"Design Your Own Superhero" at The National Archives Sleepover Fall 2016

On Saturday, October 22, 2016 I had the opportunity to take part in a special event at the National Archives for a second time. Kids ages 8-12 along with their adult chaperones participated in several activities and spent the night next to America’s most precious treasures: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights for a "History, Heroes & Treasures" themed sleepover!

All evening long I documented the event using the relatively new Instagram stories function on my account (@Carolyn Belefski) and the National Archives (@usnatarchives) also did a great job with their feed and stories. 

The activity I helped lead is called "Design Your Own Superhero with Carolyn Belefski" where the children and their parents are welcome to create their own hero using prompts of personality traits and activities each of us enjoy individually. I created a worksheet so everyone could grasp the concept quickly. The sheet included a body template, checklist of superpowers, and more. If the participant wanted to use a black sheet of paper and go freestyle without the template, they could go that direction as well. Throughout the evening there were several activity stations to choose from, so if they wanted to visit everything they would only have about ten minute or less at each spot. However the event is very freeform and kids could stay as long as they want at any station without a "whistle" or "alarm" to change stations.

A few of the children and their parents came dressed up as superheroes or visionaries from history. There were also costumed entertainers (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, John Dunlop, and Sojourner Truth) to answer historical questions. I was surprised to see a few familiar faces from the last event this past February and have the kids enjoy the activity so much that they wanted to do it again.

Look for more images and content online using the hashtag #ArchivesSleepover. Shoutouts to the volunteers and interns who helped make the event be the best it could be and big thanks to the National Archives for hosting such a fun event and for educating the younger generations! 

Let Us Seek Wonders profiles Cartoonists Draw Blood

Cartoonist Joe Sutliff, who has been an artist at the Cartoonists Draw Blood event since it's inception has a relatively new comic called Let Us Seek Wonders. This week he focused on the origin story of Cartoonists Draw Blood and how the concept came to National Cartoonists Society's Washington, DC chapter and how we began working with American Red Cross.

Read the full comic here: http://letusseekwonders.blogspot.com/2016/10/drawing-blooooooood.html

You'll be able to meet Joe at this year's event on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at Seekers Church in Washington, DC (across from Takoma Metro). If you show up, let him know and he might interview you for next week's page -- then you will be immortal cartoon royality!

Here is a direct link to schedule your appointment for Cartoonists Draw Blood 2016. Walk-ins are also welcome from 10AM to 3:30PM. Hope you can join us!

Listen to Joe on the last Carolyn and Joe Show podcast (episode #388): https://carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/joe-sutliff

Get Out The Vote Gallery open during DC Design Week

A couple years ago, I was asked to be a part of DC Design Week (DCDW) with the "Design & Doodle" workshop. This year I'm involved with DCDW in a different way with DC’s “AIGA’s Get Out the Vote Campaign” (GOTV) poster gallery.

In partnership with the League of Women Voters, AIGA‘s GOTV campaign wields the power of design to motivate the American public to register and turn out to vote in the 2016 general election, as well as local elections to come. The pop-up GOTV gallery during DCDW will showcase posters designed by local creatives, with the occasional appearance of say...a Milton Glaser or Paula Scher piece.

When you’re done perusing the posters, head next door to the DCDW pop-up shop filled with items that were made in DC. Open all week. Main headquarters for DCDW is Washington Project for the Arts (2124 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001).

Cartoonists Draw Blood is next Saturday, October 29, 2016

The Washington, DC chapter of the National Cartoonists Society is organizing the 4th annual blood drive in Washington, DC featuring several local cartoonists drawing for American Red Cross blood donors -- "Cartoonists Draw Blood" will be celebrated on Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 10AM to 3:30PM at Seekers Church (across the street from Takoma Metro) at 276 Carroll Street, NW.

Blood donors are encouraged sign up for appointments scheduled in 15-minute intervals between 10AM to 3:30PM and walk-ins are also welcome. To make an appointment, email CartoonistsDrawBlood@gmail.com. You may also register yourself online using this link.

On the day of donation, donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids, include iron-rich foods in their diet, and bring a list of medications they are taking and a photo ID. All donors will be able to meet the cartoonists and receive a complimentary cartoon sketch.

It is a great opportunity for cartoonists to perform community service, showcase our talents, and save lives. We've done three previous blood drives, which have already saved the lives of over 200 people. 

This year event will feature cartoonists Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Bill Brown, Eric Gordon, Art Hondros, Kerry G. Johnson, Mal Jones, Liz Reed, Joe Sutliff, Kyra Taub, and Art Hondros.
  In past years, the cartoonists have drawn original spooky illustrations, family pets, caricatures, and more. Since this year's blood drive is near Halloween, we encourage attendees to come in costume, however it's not required to give blood. Wear clothing with sleeves that can easily be rolled up above the elbow.

Free parking is available all weekend in the Takoma Metro parking lot across the street.

