Recap: Curls Studio's Year of 2024

In January we kicked off the year with a  Make 100 Kickstarter project for Total Solar Eclipse Enamel Pin to celebrate the Total Solar Eclipse that visited North America on April 8. I got to view it from inside the path of totality in-person at Niagara Falls. I also got to visit Canada for a few hours (my first time going out of the country).

At Awesome Con I got to take part in the panel "The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators" with Maria Laura Sanapo, Chris Mariano, and Marc Gaffen. Joe Carabeo presented the Awesome Con Short Film Fest. 

To expand the crowdfunding opportunities, I took part in "Pintopia 2" from BackerKit by designing a Peach Fuzz Enamel Pin for my Pantone Color of the Year project (which I have been doing for the past five years). I also ran a Kickstarter for the Cicada design that was created in 2021, but I introduced a new colorway in 2024 to represent the green Annual Cicada.

A highlight of being in New York during the time of New York Comic Con was visiting Philippe Labaune Gallery for the Mike Mignola exhibit and getting to meet the artist himself! I also got to eat at Katz's Delicatessen and attend the Harvey Awards. Ay NYCC Curls Studio had a collaboration with Cakes with Character by Jean Schapowal in which we offered a large complementary pinback button if you visited both of our booths.

We continued to exhibit at comic conventions and events. Here is our 2024 Tour list:

March 8-10 • Awesome Con
May 19 • Comic Logic Spring Lot Con
June 23 • STORYBOX Comics Fair
August 17-18 • Fairfax Comic Con
September 14-15 • Small Press Expo
September 20-22 • Baltimore Comic-Con
October 17-20 • New York Comic Con
October 25 • McKay Used Books Book-or-Treat
October 27 • Comic Logic Fall Lot Con

Overall, I did a good amount of freelance work this year with design and illustrations and that is where a lot of my time went toward as well as networking to gain clients. Curls Studio is looking forward to 2025 with a goal of creating more comics and storytelling!

Total Solar Eclipse Enamel Pin - Make 100 Kickstarter

Every January, Kickstarter celebrates the new year with Make 100, an annual call for projects that offer exactly 100 rewards. They encourage their creator community to think big and create small, and have fun with these first projects of the new year.  Each campaign offers specialized, limited-edition rewards for backers. You can help us welcome the new year by supporting a Make 100 campaign, or you can launch your own campaign between now and January 31. 

I started doing the #Make100 incentive in 2018 when I drew 100 Sad Fish. In 2020 I designed the Blue Rose enamel pin, 2021 was Banana Bandana, 2022 was "Thank you Mom" Mother's Day enamel pin, and last year was the Red Rose enamel pin. Part of the inspiration with some of the projects was from PANTONE Color of the Year selections and I still plan to design a project based on this year's color (Peach Fuzz). However with 2024 already zipping by right before our eyes, I realize a more pressing event is coming our way. 

We're raising funds to produce 100 limited edition soft enamel pins with a friendly celestial original illustrated design to celebrate the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse visiting North America on April 8, 2024. The pins will be 30mm diameter with production effects that include antique silver plating with etching on the moon craters. Each pin will be fixed with a magnet and comes with a backing card. The design portrays a happy moon with rosy cheeks, crescent eyes, and the Sun's corona showcased with white glow-in-the-dark enamel. 

You can read more about the project and pledge here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/total-solar-eclipse-enamel-pin-make-100

At this point, I've managed and delivered nine successful Kickstarter projects, so I am very dependable and have grown a nice following for the enamel pins. It would be great to have your support if you think you would wear or display this pin or give it as a gift. Thank you!

Recap: Curls Studio's Year of 2023

We started out the year with a Make 100 Kickstarter for Red Rose pins (which was also my Pantone Color of the Year project for Viva Magenta). 

This year marked Awesome Con's tenth anniversary. Curls Studio has exhibited every year! I hosted the "Emoji Comics" workshop and the panel "The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators" with Sean Gordon Murphy, Emily Whitten, and Carolyn Belefski. Joe Carabeo presented the Awesome Con Short Film Fest. 

In June we launched a Kickstarter for Firefly enamel pins (a sister project to the Cicada design of 2021 and continuing with the insect theme). We were a part of the Craft Lab Grand Opening at Because Science and taught "Make Your Own Planet" and "Marbleized Shaving Cream" in their new maker space. Joe had his "Astray Productions Film Showcase" at Alamo Drafthouse in One Loudoun on June 25.

