Recap: Cartoonists Draw Blood 2025

Thankful for all the cartoonists and blood donors who participated in "Cartoonists Draw Blood" last month at Gainesville United Methodist Church. We even had someone drive in from Virginia Beach! 

 

National Cartoonists Society -- Washington, DC chapter is represented by Colleen Doran, John Gallagher, Steve Artley, Joe Sutliff, Ruthi Postow, and Carolyn Belefski. Hopefully we will do another blood drive next year as tradition allows (we have been doing it since 2013). 

If you are in the Washington, DC area and want to host us at your blood drive, reach out to American Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region.

Cartoonists Draw Blood 2025

Cartoonists Draw Blood -- blood drive with the American Red Cross is taking place on Saturday, November 22, 2025 from 8AM-1:30PM at Gainesville United Methodist Church 13710 Milestone Court, Gainesville, VA 20155.

Blood donors meet local cartoonists and take home a complementary sketch after their appointment. As an added incentive, I believe the American Red Cross may be providing a limited edition pair of socks featuring PAC-MAN to blood donors.

Link to schedule appointments to donate blood: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/donation-time?zipSponsor=20155&driveType=all

Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/827009063524109

Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRNspZ0jVeu

Please consider sharing this event notice on the socials -- it's a great way to be thankful and give back this season even if you can't give blood at this time.

Artists scheduled to appear: Colleen Doran, John Gallagher, Steve Artley, Joe Sutliff, Ruthi Postow, Carolyn Belefski

Cartoonists Draw Blood in Fairfax on November 22, 2023

Cartoonists Draw Blood -- blood drive with the American Red Cross is taking place on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 (yes, the day before Thanksgiving) from 10AM-4PM at 8550 Arlington Blvd. Fairfax, VA 22031 in the Briefing Room.

Blood donors meet local cartoonists and take home a complementary sketch after their appointment. As an added incentive, the American Red Cross is providing a limited edition pair of socks featuring the film Elf to blood donors.

Link to schedule appointments to donate blood: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=ARC8550

Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/1063132904708370

Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/Czb6FdARh05/?img_index=1

Please consider sharing this event notice on the socials -- it's a great way to be thankful and give back this season even if you can't give blood at this time.

Artists scheduled to appear: Joe Sutliff, Steve Loya, Carolyn Belefski

Let Us Seek Wonders profiles Cartoonists Draw Blood

Cartoonist Joe Sutliff, who has been an artist at the Cartoonists Draw Blood event since it's inception has a relatively new comic called Let Us Seek Wonders. This week he focused on the origin story of Cartoonists Draw Blood and how the concept came to National Cartoonists Society's Washington, DC chapter and how we began working with American Red Cross.

Read the full comic here: http://letusseekwonders.blogspot.com/2016/10/drawing-blooooooood.html

You'll be able to meet Joe at this year's event on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at Seekers Church in Washington, DC (across from Takoma Metro). If you show up, let him know and he might interview you for next week's page -- then you will be immortal cartoon royality!

Here is a direct link to schedule your appointment for Cartoonists Draw Blood 2016. Walk-ins are also welcome from 10AM to 3:30PM. Hope you can join us!

Listen to Joe on the last Carolyn and Joe Show podcast (episode #388): https://carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/joe-sutliff

May 3 is Free Comic Book Day

Next Saturday, May 3, 2014 is Free Comic Book Day. In preparation for the "Cartoonists Draw Blood" blood drive we are putting on with the American Red Cross later in the month (May 31), several of the contributing artists will be making appearances at local comic stores to promote and encourage people to sign up to donate blood.

Visit these fine creators on May 3 for FCBD:

Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski at Big Planet Comics 
426 Maple Avenue E., Vienna, VA
NOON to 2PM

Teresa Roberts Logan at Big Planet Comics 
1520 U Street, NW, Washington, DC
1PM to 3PM

Joe Sutliff  at Big Planet Comics 
4849 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD
1PM to 3PM

Troy-Jeffrey Allen and Matt Rawson at Fantom Comics 
50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC

Here is the Facebook RSVP, if you are planning to stop by the Vienna, VA location of Big Planet Comics to see Curls Studio: https://www.facebook.com/events/275630839277333/?ref=5

Recap: Cartoons & Cocktails 2013

Earlier this evening I spent some time at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to attend Cartoons & Cocktails. It wasn't my first time at the Press Club rodeo, as back in 2011 there was an international cartoonists event. I really like the venue because it speaks so highly about the District and how news is covered. At one time before the cartoon events I took a tour when I planned the reception for AIGA 50 (which ended up being held at the National Postal Museum) in 2008.

The event started out with a silent auction. Many cartoons were placed around tables on both sides of the room and people could write down their bids using their given number at check-in. Then Steve Artley lead the program as Master of Ceremonies and the live auction began. 

One piece that was auctioned off was the original Steve Artley Halloween comic published in Magic Bullet #7! All the profits raised from the auctions benefit Young D.C. and Cartoonists Rights Network.

It was great to see David Hagen, Mike Rhode, Matt Wuerker, Steve Artley, and Joe Sutliff again. The DC gang unites!

To view more photos, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152000040297381.1073741837.50763422380&type=1

Recap: Team Cul de Sac at Moving Day 2013

On Sunday, November 10, 2013 several members of Team Cul de Sac joined up to walk for Moving Day in Washington, DC. We walked for Richard Thompson, the cartoonist of the comic strip, Cul de Sac. Richard was honored with the 2010 Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year from National Cartoonists Society. 

The day was a delight. I really enjoyed being able to spend time with the team and it was nice to have the Nationals ballpark all to ourselves! We got to meet the Teddy and George President characters too. Our team united visually as a gang by wearing black with turquoise bandanas. The walking team included Steve Artley, Kathy Artley, Joe Carabeo, Carolyn Belefski, David Hagen, Olivia Hagen, Hannah Schum, Roger Scott, and Joe Sutliff.

Steve Artley is the member of our team who raised the most funds, so he was invited to join Jared D. Cohen (CEO for Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area) in the Nationals dugout before the walk.

More than 1,500 people attended Moving Day DC. The event raised more than $325,000 to support programs and services provided by PFNCA. The program also supports the National Parkinson Foundation. 

At this moment our team has raised $1,610 and is ranked #31 out of the top 100 teams listed.

You can view more of our photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151980827217381.1073741836.50763422380&type=3

You can also donate for one more month to Team Cul de Sac: http://www3.parkinson.org/site/TR/MovingDayEvent/ParkinsonFoundationoftheNationalCapitalArea?team_id=10070&pg=team&fr_id=1430

Thanks to Joe Carabeo for taking the photos. A special thank you to all who donated!