On Saturday, January 12, 2013, I attended “Donkeys & Elephants: A Celebration of American Political Cartoons” at Studio Gallery in DC.
Here are some photos I took of the exhibit.
Here is more information on the exhibit from the press release:
In January, 2013 Studio Gallery will present a special exhibit which celebrates America’s editorial cartoonists and their work. The show focuses on donkeys and elephants, icons of partisan imagery since the 1800’s, and features more than 70 pieces. It includes some of the earliest cartoons by Thomas Nast portraying donkey and elephants, a special exhibit of some of Herb Block’s (Herblock) work, and over 50 contemporary cartoons from around the country and the world illustrating America’s political scene during 2012.
On Tuesday, January 22, from 6 – 8 PM, Kevin Kallaugher, editorial cartoonist for The Economist Magazine, will give a presentation titled “From Pen to Pixel: The Cartoons of Kal.” His presentation will include a review of Kal’s cartoons on the Obama administration. The presentation is open to the public.
Donkeys and Elephants is a timely and thematically colorful exhibit whose goal is to inform the public about the history of political cartoons and the important role they play in the media and in American democracy today. Editorial cartoonists have always played a critical role in America’s editorial pages. Today, in a technologic world that communicates increasingly through images, they have found a renewed importance in the online and social media sphere.
The exhibit has been made possible with the generous support of the Herblock Foundation. Studio Gallery will also feature a lecture by Kevin Kallagher, editorial cartoonist for The Economist magazine who has been described by The World Encyclopedia of Cartoons as “one the premier caricaturists of the (twentieth) century.”
WHERE: Studio Gallery, 2108 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008
District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC was featured on the cover of The Washington Post’s Style section yesterday and included in their ‘literary guide to Washington.’
You can read about it here along with their other book choices, including Carla Hall from The Chew, one of my favorite TV shows.
It’s really an honor to be getting so much press coverage from The Washington Post. They also recently named it one of the best books of 2012 in addition to the Top 10 Graphics/Comics Reads of 2012.
Joe Carabeo and I worked on the story “Spytini” for District Comics about the Red Spy Queen, Elizabeth Bentley.
Thanks to Matt Dembicki for editing District Comics and thanks to Dale Rawlings for the top photo of the newspaper.
As we approach the new year, I believe to look back on the year of 2012 we have been thru and reflect on the highlights. We had 15 tour stops this year (that’s around 20 days of being behind the table or at appearances) and traveled all along the upper east coast to expand the Curls Studio territory. Below is our 2012 tour schedule with links to event recaps and photos from each event. Please click the link to read recaps and view the photo galleries.
2012 TOUR
MAY 12 • Asbury Park Comic Con, 1
JUN 3 • Capicons
JUN 10 • ‘Team Cul de Sac’ Signing, VA
JUL 7 • Southern Maryland Comic-Con
JUL 8 • DCJCC Comics in the District
JUL 11 • ‘Team Cul de Sac’ Signing, DC
JUL 28 • DC Zinefest
AUG 19 • ‘District Comics’ Signing, VA
SEP 8-9 • Baltimore Comic-Con
SEP 15-16 • Small Press Expo
SEP 22 • ‘District Comics’ Signing, PA
SEP 29 • Asbury Park Comic Con, 2
OCT 11-14 • New York Comic Con
OCT 27 • Annapolis Comic-Con
DEC 15 • Locust Moon Comics Festival
Here is a month-by-month breakdown of specific moments in 2012 that were monumental:
In January, I visited the Newseum in my free-time and wrote about their cartoon collection. I entered my comic strip ‘Curls’ in The Cartoonist Studio contest in February. It ran until week 8 (out of 10). Thanks to everyone who voted to support! In March I posted the pin-up Jimmy Palmiotti asked me to contribute for his graphic novel, Queen Crab, published by Image Comics. It was great to be included in that book and Jimmy is an amazing guy. In April, the Curls gang was on WWE Monday Night Raw. May launched the first-ever Asbury Park Comic Con – and we had a blast on the beach! We are already signed up to exhibit next year. June highlighted Team Cul de Sac – the official highlight of the year for me. There were two book signings during the year and an online auction, plus a panel conversation at Baltimore Comic-Con. As of December 11, 2012, Team Cul de Sac has raised $101,231.21 for Parkinson’s research in honor of Richard Thompson and Chris Sparks. July was loaded with two shows , a book signing, an a panel discussion about the local comics scene in DC. August was busy and fun. The highlight of that month was the book release party and signing at One More Page Books in Arlington, VA. September was another busy month – the fall season is always very crazy with conventions and work to be done. I practically had no free-time or weekend break for several weeks in a row during September and October. Time moved quickly there was not much time to breathe. I was asked to do web banner art for Small Press Expo, which is an honor and is now included in the US Library of Congress. November was actually a more relaxing month because I didn’t have to physically be anywhere. I still worked on Curls and did some freelance illustration and design projects. Curls Studio was asked to be guests on the DC Geeks podcast that month, so I guess we did travel to do that show, but it wasn’t too far! In December, we wrapped up the year with Locust Moon Comics Festival.
Also Magic Bullet #5 was released during the year of 2012 and the theme was, you guessed it, end of the world! Throughout the year, the Carolyn & Joe Show delivered a new episode every Tuesday and never missed a week with the podcast. We even surpassed episode 200!
In 2013, I already have some projects on the docket and will be editing Magic Bullet #6. I have a productive feeling about this year. Thanks for keeping up with Curls Studio. I hope to see you in 2013 and beyond!
I was asked by a family to illustrate a young girl named Sophia playing with her dog, Bully, for a wall graphic in Sophia’s playroom.
Here is a process sketch. I was able to work from photos of the girl and the dog.
And here is the final 46″ x 72″ graphic. Currently, the walls of the playroom are lime green.
I really like the illustration with a sky blue background and provided the client with that option as well. I told her we could also use the image for birthday parties or greeting cards.
Here is the illustration the client cut and designed to fit a goodie bag for Sophia’s birthday party. I would love to design more custom wall graphics or party items!
Client Feedback
I loooooove it! It’s great!!!
Available for Freelance Work
If you are interested in my illustration and/or design skills, please email Carolyn Belefski at info@curls-studio.com.
