I Love To Write Day 20th Anniversary

The "I Love To Write Day Creative Writing Journal" is now available on Amazon -- it's being published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of I Love To Write Day, a grassroots campaign John Riddle launched in 2002 to have people of all ages spend time writing every November 15. John reached out to me to contribute comic strips about creativity and the creative process to the publication. 

87 creative experts including writers, authors, musicians, artists, photographers, actors, directors, and more professions have contributed tips on how to be creative and shared their own creative journey. It also includes 30 challenges that give you the opportunity to “think outside of the box” to use your imagination like never before. 

Above is a sample of one of the comics strips I created for the Love To Write Day project and here is the link to the book on Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0BL4VT9VX?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860 

Please take a moment to write on November 15 and celebrate this day!

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!

Ranger Rick, April 2022

Look for the April 2022 issue of Ranger Rick to see my illustrations printed in this children's nature magazine that is published by the United States National Wildlife Federation.

I did art for an article about the discovery of giant penguin fossil in New Zealand by children who spotted what they thought was a rusty propeller. The two smaller penguins looking up at the big penguin are also from New Zealand (yellow-eyed penguin and little penguin). I figured to put them since they are from the same location and make them specific types to show the scale of the giant penguin. 

The other illustration I did showcases how worms don't have ears, but can hear through their skin! I had a lot of fun with that by making the worm groovy as a gummy while wearing three headphones and jamming to music.

RISE #2: Comics Against Bullying

Earlier this year Northwest Press published RISE: Comics Against Bullying anthology. Issue #2 included a story I illustrated, written by Elizabeth 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. 

Proceeds from the book benefit organizations including GLAAD, Prism Comics, and Stand For The Silent. I hope you'll be able to pick the book up or find it at my table next year touring the comic conventions -- all the copies I have are already signed by Amber and I.

Curls in Northern Virginia Magazine

Northern Virginia Magazine "Best of NOVA" June 2015 issue features a one page article on Curls. I was approached for this article in March during the Kickstarter promotion. It mentions my successful Kickstarter, my excitement for Fox News graphics, and more! Take it for a read -- in stores now. Thanks to Northern Virginia Magazine and Tim Regan.

#curlpower

Curls Kickstarter is LIVE!

Hi everyone! I just launched the Curls Kickstarter a few minutes ago. You can take a look at the film and rewards and everything else here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/curls-the-ultimate-book-collection

The goal is to print a book of all the Curls comic strip I've ever made, but I also set up some fun reward packages for you. Check this out. 

1. A song by Mr. Bandit inspired by Curls
2. Your name in the book acknowledgements 
3. Computer wallpaper
4. Curls patch
5. Kickstarter exclusive button pack
6. Set of eight postcards featuring Curls inspired imagery created by Steve Conley (Bloop), Joshua Daniel (Dime-Store Noir), S. L. Gallant (G.I Joe), Dawn Griffin (Zorphbert & Fred), Lauren Jaslow (snarkystudios.), Teresa Roberts Logan (Laughing Redhead Studios), Arsia Rozegar (The Incredible Hulk), and Elizabeth Watasin (Charm School). 
7. Signed book with sketch
8. Curls Cowgirl Print
9. Kickstarter exclusive backer print
10. Avatar (original line art and color digital copy)
11. Toast doll
12. Pen Pals
13. Dinner with Carolyn and Joe
14. Carolyn and Joe speaking engagement

For the next 30 days, you'll be able to make pledges to help support this project, ranging from $1 to whatever amount you can contribute. You can select from the reward packages—listed on the right side. You can even pledge more than the minimum to get a reward if you want. Your credit card or other account will not be charged at the time you make your pledge. 

If we've reached our goal when the deadline arrives (Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at 8:20 PM EST) then everyone gets charged the amount they pledged at once. If we don't meet our goal no fees are applied and everyone keeps their money. If we fail to meet the goal, then no one gets any rewards either—and that would not be a fun day.

Please help spread the word and tell your friends.

Thanks,
Carolyn

Black Magic Tales "A New Home"

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.

Curls Cowgirl Print

Howdy y'all! There is a new Curls 6" x 9" print available on my Etsy store. It features Curls as a cowgirl riding her trusty mule, Teddy. This is a great opportunity to add color and fun to your wall at home or cubicle at work.

Available here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/cartooncarolyn

Black Magic Tales in Magic Bullet #8

Can you believe an episode of Black Magic Tales has been in every issue of Magic Bullet so far? If you haven't heard of Magic Bullet, it's Washington, DC's comics anthology newspaper and you can grab a free copy while they last at many fine establishments.