Let your friends know about this event by sharing the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/491187757755990

American Red Cross Press Release: http://www.redcross.org/news/press-release/local/washington-dc/Cartoonists-Draw-Blood-event

Recent podcast interview with participating cartoonist Joe Sutliff on the Carolyn and Joe Show: carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/joe-sutliff

Organizers: Carolyn Belefski, Troy-Jeffrey Allen

Recap: New York Comic Con 2016

WOW! This year's New York Comic Con was a blast! I'm still recovering from standing and talking for pretty much nearly five days straight. We usually drive in very early to the show on Thursday morning, but this year I was asked to be a part of an event on Wednesday evening at Society of Illustrators, so we arrived a day early and brought in our booth materials on Wednesday to the Javits Center.

On Thursday afternoon I did a signing at the National Cartoonists Society booth and hung out with Ed Steckley and Ray Alma.

This is Alicia supporting our Heart Comics shirt she purchased last year at #NYCC. This year she picked up our new book French Fry Club (we are unfortunately now sold out at @newyorkcomiccon and Alicia picked up the last copy). We have a few Heart Comics shirts available. We have two more issues left of The Legettes left! We also have prints, Curls comic strip collection, Black Magic Tales comic book, stickers, buttons, and more! Visit Booth 1162 in the Small Press section (lower ceiling area on the show floor) today until 5:00PM. #nycc2016 #comiccon #comics #FrenchFryClub #soldout #curlsstudio #tour #heartcomics #fan

A photo posted by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Oct 9, 2016 at 9:09am PDT

I was excited to meet new people and recognize new faces and stayed at the booth the majority of the time. I did not attempt to go to any panels, but was able to break away to catch glimpses of Frank Miller, Gerard Way, Ric Flair, Mick Foley, Noelle Foley, Christian, Jerry Lawler, and Joey Styles. Luckily their booths were not too far away so it took little time away from the booth.

We sold out of all the copies we had of our new comic, French Fry Club! And we also sold out of all copies of The Legettes. I still have a very limited supply of the Heart Comics shirts, so if you are interested in getting a shirt, please check them out at the online store: http://www.carolynbelefski.com/store

Overall, NYCC is a tremendous show and we hope to be back next year in our same booth #1162! Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth to say hi or who purchased our comics and merchandise. We really appreciate you all. I suspect we'll record a recap podcast soon, so be on the lookout for that audio soon here.

More NYCC photos are available for viewing on the Curls Studio Facebook page. Give us a "like" while you are there.

The next event I'm organizing is the Cartoonists Draw Blood drive with the American Red Cross on Saturday, October 29, 2016. I plan to post more details about that event soon and we hope to see you there!

Recap: Society of Illustrators – Political Spirit Animal

This past Wednesday I participated in an event called Political Spirit Animal at Society of Illustrators in NYC. The event celebrated Wacom's MobileStudio Pro, which was announced that day. MobileStudio Pro is available for purchase next month and I am excited to be one of the first to use this amazing light-weight product.

Here are the guest artists: Tom Richmond, Joe Wos, Carolyn Belefski, Luke McGarry, Jason Chatfield, Flash Rosenberg, Steve McGarry, Ed Steckley

John Fiorelli from Cut & Paste organized the event where the guest artists each drew a different political candidate and attendees were paired with us to create the candidate's spirit animal (the attendees started with our original drawing then drew new layers over it). Then each person had the opportunity to get on mic and explain their creation.

It was a fun event and I got to meet several New York artists there. I was glad to be able to see the Ralph Steadman exhibit in the gallery space (running until October 22) as the cherry on top of this event! Big thanks to NCS, Wacom, Cut & Paste, and Society of Illustrators for being so accommodating and inspiring!

Society of Illustrators – Political Spirit Animal this Wednesday in NYC

This Wednesday, October 5, 2016, I'll be participating in an event Cut&Paste and Wacom are hosting called Political Spirit Animal. With elections coming, PSA is a collaborative drawing game with participants adapting original character sketches of political figures into their matching spirit animals.

Participants are matched in pairs and given a simple sketch (e.g. Hillary, Trump, Bernie). In 30 minutes you adapt and “animalize” the sketch however you like, with guidance from one of our Guest Artists. The Pairs will use Wacom’s super-secret new-fangled Cintiq-like drawing tool (it releases that day) and your software of choice.

Guest Artists include Jason Chatfield, Luke McGarry, Steve McGarry, Tom Richmond, Flash Rosenberg, Ed Steckley, Joe Wos, and Carolyn Belefski.

The event is free and it starts at 7PM at Society of Illustrators (128 E. 63rd Street, New York, NY). You can draw or watch. Space is limited, so if you can make it please RSVP on EventBrite. Hope to see you there.

NYCC 2016 – Signing at National Cartoonists Society this Thursday

If you already have tickets to New York Comic Con, swing by this Thursday, October 6 to Booth 2058 from 4-7PM. I'll be signing for a limited time at National Cartoonists Society.

If you miss us at NCS on Thursday, you can find BOTH Curls Studio and Laughing Redhead Studio ALL FOUR DAYS (October 6-9) of New York Comic Con 2016 at Small Press, Booth 1162.

Check out the NCS Booth throughout the show, as several talented creators will be having signings.