The Washington Post: Vote Best Comics of 2010

Hello True Believers of Curls Studio,

The Washington Post (Comic Riffs) is looking for nominations for their Riffy Awards.

Nominations will be accepted till 11:59 PM on Monday, December 27, 2010. You may send your nominations to Comic Riffs via e-mail (comicriffs@washpost.com); via Twitter (Twitter.com/comicriffs); via Facebook (Facebook.com/comicriffs); or in the comments on the Post page.

For more info: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/12/best_of_2010_time_to_nominate.html

Please consider my webcomic Curls for Best Webcomic - and let The Washington Post know!

Thank you and enjoy this holiday season,
Carolyn

The Geek of Oz: 2010 - A Geek Odyssey

Ryan Huff from Sydney, Australia has interviewed Brian Michael Bendis, Deb Aoki, Victor Gischler, Irish Emmet, Carolyn Belefski, Jeff Parker, Christopher "Great" Scott, and Chris Samnee about the year 2010 and what we look forward to in 2011.


Read all the interviews here: http://www.geekofoz.com/2010/12/2010-geek-odyssey.html

In addition to this interview, I want to point out that my answer for "What would you like to find in your Christmas stocking?" is a current storyline in my Curls Webcomic: http://www.curls-studio.com/curls/?p=903

Holiday Greeting Card Illustration

A former co-worker of mine commissioned me to illustrate her family's 2010 Holiday Greeting Card. She provided me with photos of her two cats and one dog to work from.

Here is the process from original small sketch layout and more detailed sketch to inks to colors:




The client and her husband are really excited about the illustration and how their girls were portrayed, which makes me happy because I gave each animal a character and attitude as they have fun together sledding in the snow.

Available for Freelance Work
If you are a creative director, art director or designer interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please email me at info@curls-studio.com.

National Geographic: Great Migrations Illustrations

Recently I did freelance illustration and concept art for National Geographic and produced illustrations for their major television event Great Migrations and the show's CafePress merchandise store.



The two concepts they selected for final production are "Animal Prints" and "Turtle" and they are now available for purchase as Shirts, Ceramic Travel Mugs, Sigg Water Bottles, Messenger Bags, Mousepads, Gaiam Yoga Mats and more!


Above are some of the concept sketches I did that never made it to final, but I'm sharing with you because I'd like to invite you in on my process. I merged them all on a one-sheet for web viewing.

This project was very fun and freeing and I hope to do more work like this. Plus it feels good to know I did original illustrations for National Geographic.

Available for Freelance Work
If you are are creative director, art director or designer interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please email me at info@curls-studio.com.

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators

Last October, Astray Productions filmed our panel at New York Comic Con. We now present to you full footage and audio of the panel...

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators
Date: Friday, October 8, 2010
Time: 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Location: Room 1A21, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City

Creating your product is only half the work it takes to succeed in the comics industry. What about the other half that we don't see as clearly after the product is released to the world? This panel will explore what it is like to be on the other side of the table, as a creator. We will discuss what it takes to exhibit at conventions, promote yourself, and gain a loyal audience - from the POV of professionals already behind the table. Join creators Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Jonah Hex, The Pro), Raina Telgemeier (Smile, The Baby-Sitters Club), Bryan J.L. Glass (The Mice Templar, Thor: First Thunder) Carla Speed McNeil (Finder) and Carolyn Belefski (Curls, The Legettes) in this conversation, moderated by Joe Carabeo.

AUDIO: http://curls-studio.com/the_other_side_of_the_table_nycc2010_astrayproductions.mp3

NYCC Blog Recap: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2010/10/recap-new-york-comic-con-2010.html

Connect: Continue the conversation by joining "The Other Side of the Table" Facebook page

Below is part 1 of 7 and all the parts link to each other on YouTube. I hope you enjoy the panel!



Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j50D1gZMoc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBMDSSEmvJg
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-LC8SqOOA
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsL_eBEC-Zg
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoUBT02DZn8
Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2KWROyXlWw
Part 7: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vU_n_wALRs

Special thanks to Dave Sim, who provided us with a copy of Ultimate Cerebus Guide To Self-Publishing to give to one lucky audience member.

Thank You: Jimmy Palmiotti, Raina Telgemeier, Bryan, J.L. Glass, Carla Speed McNeil, Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo, Brian Sarvis, Dave Sim, New York Comic Con, Kim Mueller, Larry Settembrini, Mark Fitch, Tatyana Schum, Radial Outdoor Media, Astray Productions, VCR

Last Show of 2010: Rock-n-Shop

Hunting for that perfect holiday gift? Looking to augment your hardcore collection with some essential records? Searching for the perfect T-shirt? Stop right there, my friend! Rock-n-Shop is where it's all at. This annual junk sale offers more than the standard fare... for one thing, it's not all junk...

Blast out of 2010 and join Curls Studio at our last show of the year!

We will be at Rock-n-Shop at 8PM on Sunday, December, 19th at the Black Cat with our very own black cat, Black Magic.

Rock-n-Shop
A Rock and Roll Garage Sale
FREE on the Mainstage
Sunday, December, 19th
Doors at 8:00PM

Black Cat
1811 14th Street, NW
(between N S St & N Swann St)
Washington, DC 20009

Exhibitors (as of December 6)
60 Bugs, Ana Haworth, Anhtu Lu, Fire Studio, Tigerflight, Wrong Tree Studio, Carlos Izurieta, Curls Studio, Charlene Lockwood, David Ballinger, David Conroy, Eileen Colton, Erin Boland, Erin McCarley, Gene Melkisethian, El Jefe Design, Dau Dau, Fisticuffs, Red Onion Records, Junk Science, Kenieffer Vargas, Kitten Rocks Well, Lara Watson, Les Talusan, Meaghan O’Malley, Pretty Little Fings, Gosh Darn Knit, Shawn Sprague, Som Records, Smash Records, Kathy Newton

Poster Credit
The rad 2010 Rock-n-Shop poster is six-color combination of silkscreen and woodcut by Anthony Dihle of Fire Studio.



December 15 - UPDATE: Above is a map Black Cat provided the vendors. Curls Studio will be located near the center of the bar at table number 8. Hope to see you this Sunday.

Recap and Film: In Between the Panels

On November 17, the Women’s National Book Association, DC Chapter sponsored "In Between the Panels: DC’s Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene" – a discussion on the Washington, DC area graphic novel scene. The panel included Carolyn Belefski (myself), Molly Lawless, Matt Dembicki, and Mike Rhode.

Comicsgirl and DC Cultural Events Examiner are media that I know covered the event. In addition, Astray Productions graciously filmed the full panel and posted it on YouTube. Below is part 1 of 6 and all the parts link to each other on YouTube.



Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x26ZBYIl5Oc
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft8mAYB_Yyc
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pejmI3Q8Upo
Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwFoBZxVTPY
Part 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPp4Uc5WNqk
Part 6: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOoTnaoi1c4

I had a great time discussing comics that evening and we had a crowd size better than most expected. The audience was able to purchase books after the panel and I got to meet a handful of new people after the event. "Black Magic Tales, Volume 1: The Adventures of Roxy and Dean, World Famous Criminals" was my the top seller at this event. One guy in particular came up to me, but I got pulled away into another conversation, so I missed out on talking to him... so if you are that guy, please email your question to me at info@curls-studio.com. I apologize for not being able to finish our conversation.

The event was wonderful because we got to educate the general public more about comics and what goes into creating them. I hope a lot of people walked away with a fuller view of comics as a storytelling medium.