I was asked by US Library of Congress to moderate the panel "How Sara Shepard Made a Best Friend" on at the National Book Festival in August. 

Baltimore Comic-Con and Small Press Expo were the same weekend, but we made it work by switching days so Joe and I could be at two places separately. It was mildly rough, but we were able to handle it and work around the situation without having to pick one option since we like both shows for different reasons. It was our first time at Richmond Indie Comics Expo at VCU's library. I even got to visit the Pollak Building next door, where my graphic design classes were held.

A highlight of being in New York during the time of New York Comic Con was visiting Philippe Labaune Gallery for the Peter de Sève exhibit and getting to meet the artist himself! I also got to do the touristy thing of going to Serendipity 3 having their Wicked Emerald City Frrrozen Hot Mint Chocolate.

In November we brought back "Cartoonists Draw Blood" with American Red Cross for the first time since 2019. Because of the events of 2020 we took the time to wait it out and figure out a safer time to do this event where we draw as a thank you to blood donors.

As usual we continued to exhibit at comic conventions and events. Here is our 2023 Tour list:

May 6 • Free Comic Book Day
May 20 • Tidewater Comicon
June 16-18 • Awesome Con
June 24 • Because Science
August 12 • National Book Festival
August 26-27 • Fairfax Comic Con
September 8-10 • Baltimore Comic-Con
September 9-10 • Small Press Expo
October 12-15 • New York Comic Con
October 28 • Haymarket Art Market
November 12 • Richmond Indie Comics Expo
November 22 • Cartoonists Draw Blood
December 2 • Nova Labs Holiday Maker Market
December 13 • Comic Logic Store Signing

The fall tour left me exhausted with few weekends off for recovery, but I still had a good time at the shows. We are looking forward to the future!

Firefly Lightning Bug Enamel Pin Kickstarter

Branching off of the Cicada design I made a couple years ago, I wanted to acknowledge the Firefly Lightning Bug! So here we go with a glow-in-the-dark pin: www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/firefly-lightning-bug-enamel-pin

We're raising funds to produce limited edition hard enamel pins with a modern original illustrated Firefly, Lightning Bug, Glowworm design by Carolyn Belefski. The pins will be 30mm tall and production effects include matte gold plating with etching on the base of the lightbulb with translucent enamel for the wings. Each pin will be fixed with a rubber clutch and comes with a backing card made from real oak wood. The design portrays a light bulb shape of the body that will feature glow-in-the-dark enamel.

The pin also makes a great gift for any fan of insects, nature, design, and science -- it is wearable art and a conversation starter. You can wear your Firefly pin to summer picnics, forest hikes, camping trips, and even business meetings as a lapel pin.

This is my first time designing with glow-in-the-dark enamel and I believe the subject matter is fitting for the occasion because with each pin I create I'm always looking for striking production techniques. I like how this design utilizes the light bulb shape because it also represents innovation, ideas, and dreams. It also showcases overcoming darkness by adding your light to the world.

Hope you can become a backer and/or help spread the message on the socials or directly to your friends -- the pledge timeline ends on June 30, 2023. Thank you!

Red Rose - Make 100 Kickstarter

We're taking part in Kickstarter's Make 100 incentive raising funds to produce 100 limited edition hard enamel pins with a beautiful original illustrated Red Rose design. The pins will be produced at 30mm tall with sleek rose gold plating and red glitter color. Each pin will be fixed with a clear rubber clutch and come with a backing card. The first 25 pledges will receive a 3" tall holographic die cut sticker featuring Red Rose as a thanks to you from Curls Studio. There are also several opportunities to purchase additional products I've created through the "add-on" feature while pledging.

The 2022 PANTONE Color of the Year is Viva Magenta -- vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative. There is a sense of romantic love, passion, courage, and action within the symbolism of a Red Rose.

Hoping that you can pledge $10 plus shipping today to support this project and make it come to life.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/red-rose-make-100

Recap: Curls Studio's Year of 2022

Looking back on 2022 it seemed to be another transitional year -- still getting back into the swing of things with lots of changes behind-the-scenes. Comic conventions ramped back up and we exhibited at 10 events (including our first time at Maryland STEM Festival). I started experimenting with new custom booth designs at a few of the shows (a nod to Lucy's psychiatry booth from Peanuts happened at Small Press Expo). I even started cosplaying in 2022 -- that's something I never thought I'd be doing!