In Magic Bullet #8 Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski continue the tale of world famous criminals Roxy Monroe and Dean Casanova, along with their cat Black Magic. This is a comic page not to be missed for all animal lovers, as you can see in the preview photograph above.

We printed 5,000. Be sure to pick up your copy today. Here are some locations I know for sure have bundles of Magic Bullet #8:

Bean Bar (Leesburg, VA), Market Street Coffee (Purcellville, VA), LoCo Joe's (Purcellville, VA), Hypnocoffee (Shepherdstown, WV), Blue Moon Cafe (Shepherdstown, WV), Books and Other Found Things (Leesburg, VA), King Street Coffee (Leesburg, VA), Velocity Comics (Richmond,VA), Richmond Books (Richmond,VA), Chop Suey Books (Richmond,VA), Plan 9 Records (Richmond,VA), Off-Rhode Studio Gallery/Art Enables (Washington, DC), Game On Comics (Vienna, VA), Big Planet Comics on U Street (Washington, DC), Big Planet Comics (Vienna, VA), Record Exchange (Fairfax, VA), Laughing Ogre Comics (Fairfax, VA), CD Cellar (Falls Church, VA), Action Music (Falls Church, VA), Politics & Prose Modern Times Coffeehouse (Washington, DC), Saxby's Coffee (Fairfax, VA), Blind Dog Cafe (Washington, DC), Capitol Hill Books (Washington, DC), Kafe Bohem (Washington, DC), Miss Pixie's (Washington, DC), Peregrine Espresso (Washington, DC), Port City Java (Washington, DC), Pound (Washington, DC), Som Records (Washington, DC), Hole in the Wall Books (Falls Church, VA), Fantom Comics (Washington, DC), Museum of Unnatural History (Washington, DC), Space Bar (Falls Church, VA)

Magic Bullet #7 Cover and Contributor List

I am delighted to present to you the cover of Magic Bullet #7. Magic Bullet is Washington, D.C.’s free comics newspaper published by 
D.C. Conspiracy, a comics creators’ collective in the capital region.

Steve Conley was tapped to illustrate the cover art and Matt Dembicki contributed the color center spread. Thanks to El Jefe Design for the design of our masthead, which we started using in Magic Bullet #6. This issue is Halloween themed and has a print run of 5,000. It will be hitting the streets shortly. Be sure to look for it around town and pick up this free publication.

Here are the contributors who made the final cut for print publication in Magic Bullet #7:

Sara Lindo

Rafer Roberts

S.G. Artley

Steve Loya

Mike Brace

John Shine

Anthony Jackson

Viga Gadson

Eric Gordon

Charles Brubaker

William Brown

Joshua Daniel

Jason E. Axtell

Joe Sutliff

Rob Anderson, Dafu Yu, E.T. Dollman, Paul Allor

Matt Dembicki

R.M. Rhodes, Evan Keeling

Art Hondros

Adam McGovern, Diana Leto

T.R. Logan

Troy-Jeffrey Allen, Matt Rawson

Andrew Cohen

Michael Cowgill

Kevin Panetta, Mike Short

David and Jon Milstein

Dale Rawlings

Rachel Scheer

Daniel Rosa, Jose Mazariegos

Paul Zdepski

Sean Fahey, Ben Passmore, Kel Nuttall

Nick Liappis, Brooke A. Allen

Zarmina Sulaiman, Jacob Warrenfeltz

Joe Carabeo, Carolyn Belefski

Thank you to all who submitted and we urge you to submit your comics to be considered in future editions.

I plan to bring several bundles to Bmore Into Comics next Saturday, August 24, 2013. We will also be distributing Magic Bullet to local establishments in DC, MD, and VA (places like book stores, restaurants, theaters, tattoo parlors, record shops, etc.).

D.C. Conspiracy members will be showcasing original Magic Bullet art at Artisphere in Arlington, VA from August 21 thru November 3 in the Works in Progress Gallery. There will be a meet and greet on September 21 from 6 PM to 8 PM where you will be able to connect with many of us in-person. Major props to Matt Dembicki and Evan Keeling for being instrumental in organizing the exhibit.

Magic Bullet contributors will be distributing the newspaper for free at many of their convention appearances in 2013. We will certainly have Magic Bullet #7 at Baltimore Comic-Con, Small Press Expo, New York Comic Con, and more!

Stay 'tooned for more information about distribution of Magic Bullet #7 as well as details about advertising and comic submission for the next issue. If you are interested in advertising and comic submission guidelines, connecting with us, or attending our meetings, visit magicbulletcomics.com for information.

