Awesome Con is April 26 - 29, 2019

We hope you can join us April 26-29, 2019 for the seventh edition of Awesome Con at the DC Convention Center. Curls Studio will be located at table R12 in Artist Alley all three days. View the map above where the purple pulse signal circles are so you'll know where to find us.

So here's the deals. Yes, I wrote DEALS (plural): Get the new Curls book (convention exclusive), one print, one button, and a sticker for $10 buckaroos. Thanks for all your support -- our fans are AWESOME.


In addition to exhibiting, we have a few panels and workshops we'll be taking part in -- plus Joe is producing the Awesome Con Film Festival, which is in it’s third year. Check out all the details below:

Create Your Own Superhero Symbol with Carolyn Belefski
Sunday | 2:00-2:45PM | Kids Stage

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators
Sunday | 3:30-4:15PM | Room 149

Are you a creator considering exhibiting at Artist Alley or Small Press comic conventions? This panel will give you tips and suggestions on how to create your professional appearances from the POV of being behind the table. We will discuss the metamorphosis from attendee to exhibitor, effective table display design, how to talk and interact with people at your table, and how to generate sales with your table pitch. We will highlight the process of starting a comic book tour on a low budget and methods of attracting potential readers by promoting your appearances and will take questions and comments, as this will be a conversation on multiple subjects regarding how to build rewarding convention appearances from the ground up.

Panelists: Laura Lee Gulledge, Mark Mariano, Carolyn Belefski
Moderator: Joe Carabeo

AWESOME CON SHORT FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

HORROR, ACTION, SCI-FI
Friday | 2:00-3:45PM | Room 101

DRAMA, COMEDY
Saturday | 12:00-1:45PM | Room 101

DOCUMENTARY AND MORE
Sunday | 12:00-1:45PM | Room 101

Black Magic Tales published in Magic Bullet #18

Magic Bullet, a large format comics anthology newspaper based out of the Washington, DC area, has published our latest Black Magic Tales story in issue #18, written by Joe Carabeo and illustrated by Carolyn Belefski.

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A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:50pm PDT

In Magic Bullet #18, which was just released, we follow the desires of "Big Shot" as he attempts to hunt down the treasured The Jade Dragon sculpture. We are also introduced to "The Twins" and other villains and thieves from our universe. The print run for this issue was 3,000.

Be on the lookout for your free copy! Common places to find this publication include comic book stores, tattoo parlors, record shops, and hip restaurants.

Did you know? Curls Studio has been printed in every edition of Magic Bullet (#1-18 so far).

Recap: Curls Studio's Year of 2018

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Top Nine Time! From the looks of it you like the looks of me, me visiting museums and presenting my work at conventions -- but, hey, at least one cartoon I drew made it in! Hoping for more cartoon "likes" in the future. 6.6k likes in 2018. Thanks for following. www.carolynbelefski.com #TopNine2018 #topnine #cartoon #CarolynVisitsExhibits #tbt #throwbackthursday

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Dec 20, 2018 at 11:01am PST

2018 is a very good (and exhausting) year and we are excited to recap some of the highlights for you. We made several comic show appearances this year with a total of 18 days behind the table exhibiting comics. We celebrated Free Comic Book Day at our local store and hit up major conventions including Awesome Con, Small Press Expo, Baltimore Comic-Con, and New York Comic Con. We ended the year with a Cartoon Art Exhibition at Ridgetop Coffee and Tea Gallery.

In January, Carolyn launched her second Kickstarter campaign to participate in Kickstarter’s Make 100 incentive. She illustrated 100 original Sad Fish and produced a limited edition book of 100 thanks to the success of supporter pledges.

In May, Carolyn participated in Cartoonapalooza!, a public event hosted by the Free Library of Philadelphia during the Reuben Awards Weekend. She also had the opportunity to visit the Philadelphia Children's Hospital and take part in the Cartooning for Kids program where cartoonists from National Cartoonists Society drew for children and their families.

At Baltimore Comic-Con, the Mine! Anthology Carolyn was a part of won for Best Anthology at the Ringo Awards. Carolyn also was ask to participate in the yearbook featuring Terry Moore creations, where she contributed a page with Strangers In Paradise characters rocking out with a punk Curls.