Curls Studio kicked off the year with a successful Kickstater campaign for "Thank You Mom" hard enamel pins to celebrate Mother's Day on May 8. We also debuted a new soft enamel pin at Awesome Con called "Watermelon Umbrella Rainbow Duck," which was part of the event's collectable pin program. 

My illustrations were published in Ranger Rick magazine and I was featured in Uppercase magazine to discuss creativity. I Love To Write Day's 20th Anniversary featured new Curls comic strips to celebrate the creative process.

Sporadically throughout the year I continued Carolyn's Creative Challenge with a few new project prompts.

At New York Comic Con we showcased a new charm with the Pizza Face character and had a great time in the city -- we even got to play some ping pong and go to Coney Island.

The "DC Region Cartoonists" poster released in the fall and features 25 cartoonists from the area. If you want more information about how to order a poster, let me know.

I did a lot of studying at STEM and STEAM events and attended a few art exhibits. I read a bunch of books, took notes, wrote a lot, and drew in my sketchbook. Loads of ideas were generated on paper and are now marinating in my brain. I also changed up my diet and workout routine quite a bit and am living a healthier lifestyle. We are looking forward to what this new year will bring!

Published in Uppercase Magazine, Issue 53

How do you cultivate your creativity? My answer to this question is published in UPPERCASE -- a beautiful quarterly print magazine inspired by craft, design, and illustration. Issue 53 focuses on flowers, plants, and gardens that inspire creativity. I'm happy to be a small seed flourishing and always ready for growth. 

My answer focuses on the self-imposed projects and prompts I've done over the years including 24-Hour Comics Day, Make 100 from Kickstarter (Sad Fish, Blue Rose Enamel Pin, Banana Bandana, Thank You Mom Enamel Pin), #CarolynsCreativeChallenge, Inktober (31 Turtles, Dessert Desert Creatures, HijINKs!), Sketch Before Sleep (my 365 project), Hourly Comics Day, ABCs of Country Music (my typography project), and more.

Leave a comment on how you cultivate your creativity!

Thank You Mom - Make 100 Kickstarter

We're taking part in Kickstarter's Make 100 incentive raising funds to produce 100 limited edition hard enamel pins with a beautiful original illustrated Mother's Day design. The pins will be produced at 30mm tall with sleek rose gold plating and purple glitter color to represent the mother. Each pin will be fixed with a clear rubber clutch and come with a backing card.

Sunday, May 8, 2022 is Mother's Day and as a way to celebrate this momentous day I've designed a lovely hard enamel pin as wearable art. The design features a floral motif of mother and child forming a heart shape surrounded by a growing nest of greens. The embrace and swirls convey the emotion of motherhood with a touch of art deco style to represent a contemporary symbol of unconditional love.

I have been inspired by Pantone's Color of the Year announcements for many years and two years ago I started to create projects featuring the selected colors. Last December I was interviewed and quoted by the Wall Street Journal discussing Color of the Year.

The 2022 PANTONE Color of the Year is Very Peri -- Encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time possessing a violet-red undertone, Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression.

Hoping that you can pledge $10 plus shipping today to support this project and make it come to life.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/thank-you-mom-make-100

Recap: Curls Studio's Year of 2021

Curls Studio calls 2021 a transitional year, as nothing was certain and we went with the flow of change. Last year all the comic conventions were canceled due to the pandemic, but this year we got to exhibit at a few in-person events during the second half of the year (Awesome Con in DC, New York Comic Con, Baltimore Comic-Con, and Southern Maryland Comic Con). I was selected to be a part of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) for the first time, as a virtual appearance. So comic conventions happened thanks to amazing staff and volunteers and we applaud them for making it possible!

Other major occurrences that happened was that I somehow had the energy to run three successful Kickstarter campaigns in one year (Banana Bandana™, Cicada hard enamel pin, and Santa Turtle hard enamel pin). I really enjoyed celebrating the periodical cicadas this year (we won't see them again until 2048!). I am proud of all the projects we brought to life.

Sporadically throughout the year I continued Carolyn's Creative Challenge with a few new project prompts.

In July I served as a Rambassador for VCU Alumni Night at a Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball game.

I was a guest on the Generation GC podcast and had a great time talking about the band Good Charlotte (and yes, I visited La Plata High School for a second time during my stint in Waldorf for Southern Maryland Comic Con). 