It has been either a trick-or-treat editing this edition of Magic Bullet. I'll let you decide witch!

Your Pal,

Carolyn Belefski

Magic Bullet #6 Hitting the Streets

Magic Bullet #6 (Washington, D.C.'s free comics newspaper, published by D.C. Conspiracy) went to print last Tuesday. Big thanks to Joe Carabeo who picked up all 5,000 direct from the printer in Maryland last Wednesday.

Joe commented, "who needs to be able to see behind them when they drive?" As you can see, the vehicle was loaded with bullets, Magic Bullet that is.

Currently the newspaper has been distributed with good coverage in Virginia. There will be more locations to come. I plan on meeting up with a bunch of folks at Asbury Park Comic Con in New Jersey (March 30) and they will help distribute at MoCCA Arts Festival in New York (April 6-7) and at more locations up north. A handful of Magic Bullet #6 contributors will be attending SPACE in Columbus, Ohio (April 13-14) and they plan to bring the issue there.

Don't forget, on Free Comic Book Day (May 4) we will be scattered at nine different locations in three states, plus the District of Columbia. This will be our big day everyone attending the event can meet in-person.

You can see the complete listing of where you can pick up a free issue of Magic Bullet #6 here at the bottom right column.

We are urging people to send photos or Instagram images of Magic Bullet #6 found in its natural habitat. Here are a few examples:

Our contributors will be hitting the streets hard to make it more widely distributed. If you are a shop owner or venue and want Magic Bullet #6 in your store, please reach out to us. It doesn't cost a thing to help distribute Magic Bullet #6.

Thanks,

Carolyn

Magic Bullet #6 Cover and Contributor List

I am pleased to present to you the cover of Magic Bullet #6. Magic Bullet is Washington, D.C.’s free comics newspaper published by 
D.C. Conspiracy, a comics creators’ collective in the capital region. 

Art Hondros illustrated the cover art and El Jefe Design was tapped to create our new nameplate/masthead. S. G. Artley did the color center spread. The issue is schedule to go to print tomorrow with a run of 5,000 and will be hitting the streets shortly. Be sure to look for it around town and pick up this free publication.

Here are the contributors who made the final cut for print publication in Magic Bullet #6:

Henry and Jacob Warrenfeltz
Jason E. Axtell
Adam McGovern, Diana Leto
Nick Liappis
Rob Anderson, Dafu Yu, E.T. Collman, Paul Allor
Matt Rawson, Derek Scarzella, Troy-Jeffrey Allen
Michael Brace
R.M. Rhodes, Evan Keeling
Rafer Roberts
Arsia Rozegar
Kevin Panetta, Mike Short
Eric Gordon
Matt Dembicki
Dale Rawlings
John Shine
S. G. Artley
Jeff McClelland, Kurt Belcher, Jonathan Brandon Sawyer, Tom Ziuko
Andrew Cohen
Josh Kramer
Joe Sutliff
JTW
M. Jacob Alvarez
Sean Fahey, Ben Passmore, Kel Nuttall
Lauren Silberman
Michael Cowgill
William Brown
Joe Carabeo, Carolyn Belefski

We received many submissions and had to fit advertising along with a budgeted page count. Thank you to all who submitted and we urge you to submit your comics to be considered in future editions.

More information will be released soon about the digital download, which will be available for $0.99.

I plan to bring several bundles with me to Asbury Park Comic Con on March 30. We will also be distributing Magic Bullet to local establishments in DC, MD, and VA (places like book stores, restaurants, theaters, tattoo parlors, record shops, etc.).

May 4, 2013 is Free Comic Book Day and Magic Bullet #6 contributors are scheduled to appear at many local comic shops. Be sure to stop by and meet us in-person. Please refer to the graphic above to see who will be appear and the nine locations we'll be at.

I will also be promoting Magic Bullet at Capicons on June 16 (Father's Day) at the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department. We'll be distributing Magic Bullet #6 for free at all Curls Studio tour stops in 2013.

Stay 'tooned for more information about distribution of Magic Bullet #6 as well as details about advertising and comic submission for the next issue. If you are interested in advertising and comic submission guidelines, connecting with us, or attending our meetings, visit magicbulletcomics.com for information.

It has been a pleasure editing this edition of Magic Bullet. I hope you get the opportunity to find it and enjoy reading it. May the hunt begin!

