National Book Festival 2023

I was asked by US Library of Congress to moderate the panel "How Sara Shepard Made a Best Friend" on Saturday, August 12, 2023 from 10:20-10:45 AM at the National Book Festival. 

Walter E. Washington Convention Center - Room 204 (Level 2, South Building) 

801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC 20001 

Stage: Discovery Stage 

Fifth grade is full of surprises: good, bad, silly, weird—you name it. The first installment of a new middle grade series, Sara Shepard’s “Penny Draws a Best Friend” follows young Penny Lowry as she navigates changing friendships, a family secret and her feelings of anxiety. Moderated by Carolyn Belefski.

Sara Shepard is the New York Times bestselling author of two young adult series, Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game, which were both adapted for television. She has written several books for adults including “Everything We Ever Wanted.” Shepard has a Master of Fine Arts from Brooklyn College and currently lives in Pennsylvania. Her latest book, “Penny Draws a Best Friend,” is the first of a middle grade series.

Hope to see you there -- the National Book Festival is free for all to attend.

https://www.loc.gov/events/2023-national-book-festival/schedule/item/event-409517/how-sara-shepard-made-a-best-friend/2023-08-12/

Recap: National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards Weekend 2015

This past weekend (May 22-24, 2015) was the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards weekend. This year I was lucky that NCS came to Washington, DC -- as I did not have to travel far. I had been to my first Reubens two years ago in Pittsburgh (2013 recap here) and it really is such a blast -- it's also known as "the Oscars of Cartooning" to many.

I helped to provide copies of Magic Bullet for the attendee goody bags. Most people received issue #9, which is the western themed issue I edited with a cover by Nick Galifianakis. I saved a few extra copies in my garage for about 8 months since I knew Nick was going to be a speaker. Magic Bullet is Washington, DC's comics anthology in a large publication newspaper format.

Friday kicked off with buses taking us from the host hotel to the Library of Congress for The King Features Syndicates 100th Anniversary Panel moderated by Brendan Burford. The event was free and open to the general public. Panelists included Patrick McDonnell (Mutts), Brian Walker (Hi and Lois), Jeff Keane (The Family Circus), Hilary Price (Rhymes with Orange), Ray Billingsley (Curtis), and editorial cartoonist and Mother Goose and Grimm creator Mike Peters.

Mother Goose and Grimm was an influence to me growing up and I remember watching the animated TV show, Grimmy. Mike Peters was very magnifying and I can't believe he is 71 years old. Seriously. He has more energy and youth than most people my age.

Throughout the weekend there were presentations by Mark Anderson, Juana Medina, Doug Mahnke, Nick Galifianakis, Brian Crane, Mort Drucker, Ann Telnaes, a "History of the NCS" panel and film, and more.

Jason Chatfield and Tom Gammill created a great film that introduced The Reuben Awards -- a spoof called "Alpha House of Cartoons" (references Alpha House and House of Cards -- both DC infused TV shows).

This year, since I did not have to travel far or pay for a hotel, I decided to design a dress and create custom fabric featuring characters from my comic strip, Curls. There is a seamstress I've met thru exhibiting at several comic conventions and I inquired with her about making the dress for me. Above you will see my original sketch for the dress and fabric pattern I designed. Gina from Super Sox Shop brought it to life. I'm really glad to have produced a fun dress like this and thankful for Gina's talents. I'd like to wear it to a few more events -- maybe NYCC this year, but we'll see!

Roz Chast won the Cartoonist of the Year Award. Unfortunately, she had other obligations already booked for the night and could not appear, but we did watch a per-recorded video of her acceptance speech. She is the third woman to win the award since 1946 (Cathy Guisewite won in 1992 and Lynn Johnston won in 1985). Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

The weekend ended with a "Haunted Farewell Party" as the Omni Shoreham Hotel is rumored to be haunted with spooks. I dressed as Morticia Addams -- Teresa Roberts Logan (dressed as Grandmama Addams) helped to make black shreds on my dress. Originally we tried to get a gang together to do "The John Quincy Addams Family" and ended up with a complete group of misfits -- and that's the way we like it too.

Thanks to Tom Richmond, who has been president for the past four years. He and his wife Anna have strengthened NCS and I really appreciate what they have contributed to the organization.

Jean Schulz, Michelle Mahnke & @CarolynBelefski meet @ DC #Reubens. @Snoopy @PeanutsMovie #ReubensWeekend pic.twitter.com/1p1zJSGZbY

— Michael Cavna (@comicriffs) May 23, 2015

Also thank you to Michael Cavna for writing this excellent piece about this year's Reuben Awards as well has taking the photo above to capture the moment of Michelle Mahnke, Jean Schulz, and I.

And thank you to Martha and Sara from the Library of Congress for hosting the Friday morning event.

Hanging out with cartoonists for a weekend is always a great time and I was glad to see increased participation from DC area cartoonists. I hope to attend the Reubens in the future again.

Many more photos are up on the Curls Studio Facebook page. Check them out here and give us a "Like."