Another cool thing that happened this year is a Wall Street Journal reporter reached out to me for an interview about Color of the Year and Pantone -- I got quoted in the article for both print and online editions.

Also along the lines of publishing, Black Magic Tales was recently printed in the new Magic Bullet #20 comics newspaper.

Not too sure what 2022 will bring. In many ways 2021 can be viewed at as worse than 2020, but then there is an optimistic side that could be viewed as it can only get better from here. The best thing I can hope for you is that you be safe and happy -- take good care of yourself by eating well and exercising. I want us to be around for the next Cicada uprising in 2048 and the years beyond. That's something to live for!

Santa Turtle Hard Enamel Pin Kickstarter

We're raising funds to produce limited edition hard enamel pins with an original illustrated Santa Turtle character design. The pins will be produced at 1.5" wide with a real jingle bell attachment. Other features include gold plating and backstamp. Each pin will be fixed with a green rubber clutch and come with a backing card on soft touch paper to evoke the warm and fuzzy mood of the season.

The campaign will end on November 4, 2021 so I can have time to produce, package, and ship out the pins in a timely manner for the holiday season. Santa Turtle is a jolly turtle who lives in the North Pole with Santa Claus providing encouragement to the working elves by ringing a bell to cheer the Christmas crew. The character first appeared in my comic strip, Curls.

I'm happy to pull out all the bells (and whistles?) with design features that challenge what a pin can be as wearable art or fashion accessory. The Santa Turtle pin makes a great gift for any fan of the holiday season -- it is a conversation starter and will also resonate with anyone who enjoys turtles, storytelling, fantasy, music, or nature.

Please consider a pledge to this Kickstarter and pass the limited edition opportunity on to your friends to spread the holiday jingle jangle! Thank you.

Pledge today: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/santa-turtle-enamel-pin

Cicada Hard Enamel Pin Kickstarter

We're raising funds to produce limited edition hard enamel pins with a modern original illustrated Periodical Cicada design. The pins will be produced at 1.5" tall with two red rhinestones to represent the cicada eyes. Other features include matte gold plating and translucent enamel for the wings. Each pin will be fixed with a brown rubber clutch and come with a backing card. The design portrays an hourglass shape of the body made with the overlapping wings that evokes time passage.  

The campaign launched last Wednesday and will go thru the month of June. I've been fascinated by cicadas ever since I was young and remember collecting their exoskeletons in a square plastic strawberry container at my grandparent's house. I also am fond of wearing them on my shirt as a cicada brooch -- and that is what inspired this creative project.

If you feel the need to wear a cicada all the time, then please pledge to the Kickstarter. We'd enjoy your support and fondness for this exciting insect. Please pass this limited edition opportunity on to your friends as well! Thank you.

Pledge today: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/cicada-enamel-pin

Banana Bandana™ Update and Ordering Info

The Banana Bandana™ project was funded through Kickstarter back in February and shipped in March. I flipped the classic bandana print and paired it with banana humor in a modern paisley design to create a fashionable scarf face covering. Originally it started with yellow fabric, but then I added brown fabric alternative near the end of the Kickstarter campaign -- so now we have two color options.

If you missed pledging to the campaign to back the project, have no fear! Bandanas are available for purchase here: http://www.carolynbelefski.com/store/banana-bandana-fashionable-scarf-face-covering

Big thanks to photographer Joe Carabeo from Astray Productions and model Camille Richardson for stunning Banana Bandana™ product images.

It was great to create this during the COVID-19 era. I have new projects and ideas up my sleeves and have been working in my sketchbooks. Hopefully I'll be able to appear at some in-person comics events later in 2021.

Banana Bandana™ - Make 100

Join us in raising funds on Kickstarter to produce at least 100 limited edition bandanas with a humorous original illustrated banana themed design. The bandana fabric color will be yellow and imprinted with two ink colors -- brown and white. Guard yourself and others against germs, coughs, and sneezes with this non-medical grade 22×22″ premium cotton bandana -- and look fun and fashionable at the same time. Or simply use as gang association, hanky code, or your next outing as an Wild West outlaw!

The campaign is currently 149% funded and we have 16 days to go, so that is a success and we’ll be able to get the file off to the print vendor in early February. Now is the time to pledge to receive your Banana Bandana™ and drape yourself in this appealing fruit fashion accessory.

