New Library Card Design for Fairfax County Public Library

Fairfax County Public Library is excited to share new library cards with you! Earlier this month I was recognized at the Library Board of Trustees meeting for winning their library card design contest. During the event I got to meet the three other illustrators who will also have their designs on cards. The new library cards will be available to the public for selection in the 23 FCPL branches (over 1.2 million residents served) in mid-January. I look forward to seeing these cards proudly carried by FCPL patrons across Fairfax County! 

I recently started a Substack and one of my first posts describes the process for my "read to the dog" concept to create the card design and includes my original sketch. Please read and subscribe here: https://substack.com/@carolynbelefski

Recap: Maryland STEM Festival Art Contest Kick-Off Event

Curls Studio had a fabulous time yesterday kicking off the Maryland STEAM Art Competition. We got to meet a lot of cool science people and learn more about the different fields of study and opportunities to create for young scientists. We went into the STEAM Bus from Howard County Library System, talked to representatives from the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, saw VR in front of our table, and took part in some spin art. 

One of the activity tables was doing something similar to my HijINKs! Inktober project from 2019 where you blow in a straw to move paint around on paper. It seems I have been injecting STEAM into my artwork for awhile and I believe that is the direction to head toward. If you look at many of my #CarolynsCreativeChallenge projects that started in 2020, you can see unplanned STEAM influence. Even Curls had a whole storyline where she was a Mad Scientist many years ago!

I also represent National Cartoonists Society (I'm the Washington, DC chapter chair) and handed out brochures and postcards about the organization and it's 27 Club, a young professionals program for cartoonists.

More photos will be on my Instagram (@CarolynBelefski) Feed and Stories shortly. 

Thank you to Maryland STEM Festival for having us. We hope to do more STEAM activities in the future. Our next tour stop is Small Press Expo next weekend (September 17-18) in Bethesda, Maryland.

Ranger Rick, April 2022

Look for the April 2022 issue of Ranger Rick to see my illustrations printed in this children's nature magazine that is published by the United States National Wildlife Federation.

I did art for an article about the discovery of giant penguin fossil in New Zealand by children who spotted what they thought was a rusty propeller. The two smaller penguins looking up at the big penguin are also from New Zealand (yellow-eyed penguin and little penguin). I figured to put them since they are from the same location and make them specific types to show the scale of the giant penguin. 

The other illustration I did showcases how worms don't have ears, but can hear through their skin! I had a lot of fun with that by making the worm groovy as a gummy while wearing three headphones and jamming to music.

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!

Bid Now at Heritage Auctions for my Original Popeye Art

My illustration that was in Popeye’s 90th Birthday exhibit at the Huntington Beach Art Center earlier this year is now up for auction on the Heritage Auctions website. Bidding ends September 8.

Link to bid now: https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/carolyn-belefski-popeye-spin-itch-speciality-illustration-original-art-2019-/a/121936-13318.s

Description from the Heritage Auctions site:

Carolyn Belefski - Popeye "Spin-Itch" Speciality Illustration Original Art (2019). Popeye is going to need a few cans of Calamine lotion to ease his "Spin-Itch." Here we have the original line work by illustrator and comic artist, Carolyn Belefski, best known for her own comic strip "Curls." Also included is a color print that has been signed in the bottom right. Created in ink over blue pencil on Bristol board with an image area of 8" x 10". Belefski has signed in the lower right area. In Excellent condition.

Proceeds from the winning bids in this special NCS "Popeye the Sailor's 90th Birthday" auction will go to the NCS Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charity that works in tandem with the National Cartoonists Society to advance the ideals and standards of the cartooning profession, to stimulate and encourage aspiring cartoonists through scholarships and educational programs, and to provide financial assistance to cartoonists and their families in times of hardship.

Inktober 2018: Dessert Desert Creatures

Every October, artists all over the world take on the Inktober drawing challenge by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Sep 12, 2018 at 6:56pm PDT

I'm realizing that I did not post about last year's Inktober on the blog, but last year I did a theme of "Turtles" and it was my very first Inktober. I ended up making a small book of all the illustrations and titling it "31 Turtles" and had the book premiere last month at Small Press Expo.

