Richmond Indie Comics Expo (RICE) is this Sunday

Join Curls Studio at Richmond Indie Comics Expo (RICE) this Sunday, November 12 from 11AM to 5PM. RICE will be held at Virginia Commonwealth University inside the James Branch Cabell Library (901 Park Ave, Richmond, Virginia 23284). I will be hosting "The Other Side of the Table Lessons From Creators" panel from 3:50-4:20 PM to close out the day.

The main event is on the third floor in Room 303 -- our table assignment is 7. Panels are located on the second floor in Room 250.

VCU’s BB lot and West Main Street deck are the closest parking decks, being within a five minute walk to the James Branch Cabell Library. The hourly rate for parking is $2 per hour, with a maximum daily rate of $16. Street parking in the city is also an option. Be sure to check any signage for limits on how long you can park and other specific details. There is no cost to attend RICE.

Please check on Instagram for updates (www.instagram.com/carolynbelefski).

Herblock Prize 2014

Congrats to Jen Sorensen for winning this year's Herblock Prize for excellence in editorial cartooning. She's been at it for years and it's great to see her as the first female to win this award. It was also exciting to see a presentation by journalist Bob Woodward of Herb Block's Nixon cartoons.

I first saw Jen's cartooning while I was a student at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. There was a local weekly newspaper which really blew my mind back then called Punchline and Jen's cartoon Slowpoke was published in it. This was also a time when I was discovering Elizabeth Watasin's Charm School and James Kochalka at Velocity Comics down the street from my dorm. It was a great moment of eye-opening inspiration for me on those Richmond streets.

I remember purchasing Jen's first Slowpoke book at the VCU bookstore back then. A couple of years later I would meet her at SPX when I worked as a volunteer. Last year, I got to hang out with her at the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards weekend. Above is a photo from Keith Robinson at NCS -- left to right: Barbara Dale, Carolyn Belefski, Jen Sorensen, Cathy Guisewite, Teresa Roberts Logan).

Congrats again to Jen! My favorite is her Drooly Julie character.

What a wonderful evening in DC last night. Thanks to all the local cartoonists who came out to support Jen and the US Library of Congress for hosting us.

You can see more photos for the 2014 Herblock Prize on the Curls Studio Facebook page and give us a "Like" while you're at it: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152355637727381.1073741845.50763422380&type=1

Shaka Smart and VCU Merchandise

This past week I have been buzzing about my Alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University earning their spot in the Final Four. I did a Curls Webcomic about VCU and Joe and I devoted a good portion of The Carolyn & Joe Show to discuss VCU's victories.

My brother and I had a fabulous idea for a Shaka Smart print to honor VCU's coach. I am so excited for VCU and they got me even more motivated to work hard for myself. I hope they win it all. Please checkout my Etsy Store to purchase prints with my original Shaka Smart design.