DC Zinefest is July 28, 2012

Please join me at DC Zinefest this upcoming Saturday, July 28.

The DC Zinefest hopes to create a space for zine makers, writers, and self-published artists to share their work with each other and with the city of Washington, DC. By providing an opportunity to expo, workshop, and interact with zines, we strive to build and support a thriving DIY community.

WHAT: DC Zinefest
WHEN: July 28, 2012 from 11 AM to 5 PM
WHERE: St. Stephen’s Church, located at 1525 Newton Street, NW Washington, DC (near the Columbia Heights Metro station on the green line). Directions can be found here.
FACEBOOK RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/422606351112245/

Hope to see you on Saturday! Bring a friend and say hi!

Art Deco Society of Virginia - Logo Concept

Here is my submission to the Art Deco Society of Virginia's logo contest. It was not selected, but I wanted to share it to showcase my design skills. I really like the color palette and the "V" decorative element of that time period.

To see more of my design work, view my portfolio here: http://www.behance.net/CarolynBelefski

If you are are creative director, art director, or designer interested in my illustration and/or design abilities, please email me at info@curls-studio.com.

Recap: Southern Maryland Comic Con 2012

On Saturday, July 7th, 2012 I attended my first Southern Maryland Comic Con run by Awesome Conventions. The venue was the roller skating rink at Capital Clubhouse in Waldorf, Maryland. It is always interesting to see where comic shows are held. I have exhibited in a bowling alley, a fire station, dirty bars, a church, a gay community center, and now... a roller skating rink! It was rad. The temperatures got to be a little high (around 100 degrees) but with the ice skating rink next door, you could walk by and catch a blast of cool.


It was my first show where I had to commute, set-up, table, and more on my own since Joe is on tour with The Beach Boys to document their 50 year anniversary. Joe wished he could be there for Curls Studio, but I told him to take the opportunity as it is once-in-a-lifetime and a chance he has earned by working many years to gain recognition in the industry.


I was a panelist on "Webcomics Discussion" supporting my comic strip, Curls. The other panelists were Steve Conley (Bloop) and Chris Flick (Capes-n-Babes). The panel was moderated by Fantastic Forum's Ulysses Campbell. Audio was recorded and you can listen to the full panel here as it is also this week's "Carolyn and Joe Show" podcast: http://carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/webcomics-now/

I also got to judge the "Art Challenge" with Laura Inglis and Matt Slay. There were two categories: one for the younger kids with coloring book pages, the other with plan white paper where older kids could create their own vision. It was a little heard to watch some of the kids who didn't win at the end, but hopefully they will continue to create art. It reminded me of applying to the VCU Design Department at the end of Art Foundation and seeing some of the applicants who didn't get into the program. You can read about my experience that year in this comic: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2008/07/foundation-year.html

Southern Maryland Comic Con was an enjoyable show with many great artists to meet and activities to do. A lot of people dressed up for the costume contest and you could tell everyone was having a fun time. I am excited I got to meet a whole bunch of new people and hope to be back again in the future.

More event photos can be scene on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151016658442381.447678.50763422380&type=3

Thanks to Fantastic Forum for the photo of the "Webcomics Discussion" panel.

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

Comics in the District: A Discussion with Local Creators - This Sunday

On Sunday, July 8, 2012 at 5:15PM I will be a panelist for "Comics in the District: A Discussion with Local Creators" at the DC Jewish Community Center (1529 16th Street NW, Washington DC 20036). The discussion is free to attend and will be moderated by Mike Rhode of ComicsDC blog fame.

Panelists:
• Carolyn Belefski (Founder of Curls Studio which creates and self-publishes original comics, designs and illustrations; including the comic strip Curls)
• Steve Conley (Award-winning designer, illustrator and cartoonist; writer and artist of Bloop Comic)
• Evan Keeling (Illustrator, Designer & Comic Book Artist, co-founder of the DC Conspiracy)
• Andrew Cohen (a small-press comic-book creator; www.howzitfunnies.blogspot.com)
• Matt Dembicki (editor and contributing writer/artist to DC Comics; co-founder of the D.C. Conspiracy, a comics creators collective)

This event coincides with "The History of Invulnerability" play going on at Theater J right now. Here is by 5x5 response comic I created after seeing the performance last month: http://www.curls-studio.com/curls/?p=1663

More information can be found here.