Now with my second year of Inktober, the theme I selected is "Dessert Desert Creatures" for 2018. I've been posting them up on Instagram and you can purchase the original art online from my store at www.CarolynBelefski.com/store. 

View this post on Instagram

"Dessert Desert Creatures" 🍧🌵 Inktober 4/31 "Gingerbread Gila Monster" View more of my work at www.CarolynBelefski.com 🦎 #inktober2018 #inktober #dessertdesertcreatures #dessertdesert #dessert #desert #inkmaster #ink #art #gingerbread #cookie #gilamonster #reptiles

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Oct 22, 2018 at 2:25pm PDT

New creatures will be added as the month continues as I'm playing a bit of catch up after New York Comic Con, Cartoonists Draw Blood, and life. My goal is to finish all 31 by the end of the month, so stay 'tooned to the socials to see the posts.

Recap: WeDC Fest 2018

On Thursday, September 27, 2018  from 11AM to noon Curls Studio was invited to speak at the first-ever WeDC Fest at the National Union Building in Washington, DC.

WeDC Fest was a three day conference (September 26-28) for the innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and government leaders who make Washington, DC the nation’s Capital of Inclusive Innovation. The event featured unique programming and networking opportunities to showcase collaboration and innovation in the world’s most powerful global city.

I produced and organized the "Using Comics to Illustrate Ideas" panel. Here is the description: 

As studies show, people are using visual mediums now more than ever to get attention. This panel will focus on the value comics add to build your brand with humor and authenticity. Comics are a valuable visual asset that have the potential to achieve results and feedback from audiences. Learn how words, pictures, and infographics are used together to tell your story. Join us as we discuss how to write exciting content, collaborate with cartoonists, and inject an element of fun into your upcoming projects.

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Had a great time presenting "Using Comics to Illustrate Ideas" at #WeDC this morning with @astrayj @laughingredhead. Enjoyed being able to show slides of visuals and get feedback discussion going at closing of our time slot. Thank you for having us! View my stories for behind-the-scenes photos. ✏ WeDC Fest is a three-day conference for the innovators, entrepreneurs, investors and government leaders who make Washington, DC the nation's Capital of Inclusive Innovation. The event features unique programming and networking opportunities to showcase collaboration and innovation in the world’s most powerful global city. Thank you to the sponsors: @wdcep @lyft @amazonwebservices @capitalone @broccolicity @dcstartupweek @newseum @202creates @nationalunionbuilding @astrodoughnuts @benseverything and more. #wedcfest #cartoon #comics #acreativedc #ideas #washingtondc #publicspeaker

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Sep 27, 2018 at 12:14pm PDT

Thank you to the Washington DC Economic Partnership (WDCEP), the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), event staff, volunteers, and other who helped to make the event happen.

We also appreciated the catering from Ben's Chili Bowl and Astro Doughnuts.

Album Design for Nicole Belanus

I recently designed an album for musical artist Nicole Belanus called "The Grown Demos."

It was fun to design the sleeve packaging and CD -- plus Nicole is a great client to work with! Check out her tunes here. I like how she has tunes and I have toons. It's a great combo.

I designed album packaging! "The Grown Demos" by Nicole Belanus @beelines77 🌱 I'm a big music fan, so it was exciting to be a part of this project. Watch this space as I post the CD design tomorrow. Check out Nicole's tunes and also my toons (cartoons, that is) at www.CarolynBelefski.com. Thanks to Nicole for the opportunity and creative freedom. #music #design #albumcover #creative

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Apr 17, 2018 at 6:05pm PDT

Let's Work Together
If you are interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please view my portfolio and reach out: http://www.CarolynBelefski.com.

Sad Fish™ - Make 100

Hope everyone is having a good start to the new year. After completing two monthly creative challenges last year (Inktober and PODCEMBER), I've become inspired by Kickstarter's Make 100 incentive to illustrate 100 Sad Fish and compile them into a limited edition book.

I've been doodling my Sad Fish for awhile now and many people seem to like them at the comic conventions I exhibit at, so I figured it would be fun to participate in the Make 100 challenge. After successfully running an intensive Kickstarter before (Curls), I decided this Kickstarter will be simple and made only two reward levels.

