Awesome Con 2024 #SpringIntoAwesome

Curls Studio will be at the 11th year of Awesome Con at Table JR-05 from March 8-10, 2024 at the DC Convention Center. Please view the map above to locate us.

On Saturday "The Other Side of The Table: Lessons From Creators" will be taking place from 7:45-8:30PM in Room 206 featuring Maria Laura Sanapo, Jamar Nicholas, Marc Gaffen, and Carolyn Belefski. This is your in-person opportunity to ask us anything about the creative process and what it is like to be a comic creator.

Awesome Con Short Film Festival presented by Joe Carabeo with Astray Productions will have three days of programming as well as an award show and filmmaker meet-up on Saturday at 4:30PM in Room 202. Check out the wrestling belts the winners receive! Hope to see you at Awesome Con.

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!

Nova Labs Holiday Maker Market 2023

Nova Labs Holiday Maker Market 2023 will take place on Saturday, December 2 from 10AM to 4PM at 3850 Jermantown Road in Fairfax, VA. Curls Studio will be exhibiting our original comics, enamel pins, stickers, buttons, and more. Free entry with hot chocolate, door prizes, unique gifts, and tours of the woodshop, metalshop, 3d printing, laser lab and fiber arts shops. Stop by and say hello while you purchase some lovely gifts for the holiday season. More info available at: https://portal.nova-labs.org/Market

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

Richmond Indie Comics Expo (RICE) is this Sunday

Join Curls Studio at Richmond Indie Comics Expo (RICE) this Sunday, November 12 from 11AM to 5PM. RICE will be held at Virginia Commonwealth University inside the James Branch Cabell Library (901 Park Ave, Richmond, Virginia 23284). I will be hosting "The Other Side of the Table Lessons From Creators" panel from 3:50-4:20 PM to close out the day.

The main event is on the third floor in Room 303 -- our table assignment is 7. Panels are located on the second floor in Room 250.

VCU’s BB lot and West Main Street deck are the closest parking decks, being within a five minute walk to the James Branch Cabell Library. The hourly rate for parking is $2 per hour, with a maximum daily rate of $16. Street parking in the city is also an option. Be sure to check any signage for limits on how long you can park and other specific details. There is no cost to attend RICE.

Please check on Instagram for updates (www.instagram.com/carolynbelefski).

Haymarket Art Market is this Saturday, October 28, 2023

Curls Studio will be at Haymarket Art Market (HAM) this Saturday, October 28, 2023 at Great Mane Brewery (6620 James Madison Hwy, Haymarket, VA 20169) starting at 3PM -- if you want to see us please come during the earlier hours of the show as I can not guarantee staying until 10PM when the event ends.

What to expect: Live mural painting, arts and crafts vendors, DJs & MCs, food trucks, paint & sip for adults, cider for kids, and the best local craft beers in the area.

This is a family friendly event and from 3-6PM there will be activities for children. From 6-10PM it will still be a family friendly event, however more adult focused. Admission is free.

Loads of cool artists are listed on the HAM Instagram (@haymarketartmarket).