In October, Carolyn and Joe both took part in Inktober for the second time. They both drew with ink and posted a new image every day during the month on their socials. Joe's theme was Burlesque Dancers and Carolyn's theme was Dessert Desert Creatures.

Also during October, Carolyn organized the sixth annual Cartoonists Draw Blood event with American Red Cross and then the Washington, DC chapter of National Cartoonists Society where four local cartoonists drew for donors as a "thank you." We also created our second Cartoonist Draw Blood comic book anthology, “Monsters.” The Manhattan chapter of National Cartoonists Society was also able to start their first Cartoonists Draw Blood event this year, so it was exciting to see this event expand to other territories.

Black Magic Tales was published in Magic Bullet, Washington, DC's comics anthology. Issues #16 and #17 were released this year.

Joe challenged himself to make a short film for each month of the year, and he was successful in completing all 12 films! Carolyn helped design titles and set decorations for a few of the films. Go to www.joecarabeo.com to watch the films!

If you want to read more and see photos of the experiences we've had in 2018, please look in the blog archives. We hope to create more for you in 2019 and all the years to come.

Happy New Year from Curls Studio!

Black Magic Tales published in Magic Bullet #17

A few months ago Magic Bullet, a large format comics anthology newspaper based out of the Washington, DC area, published our latest Black Magic Tales story in issue #17. Many people were able to pick up this edition at Small Press Expo earlier this year. 

Our story "Help Roxy Plan A Heist" captures the adventures world famous criminals Roxy Monroe and Dean Casanova (and their cat, Black Magic). We took a different approach to the comic this time around and made a maze puzzle with many traps such as “Drowning In Self Doubt” and “Lost Sight and Focus” as the readers travel through Roxy’s brain. Once the puzzle is solved, readers are encouraged to email a photo of the completed page to us to receive a small prize reward. 

Did you know? Curls Studio has been printed in every edition of Magic Bullet (#1-17 so far).

Cartoon Art Exhibition at Ridgetop Coffee and Tea Gallery

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Big thanks to my friend Danny for helping me put up part of my art show featuring "Curls" comic strips at the beautiful @ridgetopcoffee in Sterling, Virginia. ☕ Prints and original art are available for purchase directly from the wall -- simply contact staff. Stay 'tooned for an announcement about a "Meet The Artist" event where I'll have exclusive illustrations, comic books, buttons, and more. www.CarolynBelefski.com #Curls #CurlsStudio #coffee #ridgetopcoffee #art #comicstrips #exhibit #sofa #gallery #cartoon

A post shared by Carolyn Belefski (@carolynbelefski) on Oct 22, 2018 at 6:23pm PDT

A new exhibition by Carolyn Belefski is open at the Ridgetop Coffee and Tea Art Gallery (21631 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, VA). The show features 16 "Curls" comic strip prints and 15 original ink art pieces that will be on display until November 30.

A “Meet The Artist” event will take place on November 18 from 9AM to 12 Noon and will feature comic books, original art, buttons, prints, and other rare items available for purchase. Carolyn will be available to autograph items and visitors will have the opportunity to buy affordable art and gifts in advance of the holiday shopping rush.

Please connect with Ridgetop employees if you are interested in purchasing art directly from the walls.

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/255319051835562

Monday-Friday 7AM to 9PM
Saturday-Sunday 8AM to 4PM

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.

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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. 

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"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.

Designing Film Titles: Process, Rough, Daisy

Last Tuesday, October 16, 2018 we celebrated two award nominations for the Joe Carabeo film "Process" during Pitch To Screen at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. I had a great time hanging out with true creatives and storytellers from screen and stage.

So far this year I've designed the film titles for three short films: Process, Rough, and Daisy. I've worked on designing prop items for films in the past as well, but film titles is new for me this year -- I've been having a blast with typography and handwritten elements. It so fun to experiment with the short film's message and style and show that through the title design.

You can see "Process" for a limited time here: http://www.joecarabeo.com/process

Below are examples of the title designs I've created. You can view more of my work at www.CarolynBelefski.com.