XOXO,
Carolyn

Magic Bullet #6 Announcement

Here's some news I haven't shared publicly on this blog. I am now the editor of Magic Bullet, starting with the upcoming Magic Bullet #6. Magic Bullet is Washington, DC’s free comics newspaper published by the DC Conspiracy, a comics creators’ collective in the capital region established in 2005. The publication is primarily distributed in the DC area, but with many of our contributing artists attending various shows across the country, Magic Bullet has a growing readership, as well as a growing print run of 5,000. 

I will be bringing Magic Bullet #6 to all shows I'll be attending in 2013, so be sure to pick up your free physical copy. We are also working on a downloadable issue, available for a small fee online. The Magic Bullet #6 newspaper will be hitting streets this spring. We are also arranging our contributors to appear at several locations during Free Comic Book Day on May 4. Stay 'tooned for more info about the downloadable issues and FCBD events.

For the past few months, I've been working hard to attract advertisers to pay for the upgraded print run of 5,000 and am excited to say we have achieved our goal. At the time of this writing, some of the advertisers include: Indie Comics Magazine, Jason E. Axtell, Franks and Beans, ComicsDC, Steve Artley, SPX, Society of Illustrators/MoCCA, Graphic Illusions Comics, St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (thanks to Art Hondros for securing the ad), ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con, Shoff Promotions, Awesome Con DC, Matt Dembicki, Jim Coon, American Physical Society, Big Planet Comics (thanks to Matt Dembicki for securing the ad), Beyond Comics (thanks to Rafer Roberts for securing the ad), and more to come!

Thanks to the advertisers who have made this project possible and thanks to Rafer Roberts and Matt Dembicki for their input and guidance as former editors.

There is still time to contribute your comic to Magic Bullet #6. The due date for your one page comic submission is March 1, 2013. Please review our requirements and specs here: http://magicbulletcomics.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html

We look forward to your stories!

Thanks,

Carolyn

Carolyn Belefski Banner Art for SPX

Earlier this year I was asked by Small Press Expo to create web banner art for SPX 2012. Back in March, I created an animated .gif to advertise the show. My concept features an owl and a bird, sitting on tree branches, chirping away about the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY -- question and answer dialogue about SPX. WHY, of course, referring to the chocolate fountain at Saturday night's Ignatz Awards, which I wouldn't miss for the world.


My banner art has been featured for months on the SPX Tumblr and will be forever encapsulated at the US Library of Congress. In addition, it will be available in the "SPX 2012 Limited Edition Print Set" that contains all of the the incredible art used to promote the show. There are only 25 sets and all will be signed by the artists. Each set includes:
• Jaime Hernandez’s badge art
• Chris Ware’s poster
• Becky Driestadt’s poster
• Marguerite Dabaie, Carolyn Belefski, and Julia Wertz banner art
• Dustin Harbin, Michael DeForge, and John Martz banner art
• Michael DeForge’s program cover
• Andy K’s postcard art
• Theo Ellsworth’s flyer

Some of these prints will also be for sale individually in similarly limited quantities.

Join us for SPX 2012 in Bethesda, MD this weekend and visit me at Table W6A! Here's a handy map to guide you, along with more details about the show: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2012/09/appearing-at-spx-2012.html

Curls in Bloop Kickstarter-Exclusive Jam Print

I was asked by Steve Conley to be a part of his jam print for Bloop. He has a Kickstarter campaign going on for the next 10 days to support Bloop, the story of a little, green space monkey who is looking to find the perfect tree. Along the way, he makes some friends and discovers that not only his tree, but the entire planet, is threatened by robots bent on tearing the world apart. This first Bloop collection will be a giant 10 inches x 15 inches. He has a ton or rewards to unlock and many options and levels for you to pledge and help fund his project. You can learn more and consider pledging here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/steveconley/bloop-part-one-deluxe-oversized-hardcover

I created Curls as a Hollywood star for the glossy headshot up on the diner wall. She even put on some lipstick and kissed the photo, which also includes her signature.


Steve writes about the jam print:

Today, we unveil three more additions to the BLOOP Kickstarter-exclusive jam print:

• Amelia of Amelia Rules! by Jimmy Gownley (Jimmy recently capped his wonderful eight-book Amelia Rules! series with Amelia Rules: Her Permanent Record!)
• Curls by Carolyn Belefski (Carolyn is one of the nicest and friendliest cartoonists I know and her Curls webcomic is every bit as charming and funny as she is!)
• Mercurius by Rick Veitch (Rick is one of the legends of independent comics and known for some of the most challenging and sensational comics ever made.)