Thanks to all the Top Bananas who have pledged to support this project, taking pledges until February 4 -- you can still get your friends and family in on this. Thanks to Joe Carabeo (Astray Productions) for taking my photo posing with a banana.

Click the link below to learn more about the concept and consider pledging: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/banana-bandanatm-make-100

Thanks for your support -- please help share the link on socials to grow our crew!

Recap: Curls Studio's Year of 2020

I almost wasn't going to write about 2020, but after a week passing into 2021, I felt like it was still a year and some stuff happened, so it shouldn't be overlooked or ignored or acting like it never happened. As we all know, Coronavirus disease has globally affected our lives. Because of Covid-19, we were unable to attend any comic conventions. All the shows we were expected to be at were canceled. Curls Studio usually spends about 16-20 days a year behind a table, plus several appearance at schools and other events.

The year started off well with a successful Blue Rose hard enamel pin Kickstarter as part of their Make 100 incentive. The project went so well that we had pledges for all 100 pins and started a 2.0 version of the same design with a different colorway. The project ended up surpassing my goal and becoming 516% funded. If you are interested, I still have Blue Rose 2.0 pins available for purchase in the store.

In February I designed typography and animated film titles for the Joe Carabeo film, DELETE.

The Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, CA asked me to contribute original art for "A Boy and His Tiger: A Tribute to Bill Watterson" as homage to Bill Watterson and his comic strip creation Calvin and Hobbes.

By the time March came around, we were under lockdown and outlook didn't look good for any of the upcoming events and conventions. So on March 21, 2020 I quickly started #CarolynsCreativeChallenge to encourage everyone to be creative at home using everyday supplies and materials. I did over 50 days of prompted projects including sock puppets, a fizzy lemonade recipe, creating a comic strip, cut paper, food necklaces, toilet paper roll character designs, melting crayons, marbleizing paper, food art, and many more. You can still join in the activities anytime at www.carolynbelefski.com/ccc.

A big disappointment this year is missing out on having an in-person National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards weekend. I was organizing cartoonist appearances at the children's hospital in Kansas City, MO and had a lot of fun stuff planned, including a printed NCS Activity Book to debut at the hospital event. Because this was unable to happen in-person this year, the NCS Activity Book became pay-what-you-can downloadable PDF to raise money for future events. I organized 50 artists to each contribute a page (mazes, search & find, connect the dots, tic-tac-toe, spot the difference, word search, crossword, coloring and drawing games, and more) to the book and worked on the phone with Sergio Aragonés for the cover, which he asked me to color. I had a great time conceiving and producing the Activity Book for the NCS.

The closest thing to events in 2020 were three virtual programs I was asked to be a part of. On Astray Live "We Make Movies" I talked about designing film titles, Baltimore Comic-Con asked me to do "Creative Crafts Challenges" on the Kids Love Comics channel, and WOM CON was a one-day WOMen run comics pop-up where I shared a glimpse of my studio and process.

2020 was year unlike any other! A year we might not want to remember, but will never forget. For me, like so many others, a big change is working from home -- new routines, keeping a balance, maintaining health, and lowering certain expectations.

I've already started 2021 with a new Kickstarter, raising funds to produce at least 100 Banana Bandanas -- which I will post about in the next blog entry. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2021!

Blue Rose - Make 100 Kickstarter Update

Here's an update on our Kickstarter "Make 100" incentive raising funds to produce 100 limited edition hard enamel pins with a beautiful original illustrated Blue Rose design. It's absolutely fabulous news: all of the classic blue glitter with rose gold plating pins are pledged for!

Since we still have 17 days left in the campaign, I figured it would be best to expand and offer Blue Rose 2.0 -- same design, but with different color and plating -- turquoise glitter, gold plating, and blue rubber clutch.

Please consider pledging $10 plus shipping today to spread the Blue Rose flair.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/blue-rose-make-100

Blue Rose - Make 100 Kickstarter

We're taking part in Kickstarter's Make 100 incentive raising funds to produce 100 limited edition hard enamel pins with a beautiful original illustrated Blue Rose design. The pins will be produced at 30mm tall with sleek rose gold plating and blue glitter color. Each pin will be fixed with a clear rubber clutch and come with a backing card.