Herblock Prize 2015

Last Thursday, May 7, 2015 we gathered to celebrate Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher for the Herblock Prize presentation and ceremony to recognize excellence in editorial cartooning. I've ran into KAL through mutual cartoonists briefly a few times and Barbara Dale introduced me to him a couple years ago at Baltimore Comic-Con. He has drawn thousands of cartoons for The Baltimore Sun and The Economist -- and even more cartoons for many publications globally. 

Kal's speech was inspiring and proves that editorial cartooning and freedom of speech is something we should not toss aside. It's no wonder why he can make us laugh, as it's only a part of his last name. 

"Don't draw a blank. Hire a cartoonist." - KAL

Thanks to the US Library of Congress for putting on a great show. You can see more photos for the 2015 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.10153241780877381.1073741856.50763422380&type=3

For more insight on the Herblock, read Michael Cavna's column about the evening here.

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

Trip to U.S. Library of Congress

Yesterday I was able to take a part in a small group tour of the U.S. Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. We were introduced to a treasure trove of original art being preserved in the Prints and Photographs Division followed by a gathering of selected material in the Serial and Government Publications Division.

We saw some pieces from the Small Press Expo collection, including Jim Rugg and the wonderful 2012 poster illustrated by Becky Dreistadt. (Speaking of which, my SPX banner art is also in the collection). We also saw the first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 comic book plus original art by Thomas Nast, Garry Trudeau, Peggy Bacon, Rose O'Neill, Eric Drooker, Charles Vess, Rube Goldberg, and more!

I learned about how the material is preserved from aging as best as possible and how the librarians reference the content. In the photo above you will see how a protective box can be destroyed by florescent light damage, keep in mind that this is an acid-free box. Digital Conversion Specials are hard to work to properly scan and photograph the material as well.

Here is the hallway of over 14,000 Herblock pieces that are achieved. They also have around 4,000 New Yorker cartoons and tons more!

Now Magic Bullet #6 (Washington, D.C.'s free comics newspaper) has been added to the collection at the U.S. Library of Congress! You can also get your hands on a physical issue at one of the locations listed here. Hurry before all 5,000 copies are gone!

A lot of people don't realize you can make reservations with the librarians to view up to 15 objects per day. Thanks to the librarians for the tour and selecting materials for viewing. It was an experience I will not forget.

More photos can be found in the Curls Studio Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151470211282381.1073741825.50763422380&type=1

Recap: SPX 2012

Curl Studio exhibited at Small Press Expo on September 15 and 16, 2012. A big highlight was having my SPX web banner art being included in the exclusive print set (Marguerite Dabaie, Carolyn Belefski, Julia Wertz). I signed all the prints that we available in the full set and for individual purchase. The prints are also now a part of the US Library of Congress, so my art will remain in the archive forever! 

I also enjoyed seeing everyone at the event and distributing plums on Sunday morning to my fellow exhibitors. I would ask, "Would you like a plum?" and got all sorts of reactions... from "A plum?" to "Ewww. Plums are gross." to "No, thank you. Too healthy for me." to "Sure, I'd love a plum." Unfortunately I do not have any photos of the plums. I think I should make this an annual thing and be known as "The Plum Girl." I could even make my own Curls plum sticker to put on it! Yes! 

We also took part on a massive jam sketch on a large roll of white paper for a guy who was getting self portraits of all the exhibitors there.

Thanks to everyone who came out the SPX. It's such a great show. Thanks to Warren Bernard, Kevin Panetta, Mike Thomas, Eden Miller, Bill Kartalopoulos, and all the volunteers who made the show happen! 

You can view more photos on the Curls Studio Facebook page in the "SPX 2012" album. Enjoy! Thanks to Bruce Guthrie for the photo of Joe and I above.

I still plan to write a blog recap for last weekend's Asbury Park Comiccon 2. The next event you can meet Curls Studio at is New York Comic Con on October 11-14, 2012. We'll be at Artist Alley, Table W13 all four days along with our pal Brian Sarvis. RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook here. I will also be posting a map too because Artist Alley will be moving to the North Pavilion of the Javits Center. Hope to see you then.

Carolyn Belefski Banner Art for SPX

Earlier this year I was asked by Small Press Expo to create web banner art for SPX 2012. Back in March, I created an animated .gif to advertise the show. My concept features an owl and a bird, sitting on tree branches, chirping away about the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, and WHY -- question and answer dialogue about SPX. WHY, of course, referring to the chocolate fountain at Saturday night's Ignatz Awards, which I wouldn't miss for the world.


My banner art has been featured for months on the SPX Tumblr and will be forever encapsulated at the US Library of Congress. In addition, it will be available in the "SPX 2012 Limited Edition Print Set" that contains all of the the incredible art used to promote the show. There are only 25 sets and all will be signed by the artists. Each set includes:
• Jaime Hernandez’s badge art
• Chris Ware’s poster
• Becky Driestadt’s poster
• Marguerite Dabaie, Carolyn Belefski, and Julia Wertz banner art
• Dustin Harbin, Michael DeForge, and John Martz banner art
• Michael DeForge’s program cover
• Andy K’s postcard art
• Theo Ellsworth’s flyer

Some of these prints will also be for sale individually in similarly limited quantities.

Join us for SPX 2012 in Bethesda, MD this weekend and visit me at Table W6A! Here's a handy map to guide you, along with more details about the show: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2012/09/appearing-at-spx-2012.html