Cartooning for Kids 2016

Nov23
by on November 23, 2016 at 12:16 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

The DC Chapter of National Cartoonists Society had our first “Cartooning for Kids” event at Inova Children’s Hospital on November 15, 2016. National Cartoonists Society Foundation provided the hospital with about 50 goody bags, coloring books, crayon boxes, and comic books. After stuffing the bags, us cartoonists divided to cover three floors of the building. Each of us did different activities with the kids, such as drawing, coloring, giving cartooning tips, or playing Pictionary.

My own personal experience was very rejuvenating. I shared the room with Joe Sutliff and we concentrated on two children in particular, Benjamin and Najah. Benjamin had his much loved stuffed dog named Toby with him and when I draw Toby it caused Benjamin to light up! It was a great sight to see. Najah celebrated her 14th birthday that day, so I draw her with her birthday crown. She was very interested in learning how to create balloon/bubble lettering, so Joe and I showed her how. She also educated me on some reality shows, including her favorite, My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding.

Thanks to Rick Stromoski for organizing the shipment of goody bags and thanks to NCS for this initiative. Thanks to our cartoonists Mike Jenkins, Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Sean Causley, and Joe Sutliff for participating. We plan to do more of these hospital visits in 2017.

└ Tags: , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Cartooning for Kids 2016

Recap and Photos: Cartoonists Draw Blood – American Red Cross Blood Drive 2016

Nov09
by on November 9, 2016 at 4:53 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized
 
On October 29, 2016, we had our fourth annual “Cartoonists Draw Blood” blood drive event with the American Red Cross. The event started in 2013 and has been going strong since!

Every year we’ve been improving how the drive is produced and Troy-Jeffery Allen stepped up to co-organize the event with me. It does help tremendously to have two people handle logistics, communicate with the American Red Cross, be in touch with the venue, wrangle artists, make sure we recruit blood donors, promote the event, set-up and handle what issues arise the day of, and more. Thank you again, Troy!
 
The Takoma Voice provided online coverage before the event. Here is the link: http://takomavoice.com/2016/10/24/return-of-cartoonists-draw-blood
 
Joe Sutliff profiled the event and interviewed participants for his comic, Let Us Seek Wonders: http://letusseekwonders.blogspot.com/2016/10/drawing-blooooooood.html
 
American Red Cross helped us with promotion this year. Here is the press release: http://www.redcross.org/news/press-release/local/washington-dc/Cartoonists-Draw-Blood-event
 
 
We had many artists who wanted to join us, so we split into AM and PM shifts. Thanks to all the cartoonists who donated their time and talents: Mike Jenkins, Carolyn Belefski, Liz Reed, Mal Jones, Bill Brown, Art Hondros, Eric Gordon, Joe Sutliff, Kerry Johnson
Thanks to Joe Carabeo for photographing the event.
 
Thanks to our sponsors: Cartoonists Draw Blood, American Red Cross, National Cartoonists Society, Seekers Church

I am currently working to nail down a solid date for 2017, so be sure to keep your eyes and ears open for another event 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 at the Curls Studio Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Curls-Studio-50763422380/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154588726952381
 
XOXO,
Carolyn
└ Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Recap and Photos: Cartoonists Draw Blood – American Red Cross Blood Drive 2016

“Design Your Own Superhero” at The National Archives Sleepover Fall 2016

Oct31
by on October 31, 2016 at 12:24 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

On Saturday, October 22, 2016 I had the opportunity to take part in a special event at the National Archives for a second time. Kids ages 8-12 along with their adult chaperones participated in several activities and spent the night next to America’s most precious treasures: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights for a “History, Heroes & Treasures” themed sleepover!

All evening long I documented the event using the relatively new Instagram stories function on my account (@Carolyn Belefski) and the National Archives (@usnatarchives) also did a great job with their feed and stories.

The activity I helped lead is called “Design Your Own Superhero with Carolyn Belefski” where the children and their parents are welcome to create their own hero using prompts of personality traits and activities each of us enjoy individually. I created a worksheet so everyone could grasp the concept quickly. The sheet included a body template, checklist of superpowers, and more. If the participant wanted to use a black sheet of paper and go freestyle without the template, they could go that direction as well. Throughout the evening there were several activity stations to choose from, so if they wanted to visit everything they would only have about ten minute or less at each spot. However the event is very freeform and kids could stay as long as they want at any station without a “whistle” or “alarm” to change stations.
A few of the children and their parents came dressed up as superheroes or visionaries from history. There were also costumed entertainers (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, John Dunlop, and Sojourner Truth) to answer historical questions. I was surprised to see a few familiar faces from the last event this past February and have the kids enjoy the activity so much that they wanted to do it again.
Look for more images and content online using the hashtag #ArchivesSleepover. Shoutouts to the volunteers and interns who helped make the event be the best it could be and big thanks to the National Archives for hosting such a fun event and for educating the younger generations!
└ Tags: , , , , , ,
Comments Off on “Design Your Own Superhero” at The National Archives Sleepover Fall 2016

Let Us Seek Wonders profiles Cartoonists Draw Blood

Oct28
by on October 28, 2016 at 9:36 AM
Posted In: Uncategorized

Cartoonist Joe Sutliff, who has been an artist at the Cartoonists Draw Blood event since it’s inception has a relatively new comic called Let Us Seek Wonders. This week he focused on the origin story of Cartoonists Draw Blood and how the concept came to National Cartoonists Society’s Washington, DC chapter and how we began working with American Red Cross.

Read the full comic here: http://letusseekwonders.blogspot.com/2016/10/drawing-blooooooood.html

You’ll be able to meet Joe at this year’s event on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at Seekers Church in Washington, DC (across from Takoma Metro). If you show up, let him know and he might interview you for next week’s page — then you will be immortal cartoon royality!

Here is a direct link to schedule your appointment for Cartoonists Draw Blood 2016. Walk-ins are also welcome from 10AM to 3:30PM. Hope you can join us!

Listen to Joe on the last Carolyn and Joe Show podcast (episode #388): https://carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com/2016/10/19/joe-sutliff

└ Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Let Us Seek Wonders profiles Cartoonists Draw Blood

Get Out The Vote Gallery open during DC Design Week

Oct24
by on October 24, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Posted In: Uncategorized

A couple years ago, I was asked to be a part of DC Design Week (DCDW) with the “Design & Doodle” workshop. This year I’m involved with DCDW in a different way with DC’s “AIGA’s Get Out the Vote Campaign” (GOTV) poster gallery.

In partnership with the League of Women Voters, AIGA‘s GOTV campaign wields the power of design to motivate the American public to register and turn out to vote in the 2016 general election, as well as local elections to come. The pop-up GOTV gallery during DCDW will showcase posters designed by local creatives, with the occasional appearance of say…a Milton Glaser or Paula Scher piece.

When you’re done perusing the posters, head next door to the DCDW pop-up shop filled with items that were made in DC. Open all week. Main headquarters for DCDW is Washington Project for the Arts (2124 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001).

└ Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Comments Off on Get Out The Vote Gallery open during DC Design Week