I became enamored with blue roses about a decade ago because they symbolize unattainable love and longing to attain the impossible, as a Blue Rose does not exist in nature. The 2020 PANTONE Color of the Year is Classic Blue -- instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era. There is a sense of mystery, rarity, and hope within the symbolism of a Blue Rose.

You may want to give the pin as a gift to someone getting married who can wear "something blue" as tradition. You may want to give two or share the pin with a friend. You may want a reminder to stop and smell the roses or a symbolic physical representation of waiting for true love.

Hoping that you can pledge $10 plus shipping today to support this project and make it come to life.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/blue-rose-make-100

Recap: SPX 2019

Small Press Expo 2019 wrapped last month and it was a great show that celebrated 25 years of America's Premiere Independent Cartooning and Comic Arts Festival.

It was fun to have Kickstarter be a sponsor and they gave me a goody bag of stuff including nice book stands and a balloon to showcase my two past Kickstarter projects (Curls Book Collection and 100 Sad Fish).

I stepped away from the table for a bit to get Raina Telgmeier to sign her book, Ghosts. Her line was limited to 200 people and only one item could be signed with no sketches. Exciting to see her and her career take off, but we all knew that back when I attended my first SPX back in 2004.

Every inch on every table was covered in fabulous comics and creativity. It was refreshing to be tabled next to someone who was experiencing her first SPX. It's a much different show than it was a handful of years ago at the old hotel. I have fun memories from that time period as well, but things are always changing and progressing. I enjoy seeing the talent at SPX each and every year and hope to be back again!

Thanks to Cynthia Tenicela for the photograph. Thanks to everyone who stopped to say hi and look at the Curls Studio table.

Sad Fish™ - Make 100

Hope everyone is having a good start to the new year. After completing two monthly creative challenges last year (Inktober and PODCEMBER), I've become inspired by Kickstarter's Make 100 incentive to illustrate 100 Sad Fish and compile them into a limited edition book.

I've been doodling my Sad Fish for awhile now and many people seem to like them at the comic conventions I exhibit at, so I figured it would be fun to participate in the Make 100 challenge. After successfully running an intensive Kickstarter before (Curls), I decided this Kickstarter will be simple and made only two reward levels.

Say hello to Sad Fish. Watch this spot and be a part of my new project... announcing shortly! 🐟🐠🐡 View more of my work at www.CarolynBelefski.com. #SadFish #illustration #fish #art #ink #sad #depression #makehappy #animal #drawing

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Jan 30, 2018 at 9:21am PST

The first reward level is pledging to receive the Sad Fish book, featuring 100 different illustrated Sad Fish. Only 100 of these books will be made and they will be signed and numbered. At this level, you also receive one of the original physical Sad Fish drawings (ink on paper).

The second reward level is having me draw you, a friend, or relative as a custom Sad Fish. You will receive the original line art on paper and a colored digital avatar.

Check out the video and more details about the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/sad-fishtm-make-100

As of this blog post, we are less than a day in and 60% funded! Thanks to everyone who has pledged and if you can't pledge (for whatever reason -- no worries) please help to share and spread the love of Sad Fish. People love Sad Fish because they make people happy!

"Design Your Own Superhero" at The National Archives Sleepover

On Saturday, February 6, 2016 I took part in a special event at the National Archives. Kids ages 8-12 along with their adult chaperones participated in several activities and spent the night next to America’s most precious treasures: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights for a sleepover!

The children were very eager to learn and several of them arrived in superhero or historical outfits. I saw Captain America, Clara Barton, Dolly Madison, and more! Half of the participants were local from DC, Maryland, or Virginia. There were also several people coming from Pennsylvania, South Carolina, New York, and a few other states!

The sleepover had an overlapping superhero theme and I was there to lead an activity station called "Design Your Own Superhero with Carolyn Belefski." In the same room behind a glass case were original Captain America and Batman comics.

For the activity, I created a sheet so everyone could grasp the concept as fast as possible. There were several stations and kids could choose to stay for as long as they wanted during the activities timeframe, but if they wanted to visit everything they would only have about ten minutes at each spot.

On one side of the sheet we discussed our personalities and potential shapes and accessories that could be used to create a character and their symbol. I encouraged kids and parents to make a hero character for themselves or choose a figure from history and make them into a superhero. One the other side of the page was a simple body figure guide they could use or if they wanted to go free-style, we had blank paper.

