Visit to Cul de Sac manhole cover

If you're a fan of Richard Thompson's comic strip Cul de Sac, you can physically visit the inspiration for part of the strip in Virginia. That's exactly what I did last fall to show some appreciation to this manhole cover and do some dances and jumps, just like Alice. Richard watched his young daughter dance on the manhole cover one day and it inspired him to draw it in his strip! 

Pay your homage at 2511 North Harrison Street in Arlington (across from Duck Donuts). 

Illustration for Citizens of Natstown Project

I've recently provided illustration for Citizens of Natstown and their new project, "Every Nats Game's A Story." The feature enables fans to recall their memories and help tell the story of what it's like to be a Washington Nationals fan. There are already many stories posted about personal fan experiences -- and you can submit yours too.

I've been to three games within the past decade, but my main connection to Nationals baseball is walking the stadium for Team Cul de Sac during Moving Day (Parkinson's Walk).

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.carolynbelefski.com

Anthology Books of 2012

Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson's and District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC were two anthologies I was glad to be a part of this year. I've already started to reminisce about 2012, even though we still have a little over one month left. The great thing about both of these projects is that they are a team effort.

Team Cul de Sac, lead by Chris Sparks, is a cartoon community dedicated to honoring Richard Thompson's comic strip, Cul de Sac. Richard was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which led to him retire the strip this year. You can follow his blog with current updates on his brain stimulation surgery here. Being a part of this project, I was able to attend two book signing events, one of which was at One More Page in Arlington, VA and the other at Politics and Prose in DC. I was also able to take part in the panel at Baltimore Comic-Con. All the original art was auctioned off and so far the project has raised $100,951.42 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Here is a photo of the Obama family visiting the site of the first Team Cul de Sac book signing, One More Page. The Team Cul de Sac book is on the counter display. The Team Cul de Sac book was also recently included in Tom Spurgeon's The Comics Reporter 2012 Holiday Shopping Guide.

Here are some of my event recaps and other links related to Team Cul de Sac: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/search/label/Team%20Cul%20de%20Sac

If you are interested in purchasing Team Cul de Sac you can order directly from this link. We all wish Richard luck and look forward to any future creative projects he'll be a part of.


District Comics is another project I was able to contribute to this year. District Comics contains many stories about Washington, DC that you would not normally read about in a traditional history book. Matt Dembicki is the editor and he really got a great group of mostly local creators to structure something that had never been done before. We were able to attend book signings at One More Page in Arlington, VA and Locust Moon Comics and Movies in Philadelphia, PA.

I worked with Joe Carabeo on the 11-page "Spytini" story about Elizabeth Bentley "The Red Spy Queen" and her activities in Georgetown, primarily at the restaurant Martin's Tavern. To prepare for the book, Joe and I ate at the restaurant and did research on the visuals there and I took reference photos. I used a different art approach and a lot of people have remarked that it is a more mature style.

The Washington Post recently ranked District Comics as a Top 10 Graphic/Comics Reads of 2012. It makes for a great gift this holiday season and an honor to be recognized alongside with books like Drama by Raina Telegemeier, Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis, and Drawn Together by Aline and R. Crumb. District Comics was also recognized by winning a 2012 American Graphic Design Award from Graphic Design USA.

Here is a whole rundown of the press District Comics has stirred up this year:
Washington City Paper (cover story during the week of SPX)
Huffington Post
Comic Book Resources
Kirkus Book Reviews
Scripps Howards Foundation Wire
DCist
Panel Patter
Comic Related

Here are some previous blogs I wrote about District Comics: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/search/label/District%20Comics

Audio - Team Cul de Sac Panel at Baltimore Comic-Con 2012

For episode 191 of The Carolyn & Joe Show podcast, we broadcasted recorded audio from the Team Cul de Sac Panel at Baltimore Comic-Con 2012.

When Richard Thompson, the creator of the comic strip Cul de Sac, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, his friend Chris Sparks began a fundraising effort. With Richard's support, he asked others to donate artwork featuring the Cul de Sac characters for a Team Cul de Sac book with proceeds going to The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research.

Group photo by Bruce Guthrie: Carolyn Belefski, Dawn Griffin, Roger Langridge, Matt Dembicki, Donna Lewis, Shannon "SL" Gallant (in front with black shirt), Mike Rhode, Chris Sparks, Steve Conley, Joe Sutliff.

Take a listen: http://carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/team-cul-de-sac-panel-at-baltimore-comic-con-12/

Team Cul de Sac panel Saturday at Baltimore Comic-Con

Hello everyone! I know this is last minute, but I was recently asked to join the Team Cul de Sac panel this Saturday at Baltimore Comic-Con. Hope to see you there. We will be available to sign your Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson's books too. Aside for the panel, I will be located at Table A81 in Artist Alley the rest of the weekend. Here is more information and a map so you can find Curls Studio: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2012/08/baltimore-comic-con-is-september-8-9.html

Baltimore Comic-Con
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Room 302-303
11:00-12:00 - Team Cul de Sac
When Richard Thompson, the creator of the comic strip Cul de Sac, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, his friend Chris Sparks began a fundraising effort to honor his friend. With Richard's support, he asked others to donate artwork featuring the Cul de Sac characters for a Team Cul de Sac book with proceeds going to The Michael J. Fox Foundation For Parkinson's Research. Now, join Chris Sparks and other members of Team Cul de Sac including Steve Conley, Matt Dembicki, SL Gallant, Roger Langridge, Dawn Griffin, Carolyn Belefski, and others as they discuss the project and their continuing efforts to raise funds in Richard's name.

Recap: Team Cul de Sac Book Signing at Politics & Prose

On July 11, 2012, I attended the second book signing for Team Cul de Sac at Politics & Prose in Washington, DC (read more about the first signing and launch party here).

