Small Press Expo 2024

This year's Small Press Expo will be held September 14-15, 2024. Visit Curls Studio at Table K11 at Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center (5701 Marinelli Road Rockville, Maryland 20852). 

Saturday, September 14 -- 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday, September 15 -- NOON - 6:00 PM

The latest issue of Magic Bullet (Issue #21) will debut at SPX this year -- look for a new Black Magic Tales story (completed in 2023) in it!

Fairfax Comic Con is August 17-18, 2024

Join us at Dulles Expo Center (4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20151) this Saturday and Sunday (SAT 11AM-5PM (VIP 10AM), SUN 11AM-4PM) for Fairfax Comic Con. 

Comic creators Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski will be exhibiting with Curls Studio -- please swing by to say hello and browse the merchandise. 

 All weekend: Kids Love Comics will host an activity and coloring table with coloring sheets, how-to’s, crayons and markers, kids and their parents are invited to let their inner artist explore! 

1PM on Sunday "Comic Costume Academy with Carolyn Belefski"
Every hero needs a logo! Join artist and designer Carolyn Belefski (Curls) and learn how to incorporate graphic design elements to create an icon and establish your own powerful visual identity. Kids can then place the logos on the provided capes, and… up, up, and away! 

Children 10 and under get in free and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Parking is free. Hope to see you there!

STORYBOX Comics Fair 2024

Curls Studio will be exhibiting at STORYBOX Comics Fair this Sunday, June 23, 2024 from Noon to 4PM at Third Hill Brewing (8216 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD, 20910). *$10 Admission* Hope to see you there!

Periodical and Annual Cicada Enamel Pins on Kickstarter

If you missed my Periodical Cicada pin project in 2021 -- we are running a Kickstarter to raise funds to make more since they sold out and I'm adding a green colorway to represent the Annual Cicada. You can pledge using the link below until July 12, 2024:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carolynbelefski/periodical-and-annual-cicada-enamel-pins 

Currently two different broods of cicadas that emerge every 13 and 17 years are appearing in 2024 (for the first time since 1803). It is now a good time to celebrate the cicadas again! 

Both pins are the same design structure and will be produced at 1.5" tall. We will be using matte gold plating and translucent enamel for the wings. Each pin will be fixed with a brown rubber clutch and is packaged with a backing card made from real oak wood. The design portrays an hourglass shape of the body made with the overlapping wings that evokes time passage.

Thank you for your support and for sharing this project with your friends and bug enthusiasts.

Spring Lot Con is this Sunday, May 19, 2024

Who's ready for Spring Lot Con on Sunday, May 19, 2024 from Noon-4PM? Join Curls Studio at Comic Logic in Ashburn, VA with a bunch of local creators, artists, writers, and crafters for a nice day hanging out in the parking lot. Kaziville Food Truck and Anita's Shaved Ice will be around for lunch. We are excited to sell our comics and merchandise at our very first Lot Con.

Comic Logic is located at 44031 Ashburn Shopping Plz, # 281 Ashburn, VA 20147.

Peach Fuzz Enamel Pin - Part of Pintopia from BackerKit

Those of you who have been following my enamel pins designs might know that since 2020 I have been doing a project every year involving the PANTONE Color of the Year -- and this year the color is Peach Fuzz. 

We're raising funds to create limited edition soft enamel pins with a beautiful original illustrated Peach Fuzz design. The pins will be produced at 30mm tall with sleek rose gold plating. The inside of the eyes and pit nose will be represented with the etching technique. Each pin will be fixed with a clear rubber clutch and is presented with a backing card. 

 The 2024 PANTONE Color of the Year is Peach Fuzz -- captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others. It's a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul. In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance.  

There is a sense of comfort and longevity within the symbolism of a Peach. Whether your strong glutes bring all the boys to the yard or you simply enjoy the taste of a juicy bite -- Peach Fuzz is here for you!

This is my first time using BackerKit, but I have done crowdsourcing before with ten successful Kickstarter projects under my belt. This is also my first time being a part of their initiative Pintopia -- a celebration of creativity and collaboration from a diverse group of artists collectively running enamel pin crowdfunding projects from March 28 - April 18, 2024.

Back the Peach Fuzz campaign and my collaboration partner "Diagnoses & Dice" from Arledge Comics before Thursday at 4PM EST (1PM PDT) to receive both of our collab pins at no additional cost.

Here is the link to Peach Fuzz: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/carolyn-belefski/peach-fuzz-enamel-pin

Here is the link to Diagnoses & Dice: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/arledge-comics/diagnoses-dice-an-enamel-pin-collection

The more Pintopia pins you back, the more FREE pins you can earn. ✨ 

⚔️ 2 FREE Cross Collaborative Pins if you back both pins from a cross collab project pair

💯 1 FREE Full-Color Pintopia 2024 Pin once ALL projects are 100% funded 

🏆 1 FREE Gold Pintopia 2024 Pin if you back 5 projects or more

Awesome Con 2024 #SpringIntoAwesome

Curls Studio will be at the 11th year of Awesome Con at Table JR-05 from March 8-10, 2024 at the DC Convention Center. Please view the map above to locate us.

On Saturday "The Other Side of The Table: Lessons From Creators" will be taking place from 7:45-8:30PM in Room 206 featuring Maria Laura Sanapo, Jamar Nicholas, Marc Gaffen, and Carolyn Belefski. This is your in-person opportunity to ask us anything about the creative process and what it is like to be a comic creator.

Awesome Con Short Film Festival presented by Joe Carabeo with Astray Productions will have three days of programming as well as an award show and filmmaker meet-up on Saturday at 4:30PM in Room 202. Check out the wrestling belts the winners receive! Hope to see you at Awesome Con.