PREVIEWS Women In Comics Month: Interview with Carolyn Belefski

Mar22
by on March 22, 2018 at 2:50 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

In honor of Women in Comics this March, PREVIEWSworld interviewed me. Have a small taste of the interview below, then read the full article here: 
https://previewsworld.com/Article/208975-Women-in-Comics-Month-Interview-with-Carolyn-Belefski

PREVIEWSworld: Who is your current comics employer?



Carolyn Belefski: Curls Studio.

PREVIEWSworld: What is your primary job title? In a quick phrase or two, could you define your job’s key responsibility?



Carolyn Belefski: Creative Director, all-encompassing roles ranging from writer, artist, letterer, colorist, editorial, promotion, and more

PREVIEWSworld: Could you please explain how your work helps make comics a reality? (Connect the dots for us. Where are you in the flow of getting a book into reader’s hands?)



Carolyn Belefski: Making a finished self-published product takes quite an amount of additional effort because once the book is completed your creative resources need to flip to the business side. I’m there from start to finish: from when the idea comes into my head as I’m brushing my teeth, to the creation of full art and story, then the production phase, and physically selling the books in-person to people. It’s literally a hand-to-hand interaction: from my hand to the customer. It’s great that the audience gets to meet actual creators when they attend comic conventions. Since 2013 I’ve been making signing appearances during Free Comic Book Day at local stores. I’ve also exhibited at zine fests, craft shows, and a used book store. I’ve sold comics in many locations during book-related events: church, bowling alley, outside tent in a snowstorm, city hall, universities, art galleries, restaurants, fire department…

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Sad Fish™ – Make 100

Jan31
by on January 31, 2018 at 4:39 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

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.

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!

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Recap: Curls Studio’s Year of 2017

Dec31
by on December 31, 2017 at 4:07 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

It’s been a landmark year of 2017 for Curls Studio creators Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski, so let’s celebrate with a year-in-review recap blog post!

We made several comic show appearances this year with a total of 20 days behind the table exhibiting comics. We exhibited at Washington Wizards Collecti-Con, MoCCA Arts Festival, and KidsCon at Fantom Comics for the first time. 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 small show at a used book store and got to meet a lot of fun personalities there!

In February, Carolyn was asked to be a guest artist at the National Archives Sleepover. She presented her “Design Your Own Superhero” activity and had loads of fun learning about history.

In May, Carolyn became a national board member of National Cartoonists Society! She is also continuing to chair the Washington, DC chapter of NCS. She has organized programs since 2012, including Cartoonists Draw Blood with American Red Cross and helped with “cARToons” exhibits and other activities.

In October, Carolyn and Joe both took part in Inktober for the first time. They both drew with ink and posted a new image every day during the month on their socials. Joe’s theme was Alfred Hitchcock and Carolyn’s theme was Turtles.

Also during October, Carolyn organized the fifth annual Cartoonists Draw Blood drive with Troy-Jeffrey Allen. Donors gave blood to the American Red Cross and then the Washington, DC chapter of National Cartoonists Society and other local cartoonists drew for the donors as a “thank you.” The event was a success and we saved many lives. We also created our first Cartoonist Draw Blood comic book anthology, “Trick or Treat.”

Black Magic Tales was published in Magic Bullet, Washington, DC’s comics anthology. Issues #14 and #15 were released this year.

In December, Carolyn and Joe embarked on another monthly challenge: they created PODCEMBER and recorded a fresh podcast each day during the month of December. You can listen to all the episodes at www.carolynandjoeshow.com.

If you want to know more information about any of the experiences we’ve had this year, please look in the blog archives, as each event was recapped with photos. Our lives were changed this year and we’ve stayed productive. We hope to create more for you in 2018 and all the years to come.

Happy New Year from Curls Studio!

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Recap and Photos: Cartoonists Draw Blood – American Red Cross Blood Drive 2017

Oct23
by on October 23, 2017 at 4:41 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized
 
On October 21, 2017, we had our fifth annual “Cartoonists Draw Blood” blood drive event with the American Red Cross. The event started in 2013 and has been going strong since!

This year we had a change of location because we wanted to be able to do the drive in advance of Halloween (to go with our theme) and there were some logistic date issues early on, but we were able to be hooked up with Palisades Community Church in Washington, DC for this year’s event — and everything worked out great. Thanks to Troy-Jeffery Allen for co-chairing the event with me!
 
Thanks to all the cartoonists who donated their time and talents: Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, and Joe Sutliff were drawing during the full blood drive. Art Hondros and Eric Gordon came to draw for donors during the second half of the drive. We were also able to showcase our first anthology, Trick or Treat.
 
 
Thanks to AIGA DC for reaching out to Cartoonists Draw Blood and including us to join DC Design Week.
Thanks to Joe Carabeo for photographing the event.
 
Thanks to our sponsors: Cartoonists Draw Blood, American Red Cross, National Cartoonists Society
Keep your eyes and ears open for another blood drive next fall.

Thanks to everyone for being a part of this and saving so many lives with cartooning — in addition to having a great time with us.

More photos can be found in the gallery on Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/CartoonistsDrawBlood/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1534734869940511
 
XOXO,
Carolyn
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Cartoonists Draw Blood is this Saturday, October 21, 2017

Oct18
by on October 18, 2017 at 5:01 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

The Washington, DC chapter of the National Cartoonists Society is organizing the 5th annual blood drive in Washington, DC featuring several local cartoonists drawing for American Red Cross blood donors — “Cartoonists Draw Blood” will be celebrated on Saturday, October 21, 2017 from 8AM to 1PM at Palisades Community Church at 5200 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016 (new location this year).

Blood donors are encouraged sign up for appointments scheduled in 15-minute intervals between 8AM to 1PM and walk-ins are also welcome. To make an appointment, register in advance at www.redcrossblood.org — search keyword “PALISADES” 

On the day of donation, please drink plenty of fluids, include iron-rich foods in your diet, and bring a list of medications you are taking and a photo ID. All donors will be able to meet the cartoonists and receive a complimentary cartoon sketch.

It is a great opportunity for cartoonists to perform community service, showcase our talents, and save lives. We’ve done four previous blood drives, which have already saved the lives of over 250 people. 



This year’s event will feature creators Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Joe Carabeo, Eric Gordon, Art Hondros, Mal Jones, and Joe Sutliff. We will also have our first comics anthology, “Trick or Treat” available for $5 (10% of the proceeds have already been donated to American Red Cross). 

In past years, the cartoonists have drawn original spooky illustrations, family pets, caricatures, and more. Since this year’s blood drive is near Halloween, we encourage attendees to come in costume, however it’s not required to give blood. Wear clothing with sleeves that can easily be rolled up above the elbow.

Let your friends know about this event by sharing the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1551371271590710/

Organizers: Carolyn Belefski, Troy-Jeffrey Allen

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