Visit to Cul de Sac manhole cover

If you're a fan of Richard Thompson's comic strip Cul de Sac, you can physically visit the inspiration for part of the strip in Virginia. That's exactly what I did last fall to show some appreciation to this manhole cover and do some dances and jumps, just like Alice. Richard watched his young daughter dance on the manhole cover one day and it inspired him to draw it in his strip! 

Pay your homage at 2511 North Harrison Street in Arlington (across from Duck Donuts). 

Illustration for Citizens of Natstown Project

I've recently provided illustration for Citizens of Natstown and their new project, "Every Nats Game's A Story." The feature enables fans to recall their memories and help tell the story of what it's like to be a Washington Nationals fan. There are already many stories posted about personal fan experiences -- and you can submit yours too.

I've been to three games within the past decade, but my main connection to Nationals baseball is walking the stadium for Team Cul de Sac during Moving Day (Parkinson's Walk).

Available for Freelance Work

If you are interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please email Carolyn Belefski at info@curls-studio.com. View my portfolio: http://www.carolynbelefski.com

Recap: Team Cul de Sac at Moving Day 2013

On Sunday, November 10, 2013 several members of Team Cul de Sac joined up to walk for Moving Day in Washington, DC. We walked for Richard Thompson, the cartoonist of the comic strip, Cul de Sac. Richard was honored with the 2010 Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year from National Cartoonists Society. 

The day was a delight. I really enjoyed being able to spend time with the team and it was nice to have the Nationals ballpark all to ourselves! We got to meet the Teddy and George President characters too. Our team united visually as a gang by wearing black with turquoise bandanas. The walking team included Steve Artley, Kathy Artley, Joe Carabeo, Carolyn Belefski, David Hagen, Olivia Hagen, Hannah Schum, Roger Scott, and Joe Sutliff.

Steve Artley is the member of our team who raised the most funds, so he was invited to join Jared D. Cohen (CEO for Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area) in the Nationals dugout before the walk.

More than 1,500 people attended Moving Day DC. The event raised more than $325,000 to support programs and services provided by PFNCA. The program also supports the National Parkinson Foundation. 

At this moment our team has raised $1,610 and is ranked #31 out of the top 100 teams listed.

You can view more of our photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151980827217381.1073741836.50763422380&type=3

You can also donate for one more month to Team Cul de Sac: http://www3.parkinson.org/site/TR/MovingDayEvent/ParkinsonFoundationoftheNationalCapitalArea?team_id=10070&pg=team&fr_id=1430

Thanks to Joe Carabeo for taking the photos. A special thank you to all who donated!

Registration is now open for Moving Day (NOV 10)

Registration is now OPEN to join TEAM CUL DE SAC for Moving Day on Sunday, November 10, 2013 at 11:30AM at Nationals Park in Washington, DC.

Please encourage your friends to sign up to walk and/or contribute a donation. It is a free cost to join the team to walk -- the walk is 2 miles. All donations benefit the National Parkinson Foundation.

Here is our team link: http://www3.parkinson.org/site/TR/MovingDayEvent/ParkinsonFoundationoftheNationalCapitalArea?team_id=10070&pg=team&fr_id=1430

Thanks to Richard Thompson and Chris Sparks for starting up the team for the book -- now the mission and outreach will carry on in other outlets. Please email me at info@curls-studio.com if you have any questions regarding the walk. I hope to see you this November.

For more info about Team Cul de Sac, please visit http://teamculdesac.blogspot.com or read all my previous posts here.

"Team Cul de Sac - Parkinson's Walk" Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Team-Cul-de-Sac-Parkinsons-Walk/470349846375079

Team Cul de Sac - Eisner Award Nomination

Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson's (edited by Chris Sparks, published by Andrews McMeel) is nominated for "Best Comics-Related Book" in the 2013 Eisner Awards.

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards is considered the "Oscars" of comics and are given out at a gala ceremony at San Diego Comic-Con. This year the awards are celebrating their 25th year.

It was great to be a part of this book with my contribution, 'Cul de Sac Meets Curls.' Thanks to Chris Sparks and Richard Thompson. To learn more about this project, you can read my past blogs about it here.

If you are a comics professional, you can cast your vote here: http://www.eisnervote.com

I am also planning a 'Team Cul de Sac' team to walk for Moving Day on November 10, 2013 in Washington, DC. Registration is not open yet, but if you want to participate or donate, please email 'info[at]curls-studio.com' to be added to our interest list.

