My comics blog, Comics Pal, is updated with a post featuring DC-area cartoonist Carolyn Belefski, whose long-running strip CURLS will make you smile even if you have no human emotions. Plus she’s been involved in a jillion interesting projects, like making comics for the Obama White House! Read all about it at ComicsPal.com. You’ll also find recent posts featuring Whit Taylor, Rachel Bard, and other cartoonists you’ll want to know about. For our younger followers, a blog is like a podcast that you read instead of listening to.
Curls Studio will be at Tidewater Comicon on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center with celebrity guests, comic book creators, voice actors, and much more. Children get in free with the purchase of a regular adult pass.
Tom Welling, Michael Rosenbaum, Adrianne Palicki, Jim Shooter, Dan Gilvezan, Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner, Sargent Slaughter, and many more!
Virginia Beach Convention Center 1000 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
We’re taking part in Kickstarter’s Make 100 incentive raising funds to produce 100 limited edition hard enamel pins with a beautiful original illustrated Red Rose design. The pins will be produced at 30mm tall with sleek rose gold plating and red glitter color. Each pin will be fixed with a clear rubber clutch and come with a backing card. The first 25 pledges will receive a 3″ tall holographic die cut sticker featuring Red Rose as a thanks to you from Curls Studio. There are also several opportunities to purchase additional products I’ve created through the “add-on” feature while pledging.
The 2022 PANTONE Color of the Year is Viva Magenta — vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative. There is a sense of romantic love, passion, courage, and action within the symbolism of a Red Rose.
Looking back on 2022 it seemed to be another transitional year — still getting back into the swing of things with lots of changes behind-the-scenes. Comic conventions ramped back up and we exhibited at 10 events (including our first time at Maryland STEM Festival). I started experimenting with new custom booth designs at a few of the shows (a nod to Lucy’s psychiatry booth from Peanuts happened at Small Press Expo). I even started cosplaying in 2022 — that’s something I never thought I’d be doing!
Curls Studio kicked off the year with a successful Kickstater campaign for “Thank You Mom” hard enamel pins to celebrate Mother’s Day on May 8. We also debuted a new soft enamel pin at Awesome Con called “Watermelon Umbrella Rainbow Duck,” which was part of the event’s collectable pin program.
My illustrations were published in Ranger Rick magazine and I was featured in Uppercase magazine to discuss creativity. I Love To Write Day’s 20th Anniversary featured new Curls comic strips to celebrate the creative process.
At New York Comic Con we showcased a new charm with the Pizza Face character and had a great time in the city — we even got to play some ping pong and go to Coney Island.
The “DC Region Cartoonists” poster released in the fall and features 25 cartoonists from the area. If you want more information about how to order a poster, let me know.
I did a lot of studying at STEM and STEAM events and attended a few art exhibits. I read a bunch of books, took notes, wrote a lot, and drew in my sketchbook. Loads of ideas were generated on paper and are now marinating in my brain. I also changed up my diet and workout routine quite a bit and am living a healthier lifestyle. We are looking forward to what this new year will bring!
The “I Love To Write Day Creative Writing Journal” is now available on Amazon — it’s being published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of I Love To Write Day, a grassroots campaign John Riddle launched in 2002 to have people of all ages spend time writing every November 15. John reached out to me to contribute comic strips about creativity and the creative process to the publication.
87 creative experts including writers, authors, musicians, artists, photographers, actors, directors, and more professions have contributed tips on how to be creative and shared their own creative journey. It also includes 30 challenges that give you the opportunity to “think outside of the box” to use your imagination like never before.
