Hope everyone is doing well as we all experience this global pandemic with Covid-19 together (but apart). For the past two weeks, I've been posting daily prompts on the socials -- calling it #CarolynsCreativeChallenge.
I've had this idea for awhile now, but never thought the timing was right because I wanted to finish The Legettes #2 first, which is very time intensive for me. The Legettes should be my priority, but I did feel the need to be creative in many ways and showcase small projects that almost anyone can do at home. Another driving force behind the launch of this is the fact that four of Curls Studio's upcoming conventions and appearances have been canceled or delayed until later in the year, so hopefully it will gain traction and get others to actively know our work and communicate with us.
Most of the challenges take under 10-15 minutes to complete, but some may take more time. Join in and participate! You don't have to do them all -- you can do the ones that you want to do (and you can even go back and catch up from the very beginning).
A new challenge is posted each day on my Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Occasional behind-the-scenes and process imagery is shown on on IG Stories that are up for 24 hours only.
A goal of mine is to showcase the creative spectrum -- projects have already included cooking, sewing, eating, drawing, collage, experimental inking, design, and more. My hope is that parents can introduce some fun to their children that is educational and will get them motivated to create. No boredom allowed!
The Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco, California asked me to contribute original art for "A Boy and His Tiger: A Tribute to Bill Watterson" as homage to Bill Watterson and his seminal comic strip creation Calvin and Hobbes.
Bidding is currently open on eBay for the next two days and the auction will support the museum’s ongoing public programming and exhibitions.
The Cartoon Art Museum will publish a full color exhibition catalog collection all of the artwork created for this auction, and will present a public exhibition of the pieces in March 2020.
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.
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.
I’m excited to see what 2020 will bring. Here is a recap of some of the highlights Curls Studio experienced in 2019.
We exhibited at Awesome Con (my kids workshop got a mention from The Washington Post), NCSFest, Fairfax Comic Con, Small Press Expo, Baltimore Comic-Con, and Southern Maryland Comic Con. We also celebrated Free Comic Book Day at our local store.
NCSFest and the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Weekend in Huntington Beach, CA was a good experience for me (recap blog here). Not only was it the first time I’d ever exhibited and sold comics on the west coast, but it was also my first trip flying by myself and branching out into the world in that sense of solo. I had been to events were I had to drive and set-up myself, but never flight. It also felt cool to sell comics steps away from the Pacific Ocean — and to relate that to the third Asbury Park Comic Con show back in 2013 (recap blog here), where we sold comics at the legendary Asbury Park Convention center looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Curls Studio went Coast To Coast in 2019!
At the 90 Years of Popeye exhibit at the Huntington Beach Art Center it was fun to see my art on the wall and later auctioned off thru Heritage Auctions with proceeds benefiting the NCS Foundation.
I got to participate in the NCS "Cartooning For Kids" program and draw at the Children's Hospital of Orange County. It was such a rewarding experience!
Because of the trip to California, I was able to meet and chat with Disney artists Elizabeth Watasin and Floyd Norman — something that I never dreamed would have happened!
Back at the home base, Black Magic Tales was published in issues #18 and #19 of Magic Bullet, a comics anthology newspaper. We have been in every issue, so that is always an exciting constant.
At Baltimore Comic-Con I got to meet Blacksad artist Juanjo Guarnido and participate in the Baltimore Comic-Con Yearbook with my original Blacksad art, which was auctioned off at the show with proceeds benefiting Hero Initiative.
I completed my third Inktober prompt by inking a small image every day during the month of October with my theme of “HijINKs!” The project was very experimental and liquid.
Also during October, I organized the seventh annual Cartoonists Draw Blood event with American Red Cross and then the Washington, DC chapter of National Cartoonists Society where four local cartoonists drew for donors as a "thank you." The results of the blood drive were fantastic: 43 total donors, 13 first time donors, 42 units collected, 126 potential lives saved.
I ended the year by doing a few commissions for holiday cards and designing a film title for the comedy Netfins & Chill. I continued to update my comic strip, Curls.
If you want to read more and see photos of the experiences we've had in 2019, please look in the blog archives. We hope to create more for you in the years to come.
Happy New Year from Curls Studio. Thanks for your support!
Watch Madelyn Farris and Joe Carabeo's newest film collaboration "Netfins & Chill" at www.astrayproductions.com/netfinsandchill for a limited time. The story of two young DC lobbyists and their fishy secret! I designed the film titles -- here is my initial sketch above the film title still with the vector graphic.
This past Saturday, November 9, 2019 Curls Studio exhibited at Southern Maryland Comic-Con in Waldorf, MD. We had a fine time meeting everyone and talking about our comics.
I debuted the Inktober 2019 HijINKs! book that features all 31 experimental ink creations I made from ink, water, a straw, and white gel pen. Each book has a one-of-a-kind HijINK! on the front and is signed and numbered -- only 31 books will be made. The books are now available for purchase at www.carolynbelefski.com/store.
Since we were minutes away from La Plata High School, I took a trip and used the opportunity to visit the school where many of the members of Good Charlotte attended. Back at the convention, I enjoyed viewing the cosplay costume contest and we had a fun time. Thanks to everyone who stopped by.
March 22 • CulpeperCon (Keynote Speaker)
April 4-6 • Awesome Con
May 18 • Comic Logic Spring Lot Con
June 28-29 • Tidewater Comicon
August 23-24 • Fairfax Comic Con
September 13-14 • Small Press Expo
October 9-12 • New York Comic Con
October 17-19 • Baltimore Comic-Con
October 26 • Comic Logic Fall Lot Con
November 15 • Local Author Book Festival
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