As you can see in the image above, we had a variety of heroes. I did an example for myself (in the center of the image) to show my personality: a mask to shield my identity, holding a pen to represent art, wearing the gold bracelet I always have on, boots because I like country music, my outfit resembles a western "Nudie or Manuel" design, color palette of primary colors, the "C" symbol belt for by name, etc.

As the kids (and some parents) were creating their characters I asked them about their decisions and helped to pull out inspirations for them to draw from.

After the activities, I was able to stay in the theater to watch Archives Reports featuring costumed historical personalities Elizabeth Cady Stanton, James Madison, and Sojourner Truth. The children were able to ask them questions during an active live Q&A session.

It was nice to meet some new faces, but also surprising to run into a few people who had either heard of me or met me at Small Press Expo or Baltimore Comic-Con. I also got to meet one of the Curls Kickstarter backers whom I did not know before this past weekend! A wonderful surprise!

This is a great opportunity for families who enjoy history and interactive activities. It is delightful to see the younger generation interested in the past and ready to build upon it for their foundation.

Recap: Curls Studio's Year of 2015

2015 has been an excellent year for Curls Studio creators Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski, so we decided to celebrate with a year-in-review recap blog post!

One of the major events that happened to Carolyn this year is that she had the opportunity to draw cartoons for The White House. The White House Office of Digital Strategy approached Carolyn with the concept of creating health care comics for the Affordable Care Act. First Lady Michelle Obama posted one of the comics on her Instagram and Twitter accounts and it received over 16,000 likes on Instagram in less than a day. Carolyn’s #GetCovered comic series was covered by several news outlets including The Washington Post, CBR, The Blaze, The Patriot Post, ComicsDC, and more.

Carolyn also launched her first Kickstarter campaign and it was a success! We were able to publish a book of every Curls comic strip ever created. Thanks to our awesome backers for pledging to make this project come to life. If you missed out on the Kickstarter, you can still purchase the Curls book from the store at carolynbelefski.com.

RISE: Comics Against Bullying (Northwest Press) published a story Carolyn illustrated, written by Amber Love. "Left Behind" and is a bittersweet tale about what happened after a young woman had unclothed pictures of herself circulated through school. It’s about her mother, former friend, and dog trying to move on living life without her.

We made a total of 13 live event appearances this year. Early in the year we did a presentation to kids at Stone Branch School of Art. Then we exhibited at Smudge in Arlington, Virginia. We traveled to Pittsburgh for Indy Comic Expo and the New Jersey Meadowlands for East Coast Comicon. We also exhibited at Creator Con in Maryland. We celebrated Free Comic Book Day at our local store and hit up major conventions including Awesome Con in DC, Small Press Expo, Baltimore Comic-Con, and  New York Comic Con.

Because of media attention from The White House comics and my Curls Kickstarter campaign, several outlets wanted to do profiles on me. VCUarts Newsletter and Northern Virginia Magazine (Best of NOVA issue) both did print articles on the news and featured my artwork.

Carolyn was also a runner-up for the third year in a row for Best Visual Artist in Washington City Paper's 2015 Best of D.C. Reader Poll.

Curls Studio exhibited our Black Magic Tales comics at the cARToons exhibit at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC. Carolyn sold a Curls print from that art show to someone visiting from Beijing! Even with the Curls Kickstarter rewards -- Iceland, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, Luxembourg... Curls has gone further than we've physically gone for sure!

Black Magic Tales was published in Magic Bullet, Washington, DC's comics anthology. Issues #10 and #11 were released this year.

During New York Comic Con, we recorded a Carolyn and Joe Show podcast from the Wyndham New Yorker hotel room we stayed at. We had an electrifying conversation about Nikola Tesla while staying in the actual room that Tesla lived in for ten years until his death in that very room!

Carolyn and Joe Show participated at the inaugural DC PodFest and did a live show with a special guest -- you may remember him from WrestleMania 30 -- Shocked Undertaker Guy, Ellis Mbeh!

On Halloween, Carolyn organized the third annual Cartoonists Draw Blood drive with Troy-Jeffrey Allen. Donors gave blood to the American Red Cross and then the Washington, DC chapter of National Cartoonists Society and other local cartoonists drew for the donors as a "thank you." The event was a success and we saved many lives. We already have a date confirmed for next year -- it's Saturday, October 29, 2016.

So much has happened this year and we've been busy. We hope to create more for you in 2016 and all the years to come!

Happy New Year from Curls Studio!