Say hello to Sad Fish. Watch this spot and be a part of my new project... announcing shortly! 🐟🐠🐡 View more of my work at www.CarolynBelefski.com. #SadFish #illustration #fish #art #ink #sad #depression #makehappy #animal #drawing

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Jan 30, 2018 at 9:21am PST

The first reward level is pledging to receive the Sad Fish book, featuring 100 different illustrated Sad Fish. Only 100 of these books will be made and they will be signed and numbered. At this level, you also receive one of the original physical Sad Fish drawings (ink on paper).

The second reward level is having me draw you, a friend, or relative as a custom Sad Fish. You will receive the original line art on paper and a colored digital avatar.

Check out the video and more details about the project here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/sad-fishtm-make-100

As of this blog post, we are less than a day in and 60% funded! Thanks to everyone who has pledged and if you can't pledge (for whatever reason -- no worries) please help to share and spread the love of Sad Fish. People love Sad Fish because they make people happy!

Recap: Society of Illustrators – Political Spirit Animal

This past Wednesday I participated in an event called Political Spirit Animal at Society of Illustrators in NYC. The event celebrated Wacom's MobileStudio Pro, which was announced that day. MobileStudio Pro is available for purchase next month and I am excited to be one of the first to use this amazing light-weight product.

Here are the guest artists: Tom Richmond, Joe Wos, Carolyn Belefski, Luke McGarry, Jason Chatfield, Flash Rosenberg, Steve McGarry, Ed Steckley

John Fiorelli from Cut & Paste organized the event where the guest artists each drew a different political candidate and attendees were paired with us to create the candidate's spirit animal (the attendees started with our original drawing then drew new layers over it). Then each person had the opportunity to get on mic and explain their creation.

It was a fun event and I got to meet several New York artists there. I was glad to be able to see the Ralph Steadman exhibit in the gallery space (running until October 22) as the cherry on top of this event! Big thanks to NCS, Wacom, Cut & Paste, and Society of Illustrators for being so accommodating and inspiring!

Society of Illustrators – Political Spirit Animal this Wednesday in NYC

This Wednesday, October 5, 2016, I'll be participating in an event Cut&Paste and Wacom are hosting called Political Spirit Animal. With elections coming, PSA is a collaborative drawing game with participants adapting original character sketches of political figures into their matching spirit animals.

Participants are matched in pairs and given a simple sketch (e.g. Hillary, Trump, Bernie). In 30 minutes you adapt and “animalize” the sketch however you like, with guidance from one of our Guest Artists. The Pairs will use Wacom’s super-secret new-fangled Cintiq-like drawing tool (it releases that day) and your software of choice.

Guest Artists include Jason Chatfield, Luke McGarry, Steve McGarry, Tom Richmond, Flash Rosenberg, Ed Steckley, Joe Wos, and Carolyn Belefski.

The event is free and it starts at 7PM at Society of Illustrators (128 E. 63rd Street, New York, NY). You can draw or watch. Space is limited, so if you can make it please RSVP on EventBrite. Hope to see you there.

Reuben Awards Voting

I found out today that I'm being considered for an "Advertising / Product Illustration" Reuben Award from the National Cartoonists Society. The voting process is internal for current members of the NCS, so here is a shot of the password protected website. It is a honor to be considered among other talented illustrators.

It's best in these situations not to get my hopes up because I have additional skills to achieve in my career before true celebration. I wish everyone who is nominated the best of luck! Thanks to NCS.

Zorphbert & Fred World Tour Art

Happy to support Dawn Griffin with her comic Zorphbert & Fred. She's collecting fan art for their farewell world tour. I illustrated her characters dancing with a blue-footed booby at the Galápagos Islands. She's also running a Kickstarter with Gina from Super Sox Shop to make character plushes -- all this month the campaign will be in full-force.

Dawn also recently contributed Curls postcard art for my Kickstarter. Thanks for all the comics you create, Dawn!

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

Illustrations for NASW ACI

Earlier this year I worked on a freelance design project with Anne Likes Red. I was contacted to create and illustrate several characters for a postcard set, animated promotional video, and trade show display for NASW Assurance Services, Inc. focusing on professional liability insurance for social workers.