Jimmy, Carolyn and Rick join the first three cartoon patrons unveiled:

• Brandy of Liberty Meadows by Frank Cho (To call Frank a comics superstar is an understatement!)
• Billy Dogma by Dean Haspiel (One of my favorite comics artists and the only one who's won an Emmy Award!)
• Mel of Sunshine State by Graham Nolan (Graham co-created the Batman villain Bane and he followed that up by creating the best gator cartoon character since Albert of Pogo fame!)
• The Messenger by Jerry Ordway (Jerry is a true comics great and responsible for some of my favorite Marvel and DC comic books!)
• Nastajia of The Dreamland Chronicles by Scott Christian Sava (Scott has produced more than 2,000 - you read that right! - pages of breathtaking cgi comics and he's running his own Kickstarter at the moment, which I hope you'll check out!)

This lineup is amazing and we still have twelve more to announce!

This print will be a bonus to every backer pledging $20 or more if we can reach our first stretch goal of $6,000.

Thank you Steve - for creating such a great book and for letting Curls be a part of the jam print. We are honored.

Curls syndicated in "The Funnies"

My comic strip, Curls, is now being published monthly in a newspaper called "The Funnies" based out of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. You can pick up a copy and one of the locations below or if you are interested in a subscription of $18.50 for 12 issues, email me at info[at]curls-studio[dot]com and I will pass on more information on how to order.

Pin-Up for Jimmy Palmiotti's Queen Crab

Jimmy Palmiotti asked me to create a pin-up for his new graphic novel, Queen Crab, which is coming out a week from today - March 14, 2012. The project was funded by Kickstarter and will be published by Image Comics. I've read the full story and it is really engaging. It captures the essence of locations as well as the characters. The book is hardcover and will be available for $12.99. It is also available for a digital download from comiXology for $5.99 here.


Above is the art I created, which is a conceptual take on Ginger Drake as Queen Crab. I hope you consider buying this book at your local comic shop next Wednesday.

Thanks to Jimmy Palmiotti for this opportunity! Check out more of his work here and on the Paperfilms blog.

Freedom of Comics: Trip to the Newseum

Recently I went on a spontaneous trip to the Newseum in Washington, DC. Being that free tickets were available to use only for that day it was a last minute chance to use or lose. Since I had wanted to check out the new Newseum out for awhile, it was a perfect opportunity to take advantage and save on the $21.95 admission fee. I had previously been to the old location in Arlington many years ago.


This museum is highly recommend, not only because it recognizes journalism, but also because of the reminder it placed on me about the Five Freedoms of Americans (Speech, Press, Religion, Petition, Assembly). In addition I am impressed with the value the museum placed on visual art and how that relates to our society and communication.


I didn't realize cartoons and comics would get as much exposure as they did at the Newseum, which is a welcome surprise. They had a section all about comic strips called "The Funny Pages" and another focusing on the editorial cartoons of Doug Marlette. It was refreshing to see cartoons get as much respect as Pulitzer Prize winning photographs or pieces of the Berlin Wall.


Other sights that were of interest to me were Tom Russert's office, the Unabomber's cabin house, 9/11 gallery featuring the top portion of the Trade Center, some John Dillinger stuff, Daniel Pearl's personal materials, a blurb about Matt Drudge, and a small exhibit on the President's First Dogs. We had a great time and judging from spending over six hours in the museum, I'd say the value is worth the time to recognize our freedoms.

I was reminded of the great independence and privilege cartoonists have about getting their message and stories out and will soon be implementing this more with my comic strip, Curls.

Philadelphia City Paper's Comics Issue

My comic strip Curls was selected to be published in the Philadelphia City Paper's special Comics Issue, celebrity judged by Art Baxter (who also did the cover above). The physical newspaper is available on newsstands this week in Philly! Take a look online here: http://www.citypaper.net/cover_story/2011-12-01-city-paper-comics-issue.html


Thanks to Philadelphia City Paper for having a comics issue and spotlighting comics in print.

Harvey Pekar Kickstarter

Hi everyone,

There are two weeks more to go with the "Harvey Pekar Library Statue: Comics as Art & Literature Desk" Kickstarter fundraiser and during this time, I ask you please consider donating. If you donate $10 or more, contact me at info[at]curls-studio.com and I will mail you a 5"x5" signed print of my Harvey Head illustration, which is shown above.


I met Harvey in 2005 when I was a volunteer at Small Press Expo. Joe and I have fond memories of only being around him for brief moments.

So if you have some extra change, consider donating to the Kickstarter. Joyce also suggested having an American Splendor viewing party and passing a laptop (or hat) around to raise money. Either way, if Harvey impacted you life in comics, as a artist or writer, or life observations in general... please consider this project.

Thanks,
Carolyn