Recap and Photos: Cartoonists Draw Blood - American Red Cross Blood Drive 2019

On October 26, 2019, I organized the seventh annual "Cartoonists Draw Blood" blood drive event with the American Red Cross. The event works like a regular blood drive, however blood donors get to meet local cartoonists and take home an original piece of art created for them as a "thank you."

Thanks to the cartoonists who donated their time and talents: Hannah Churn, Al Goodwyn, Carolyn Belefski, and Matt Rawson. Troy-Jeffrey Allen was there for moral support.

Thanks to Joe Carabeo for photographing the event and to the folks at Holy Trinity Catholic Church for providing the venue. Rich and Chris were leading the charge at the front check-in desk and letting the donors know we were visible and ready to draw!

Thanks to our sponsors: Cartoonists Draw Blood, American Red Cross, National Cartoonists Society

Thanks also to Prince William Times for the article: https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/saving-lives-american-red-cross-and-national-cartoonists-society-partner/article_bd70a3ad-2a8f-5cc6-bf0d-50bfa0a93984.html

The results of the drive are fantastic: 43 total donors, 13 first time donors, 42 units collected, 126 potential lives saved

More photos can be found in the gallery Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/CurlsStudio/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10157603630992381

We hope to be announcing more Cartoonists Draw Blood news in the future -- thanks to all who participated!

XOXO,

Carolyn

Recap: Baltimore Comic-Con 2019

Add another Baltimore Comic-Con to the books (and hopefully another curly W in the books tonight in game one of the Word Series)! Not just any Baltimore Comic-Con -- we celebrated the 20th birthday of this wonderful show that Curls Studio has been exhibiting at since 2007! It does truly get better each and every year.

I got to participate in the Baltimore Comic-Con Yearbook, celebrating creators appearing at this year’s show. This year’s book of art featured interpretations of characters from Blacksad, one of my all-time favorite comics about a black cat private eye. This is BCC Yearbook number eight (my third -- I got to contribute to the Archie Yearbook in 2016 and Strangers In Paradise in 2018).

The highlight of the show for me was meeting Blacksad artist Juanjo Guarnido and having him sign my Blacksad books (I have them all in English). I had met him once before years ago at NYCC, but I didn't know he was going to be there and didn't have my books for him to sign, so I was prepared to meet him again more formally this past weekend.

Thanks to the Kids Love Comics section, Baltimore Comic-Con staff, volunteers, exhibitors, and attendees for making this event so memorable. We hope to be back next year with new comics!

Baltimore Comic-Con is October 18-20, 2019

Baltimore Comic-Con 2019
Visit Curls Studio at Table 3021 in Kids Love Comics 

Friday, October 18 -- 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Saturday, October 19 -- 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 20 -- 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Visit Curls Studio at Baltimore Comic-Con in the Kids Love Comics section at Table 3021. Click on the map image above to see a large map of where to find us.

I'll be signing Blacksad yearbooks and you can bid on the original art this Saturday at 5:00 PM.

Here are some "Curls Studio Visits..." Convention Films, produced by Astray Productions, to get you in the mood!

2008 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFyPIiWnZFA

2007 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDUL8zNv5FQ

We hope to see you this weekend at Baltimore Comic-Con!

Inktober 2019: HijINKs!

Every October, artists all over the world take on the Inktober drawing challenge by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. I've participated for the past two years and I figured, why stop there? Let's go for a third year.

My first Inktober in 2017 had a theme of "Turtles," where I drew 31 turtles on 2.5x3.5" art cards. I've sold the original art at comic conventions. I also took all the illustrations and made them into a small book, which is available for purchase in my store: www.carolynbelefski.com/store

My second Inktober in 2018 had a theme of "Dessert Desert Creatures," where I drew 31 creatures on 2.5x3.5" art cards. I've sold the original art at comic conventions and online. I again took all the illustrations and made them into a small book, which is also available for purchase in the online store.

This year I decided to do something completely different and experimental -- something I've been calling "HijINKs!" as the theme. Using only water, a straw, Pelikan "Brilliant Black" ink (I believe is from my Grandfather) that is turning blue when it dries, and a Sakura white jelly roll pen -- I'm making art 2.5x3.5" art cards. Instead of waiting until the project ends, I've been posting them to the store as each day releases, so potential customers have the opportunity to purchase the originals, first-come, first-serve daily.

Follow along on my Instagram (@CarolynBelefski) to see how the project progresses. I can't wait to see what each day of Inktober brings!

Recap: SPX 2019

Small Press Expo 2019 wrapped last month and it was a great show that celebrated 25 years of America's Premiere Independent Cartooning and Comic Arts Festival.

It was fun to have Kickstarter be a sponsor and they gave me a goody bag of stuff including nice book stands and a balloon to showcase my two past Kickstarter projects (Curls Book Collection and 100 Sad Fish).

I stepped away from the table for a bit to get Raina Telgmeier to sign her book, Ghosts. Her line was limited to 200 people and only one item could be signed with no sketches. Exciting to see her and her career take off, but we all knew that back when I attended my first SPX back in 2004.

Every inch on every table was covered in fabulous comics and creativity. It was refreshing to be tabled next to someone who was experiencing her first SPX. It's a much different show than it was a handful of years ago at the old hotel. I have fun memories from that time period as well, but things are always changing and progressing. I enjoy seeing the talent at SPX each and every year and hope to be back again!

Thanks to Cynthia Tenicela for the photograph. Thanks to everyone who stopped to say hi and look at the Curls Studio table.