Watch the animated film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEGy0vqduZY

Let's Work Together!

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.behance.net/CarolynBelefski

Regular Show Fan Art

Here's an illustration I did for the Cartoon Network show, Regular Show. The concept is having the characters as Russian Dolls and Rigby is popping out of his doll shell.

More Illustrations for Clorox Ick-tionary

Clorox has recently posted more of my original illustrations in their Ick-tionary campaign. Below are three more: Lick Service, Txture, and Hover Crap. I know there are a couple more I did for them that they have yet to publish and hope there will be more to come as their vocabulary grows.

This is a fun campaign, especially when dealing with some disgusting material. I love to inject humor and illustrations whenever possible.

To see my previous Clorox Ick-tionary illustrations, visit: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2013/04/illustrations-for-clorox-ick-tionary.html

Available for Freelance Work

If you are interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please email Carolyn Belefski at info@curls-studio.com. You may also check out my portfolio here: http://www.behance.net/CarolynBelefski

Illustrations for Clorox Ick-tionary

The Clorox® Company is partnering with award-winning writer, comedian and mom, Carol Leifer, who has written for shows such as Modern Family and Seinfeld, to launch the Clorox® Ick-tionary, a wiki-style dictionary of everyday ick that parents everywhere and others are all-too familiar with. 

I was asked to illustrate in the project and devise sketches based on the concepts and word usage. Once approved, I created the final vector illustrations to showcase the ick. The words I have Illustrated so far are Ranch Guessing, Air-traffic Control, and Oh-Sol-Me-ato.

The Clorox® Ick-tionary will also be brought to life over the next few weeks through an interactive mobile experience – a 12’ glass truck accompanied with a variety of interactive word-play activations and digital experiences – that will be making stops in Washington, D.C., Nashville and San Francisco.

This is really a amazing and fun project and I'm happy to be a part of it. It's also great to say I've done freelance work for Clorox, a very recognizable brand. 

Be sure to check out more of my portfolio here: http://www.behance.net/CarolynBelefski

Commissioned Illustration for Child's Playroom

I was asked by a family to illustrate a young girl named Sophia playing with her dog, Bully, for a wall graphic in Sophia's playroom.

Here is a process sketch. I was able to work from photos of the girl and the dog.

And here is the final 46" x 72" graphic. Currently, the walls of the playroom are lime green.

I really like the illustration with a sky blue background and provided the client with that option as well. I told her we could also use the image for birthday parties or greeting cards.

Here is the illustration the client cut and designed to fit a goodie bag for Sophia's birthday party. I would love to design more custom wall graphics or party items!

Client Feedback
I loooooove it! It's great!!!

Available for Freelance Work
If you are interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please email Carolyn Belefski at info@curls-studio.com.

ModCloth Creations

This is a dress concept design I did this past summer for ModCloth's "Make The Cut" collection with the theme of "Winter Garden Gala." I had a fun time drawing fashion, which is something a bit outside my regular artistic realm. I titled this dress "Cleopatra's Garden Party Dress" and was inspired by the gold color and keeping it within a gray monochromatic world. The use of the flower belt and fishnet-like sleeves add texture to accent the gold neckline. I didn't win the contest, but found it to be an awesome mission. Here is more information and the rules if you are interested in learning more. I hope ModCloth does another "Make The Cut" challenge in the future.

I did however win another ModCloth contest back in June - the National Doughnut Day contest. The goal was to post a photo of yourself wearing a ModCloth item and include a doughnut in the image. I didn't have much time to prepare for this, but was lucky to have a doughnut on-hand from one of my co-workers who brought some into the office to share and celebrate the day. Joe Carabeo from Astray Productions took the photo of me wearing The Deveraux Dress and we quickly posted it online. I had a good feeling about winning - and we did!

I love ModCloth's clothes, but I'm on a clothing purchase hiatus for one full year (which started last August). After that I can only buy items I truly need or items that are super treasures, not just out of want. If you are interested in checking out more of ModCloth's great items, please use my referral link for a $15 discount toward your first purchase of $50 or more: http://sharethelove.modcloth.com/a/clk/39nzgP