Published in Uppercase Magazine, Issue 53

How do you cultivate your creativity? My answer to this question is published in UPPERCASE -- a beautiful quarterly print magazine inspired by craft, design, and illustration. Issue 53 focuses on flowers, plants, and gardens that inspire creativity. I'm happy to be a small seed flourishing and always ready for growth. 

My answer focuses on the self-imposed projects and prompts I've done over the years including 24-Hour Comics Day, Make 100 from Kickstarter (Sad Fish, Blue Rose Enamel Pin, Banana Bandana, Thank You Mom Enamel Pin), #CarolynsCreativeChallenge, Inktober (31 Turtles, Dessert Desert Creatures, HijINKs!), Sketch Before Sleep (my 365 project), Hourly Comics Day, ABCs of Country Music (my typography project), and more.

Leave a comment on how you cultivate your creativity!

Recap: Curls Studio's Year of 2021

Curls Studio calls 2021 a transitional year, as nothing was certain and we went with the flow of change. Last year all the comic conventions were canceled due to the pandemic, but this year we got to exhibit at a few in-person events during the second half of the year (Awesome Con in DC, New York Comic Con, Baltimore Comic-Con, and Southern Maryland Comic Con). I was selected to be a part of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) for the first time, as a virtual appearance. So comic conventions happened thanks to amazing staff and volunteers and we applaud them for making it possible!

Other major occurrences that happened was that I somehow had the energy to run three successful Kickstarter campaigns in one year (Banana Bandana™, Cicada hard enamel pin, and Santa Turtle hard enamel pin). I really enjoyed celebrating the periodical cicadas this year (we won't see them again until 2048!). I am proud of all the projects we brought to life.

Sporadically throughout the year I continued Carolyn's Creative Challenge with a few new project prompts.

In July I served as a Rambassador for VCU Alumni Night at a Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball game.

I was a guest on the Generation GC podcast and had a great time talking about the band Good Charlotte (and yes, I visited La Plata High School for a second time during my stint in Waldorf for Southern Maryland Comic Con). 

Another cool thing that happened this year is a Wall Street Journal reporter reached out to me for an interview about Color of the Year and Pantone -- I got quoted in the article for both print and online editions.

Also along the lines of publishing, Black Magic Tales was recently printed in the new Magic Bullet #20 comics newspaper.

Not too sure what 2022 will bring. In many ways 2021 can be viewed at as worse than 2020, but then there is an optimistic side that could be viewed as it can only get better from here. The best thing I can hope for you is that you be safe and happy -- take good care of yourself by eating well and exercising. I want us to be around for the next Cicada uprising in 2048 and the years beyond. That's something to live for!

Mentioned in Wall Street Journal article about Color of the Year

I was interviewed by reporter Alex Janin from the Wall Street Journal about Color of the Year selections and the abundance of companies declaring color announcements. Ultimately it's a great marketing tool for any organization working with color -- plus it gets people talking about color, so that is wonderful and one of my favorite topics to discuss. 

After following the Pantone announcements and predicting potential colors for many years, it was great to be connected with such an authority in journalism. For the past two years, I've independently designed my own products featuring the past two colors of the year (technically three colors, because in 2021 there were two colors selected). 

Here are the products I've designed inspired by Pantone's Color of the Year, click on the links below to consider purchasing: 

2020, Classic Blue -- Blue Rose 1.0 enamel pin (sold out), Blue Rose 2.0 enamel pin 

2020, Classic Blue -- Blue Rose holographic sticker

2021, Illuminating Yellow + Ultimate Gray -- Bee acrylic pin

2021, Illuminating Yellow -- Banana Bandana™ (Fashionable Scarf Neck Covering)

To read the full WSJ article click here: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pantone-picks-a-color-of-the-year-so-does-everybody-else-11639068306?st=dpm4kvuruxw5adr&reflink=desktopwebshare_twitter

The article is also in today's WSJ print addition.

Banana Bandana™ Update and Ordering Info

The Banana Bandana™ project was funded through Kickstarter back in February and shipped in March. I flipped the classic bandana print and paired it with banana humor in a modern paisley design to create a fashionable scarf face covering. Originally it started with yellow fabric, but then I added brown fabric alternative near the end of the Kickstarter campaign -- so now we have two color options.

If you missed pledging to the campaign to back the project, have no fear! Bandanas are available for purchase here: http://www.carolynbelefski.com/store/banana-bandana-fashionable-scarf-face-covering

Big thanks to photographer Joe Carabeo from Astray Productions and model Camille Richardson for stunning Banana Bandana™ product images.

It was great to create this during the COVID-19 era. I have new projects and ideas up my sleeves and have been working in my sketchbooks. Hopefully I'll be able to appear at some in-person comics events later in 2021.

Banana Bandana™ - Make 100

Join us in raising funds on Kickstarter to produce at least 100 limited edition bandanas with a humorous original illustrated banana themed design. The bandana fabric color will be yellow and imprinted with two ink colors -- brown and white. Guard yourself and others against germs, coughs, and sneezes with this non-medical grade 22×22″ premium cotton bandana -- and look fun and fashionable at the same time. Or simply use as gang association, hanky code, or your next outing as an Wild West outlaw!

The campaign is currently 149% funded and we have 16 days to go, so that is a success and we’ll be able to get the file off to the print vendor in early February. Now is the time to pledge to receive your Banana Bandana™ and drape yourself in this appealing fruit fashion accessory.

Thanks to all the Top Bananas who have pledged to support this project, taking pledges until February 4 -- you can still get your friends and family in on this. Thanks to Joe Carabeo (Astray Productions) for taking my photo posing with a banana.

Click the link below to learn more about the concept and consider pledging: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/banana-bandanatm-make-100

Thanks for your support -- please help share the link on socials to grow our crew!