Belefski (@CarolynBelefski) June 1, 2014
Thanks to everyone for your support on Twitter.
XOXO,
Carolyn
On Saturday, May 31, 2014, nine of the finest cartoonists in the Washington, DC area will be devoting their time and talents to sketch for blood donors for the second 'Cartoonists Draw Blood' event with the American Red Cross at Seekers Church (276 Carroll Street, NW in Washington, DC 20012 -- one block from Takoma Metro).
Did you know that each blood donation saved three lives? This is a great opportunity for cartoonists to perform community service, showcase our talents, and save lives. Blood donors are needed to sign up for appointments scheduled in 15 minute intervals between 10AM to 3:30PM. To donate blood, please email Troy and Carolyn at 'CartoonistsDrawBlood@gmail.com' with your preferred appointment time. Walk-ins are welcome. On the day of your blood donation, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, include iron-rich foods in your diet, bring a list of medications you are taking, and bring a photo ID. Facebook RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1437807213121707 Sponsors: Cartoonists Draw Blood, American Red Cross, National Cartoonists Society, Seekers Church Cartoonists: Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Bill Brown, Eric Gordon, Mal Jones, Teresa Roberts Logan, Jay Payne, Matt Rawson, Joe Sutliff Thanks to Troy-Jeffrey Allen for co-chairing the May 31 event with me. Thanks to Steve Artley for his Zombie, Dracula, and Werewolf characters.
March 8-10 • Awesome Con DC
May 19 • Comic Logic Spring Lot Con
June 23 • STORYBOX Comics Fair
Sep 14-15 • Small Press Expo
Sep 20-22 • Baltimore Comic-Con
Donate to Curls Studio
If you enjoy Curls Studio products, please donate to keep us motivated and in action! We travel locally in DC, MD, and VA... but also need your support to pay for printing costs and travel expenses for events like New York Comic Con. Your help is needed and appreciated. You never know what could come your way if you donate to Curls Studio.
Carolyn Belefski creates and publishes original comics and illustrations. Carolyn writes and draws the comic strip Curls. She also collaborates with writer Joe Carabeo on the comic books Kid Roxy, Black Magic Tales, and The Legettes.
In 2010, Curls was nominated for the Friends of Lulu Kim Yale Award to recognize women in cartooning. In 2013 and 2014 Carolyn was voted Best Visual Artist runner-up for Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. awards.
Carolyn became a National Cartoonists Society member in 2012, and is currently serving as a Washington, DC chapter Co-chair. With NCS, she started “Cartoonists Draw Blood” in Washington, DC by connecting with the American Red Cross, gathering local cartoonists, and organizing a blood drive where blood donors receive a sketch from a cartoonist.
Carolyn serves as editor-in-chief of Magic Bullet, Washington, DC’s comics newspaper anthology.
Carolyn has exhibited at New York Comic Con, Baltimore Comic-Con, Awesome Con, Small Press Expo, Pittsburgh Comic Arts Festival, Philly Alternative Comic Con, and many other comic conventions and art fairs.
CONTACT
info(at)curls-studio.com