If you don't know about Team Cul de Sac, you can read more about the project in their blog here, but it is a group of cartoonists lead by project organizer, Chris Sparks, who created some cartoons and illustrations to honor Richard Thompson and his comic strip, Cul de Sac. Richard is a great cartoonist... so great even that he won the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for "Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year" in 2010! Unfortunately, he has also been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

All of the original art for the Team Cul de Sac book was auctioned off earlier this year thru Heritage Auctions. You can still purchase the lovely Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s book thru Sparking Design or Amazon to help the cause because the team is connected to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and some of the proceeds go toward Parkinson's research.


The second signing included a presentation by Chris Sparks and speech by Nick Galifianakis. I was happy Richard was also there in attendance. We signed books for almost two hours and really enjoyed meeting everyone who came to support. Thanks to Barbara Sutliff for the photo of the contributors sign and Steve and Kathy Artley for the photo of the team signing books.

If we do any more events, I'll be sure to let you know about them. For now, enjoy this photo gallery from this event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151047817727381.451263.50763422380&type=1

Team Cul de Sac - Book Signing on July 11

I will be at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW in Washington, DC) this Wednesday, July 11 at 7PM for the Team Cul de Sac book signing and presentation by editor Chris Sparks. There will be many other local creators and contributors to the book in attendance.

Richard Thompson, the Cul de Sac cartoonist, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009 and began working with the Michael J. Fox Foundation to raise awareness of this illness. Chris Sparks organized Team Cul de Sac, which has solicited work from various graphic artists including Bill Watterson and Gary Trudeau, the proceeds of which have benefitted Team Fox, the Foundation’s fundraising arm.

Last month was the book launch and all the books sold out within the first hour of signing. You can read my recap and view photos of that event here. Be sure to get there early to purchase your book and have it signed.

RSVP to the event and share with your friends on Facebook here.

For more information about the Team Cul de Sac project, visit their website: http://teamculdesac.blogspot.com

See you this Wednesday,
Carolyn

Recap: Team Cul de Sac Book Signing and Release Party

On Sunday, June 10, 2012 a few dozen cartoonists attended a book signing at One More Page Books in Arlington, Virginia to celebrate the release of Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s. The book contains original artwork from cartoonists and illustrators inspired by Richard Thompson’s comic strip Cul de Sac, including Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) and Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury). The originals were recently sold at an online auction, which raised $47,000, for Team Cul de Sac, which is part of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.


The place was packed and I heard from an online post by Michael Rhode that the 75 books the store had ordered for the signing sold out! Usually at conventions, perhaps being that they are six hours per day and can last a full weekend or more, I have some lag time in between fans and customers at the table. There might be a ten minute gap before another person swings by. At this two hour book signing, I can say it's the most consistent crowd flow of signing book, after book, after book. We all must have signed around 100 or more books each!


This event was so fun! The man himself, Richard Thompson, creator of Cul de Sac (and 2011 'Cartoonist of the Year' Reuben award winner) was there along with the book's editor, Chris Sparks. Many local creators and comic supporters came out in droves to attend the signing. It was a large gathering of talent with combined forces ready to battle Parkinson's disease and come together to honor Richard Thompson. It was a delight to see this level of commitment and respect for Richard. Straddling a career field myself in the design and advertising industries, I can say most cartoonists are friendly people who really come together for a cause. It's hard to imagine another group of people making such an effort to raise money in a selfless way. It genuinely felt like everyone who came to the event was there for Richard, and that's the memory I will take with me for the rest of my life. It is an honor to be a part of this project.


The book is really beautiful and I urge you to purchase it and see all the art for yourself. It is currently $16.73 (list price $29.99) on Amazon.


If you missed this signing, there will be another one on July 11, 2012 at 7PM which will include a presentation with Chris Sparks at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC. Please RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends!

More event photos can be scene on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150940960942381.439013.50763422380&type=3

Thanks to Bruce Guthrie for taking the group photo. All other photos were taken by Joe Carabeo.

To learn more about Team Cul de Sac, visit: http://teamculdesac.blogspot.com

I hope to see you on July 11!

Recap: Capicons (June 3, 2012)

On this past Sunday, June 3, 2012 Curls Studio was a guest at Capicons. Unfortunately we didn't take too many photos of the show, but we did whip the camera out when Michael Rhode of ComicsDC stopped by with his Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson's book. It was my first time seeing the book and it's beautiful and jam packed with art from several cartoonists all influenced by Cul de Sac creator Richard Thompson, who was honored as last year's 'Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year' at the Reuben Awards.


Here are some photos of the book and also remember to bid on the original art from the book at Heritage Auctions before June 10 (here is the direct link to my contribution: http://comics.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=510&lotNo=9).


In addition, there will be a book signing this Sunday in Arlington, VA. I will be there along with several other cartoonists and editor, Chris Sparks! Here is the RSVP on Facebook, join us and invite your friends: https://www.facebook.com/events/332334420171612/

If you can't make the signing, you can purchase Team Cul de Sac on Amazon. The book is currently $16.52 (list price $29.99).


The Capicons show was fun and it was good to meet a lot of local comics lovers. It's nice to have a relaxed show where you can talk with people and get to know them. It was also great to meet K. Michael Crawford, a children's book illustrator who was also a guest at Capicons. Check out her work at http://www.happilyeverart.com. I also thought it was innocent when a young man purchased Black Magic Tales, Volume 1: The Adventures of Roxy and Dean, World Famous Criminals and after I signed it he asked how much the autograph was. For now, my signature is free! So make sure you bid on my Team Cul de Sac art - the value will definitely go up!

Thank you to Michael Rhode for bringing the Team Cul De Sac book to Capicons. We wouldn't have photos without him!

Hope to see you this Sunday,
Carolyn