Recap: Team Cul de Sac Book Signing at Politics & Prose

On July 11, 2012, I attended the second book signing for Team Cul de Sac at Politics & Prose in Washington, DC (read more about the first signing and launch party here).

If you don't know about Team Cul de Sac, you can read more about the project in their blog here, but it is a group of cartoonists lead by project organizer, Chris Sparks, who created some cartoons and illustrations to honor Richard Thompson and his comic strip, Cul de Sac. Richard is a great cartoonist... so great even that he won the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Award for "Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year" in 2010! Unfortunately, he has also been recently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

All of the original art for the Team Cul de Sac book was auctioned off earlier this year thru Heritage Auctions. You can still purchase the lovely Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s book thru Sparking Design or Amazon to help the cause because the team is connected to the Michael J. Fox Foundation and some of the proceeds go toward Parkinson's research.


The second signing included a presentation by Chris Sparks and speech by Nick Galifianakis. I was happy Richard was also there in attendance. We signed books for almost two hours and really enjoyed meeting everyone who came to support. Thanks to Barbara Sutliff for the photo of the contributors sign and Steve and Kathy Artley for the photo of the team signing books.

If we do any more events, I'll be sure to let you know about them. For now, enjoy this photo gallery from this event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151047817727381.451263.50763422380&type=1

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

Recap: Team Cul de Sac Book Signing and Release Party

On Sunday, June 10, 2012 a few dozen cartoonists attended a book signing at One More Page Books in Arlington, Virginia to celebrate the release of Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s. The book contains original artwork from cartoonists and illustrators inspired by Richard Thompson’s comic strip Cul de Sac, including Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) and Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury). The originals were recently sold at an online auction, which raised $47,000, for Team Cul de Sac, which is part of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.


The place was packed and I heard from an online post by Michael Rhode that the 75 books the store had ordered for the signing sold out! Usually at conventions, perhaps being that they are six hours per day and can last a full weekend or more, I have some lag time in between fans and customers at the table. There might be a ten minute gap before another person swings by. At this two hour book signing, I can say it's the most consistent crowd flow of signing book, after book, after book. We all must have signed around 100 or more books each!


This event was so fun! The man himself, Richard Thompson, creator of Cul de Sac (and 2011 'Cartoonist of the Year' Reuben award winner) was there along with the book's editor, Chris Sparks. Many local creators and comic supporters came out in droves to attend the signing. It was a large gathering of talent with combined forces ready to battle Parkinson's disease and come together to honor Richard Thompson. It was a delight to see this level of commitment and respect for Richard. Straddling a career field myself in the design and advertising industries, I can say most cartoonists are friendly people who really come together for a cause. It's hard to imagine another group of people making such an effort to raise money in a selfless way. It genuinely felt like everyone who came to the event was there for Richard, and that's the memory I will take with me for the rest of my life. It is an honor to be a part of this project.


The book is really beautiful and I urge you to purchase it and see all the art for yourself. It is currently $16.73 (list price $29.99) on Amazon.


If you missed this signing, there will be another one on July 11, 2012 at 7PM which will include a presentation with Chris Sparks at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC. Please RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends!

More event photos can be scene on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150940960942381.439013.50763422380&type=3

Thanks to Bruce Guthrie for taking the group photo. All other photos were taken by Joe Carabeo.

To learn more about Team Cul de Sac, visit: http://teamculdesac.blogspot.com

I hope to see you on July 11!

Team Cul de Sac Art

Last Friday, June 17, 2011 was the art deadline for Team Cul de Sac. The day before I posted part one (of two) of my "Cul de Sac Meets Curls" comic strip which you can see here.


On Saturday I sent the original inked art and glossy print in a package to Andrews McMeel Publishing. Above is a photo of me at the post office holding the art.

I will be posting part two tomorrow at www.curls-studio.com/curls.

The Team Cul de Sac project is lead by Chris Sparks, who formed Team Cul De Sac through Team Fox in honor of cartoonist and Cul de Sac creator, Richard Thompson. The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today.

Team Cul de Sac invited cartoonists to donate original art made especially for a book about Parkinson's awareness in Richard's honor. Part of the profits from the sale of the book would benefit MJFF, and the original art will be auctioned as part of the fundraiser with all of auction money going to MJFF. Additionally, there will be a limited number of deluxe edition books signed and numbered by Richard Thompson.

I'm really excited about this book and enjoy looking at everyone's contributions at http://teamculdesac.blogspot.com.