Showing posts with label Carolyn Belefski. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Carolyn Belefski. Show all posts

Thursday, February 23, 2017

How one school created its annual Graphic Novelists Workshop

 by Matt Dembicki

Powhatan School in Boyce, Va., will host its 4th Graphic Novelists Workshop on Friday, March 3, from 12:30 to 4:30 pm. The workshop costs $25 per participant and is open to all students in grades 3rd through high school are invited to attend. Participating students will attend sessions with each of the presenting graphic novelists and have the opportunity to use what they have learned to create their own graphic novelette. Registration for the workshop is online at www.PowhatanLibraryOnline.com 

Presenting graphic novelists include Hobbes Holluck, Carolyn Belefski and Art Hondros.


Below, we chatted with Tracie Chloel Lane, library media specialist at Powhatan, who has spearheaded the annual workshop.

How did the idea for these comics workshops originate?

Several years ago, one of my students came across Trickster, and bought a copy for our library. The donation was quickly followed with a “Ms. Lane, you should get this guy to come visit our school.” Engaging my investigative skills, I logged into Facebook, and typed Matt Dembicki into the search feature, thus beginning my side job stalking graphic novelists and authors so I could lure them to our school. The resulting author visit ignited our students. Our graphic novel collection was born. And an idea formed. The following year, we invited Matt back and asked him to bring a couple friends. It was our first Graphic Novelist Workshop @ Powhatan School.
 Tracie Chloel Lane

The workshop format is really great for the participants. Author visits are wonderful. They give students the opportunity to meet and learn about the authors of the books they read and love. A workshop takes that visit to a deeper level. It gives young people the opportunity to learn from people who are writing the stories that feed their brains and fires up their imaginations. The workshop gives them the opportunity to see themselves as the writer, the illustrator, the creator of books. It demystifies the experience of having a byline on the cover of a book. It gives our children and teens the opportunity to see themselves in that role.

Our Graphic Novelist Workshops spawned our writing workshops that take place in the fall.

What’s been the reaction among the students, teachers, parents?

This is the fourth year we have hosted the Graphic Novelist workshop at Powhatan School. Every year, we have more students and alumni coming than the year before. Several of our students have produced their own graphic novels. One of our young novelists has gone on to sell his work and another is heading off to Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall to study Communication Arts. Our parents and teachers love anything that gets kids reading more, writing more, and enthusiastic about the process.

You always look for ways to add a new spin to the program. Can you briefly outline what you’ve done in the past and your ideas for the upcoming program in March?

Art by Carolyn Belefski
Our base group of participants come every year. A new spin on the workshop is essential. Our participants want to build on the skills and knowledge they’ve gained. We host different novelists each year. The novelists are active participants in determining what skill will be shared and how it will be taught. We coordinate this through a private Facebook group that gives current and previous presenting novelists and editors the opportunity to communicate ideas and experiences with each other. That helps mix things up a bit.

This year, I want to take it a step farther. I want to publish a collection of the works of the children and teens that participate in the workshop. To facilitate this goal, we’ve invited a former editor of the Magic Bullet to participate this year.

If other teachers and librarians might be interested in adapted a similar program at their school or library, what advice would you give them on how to get started?

First, they need a Matt. Matt helps me find the up-and-coming (and already there) graphic novelists and editors that I invite to our workshop each year. Visit another graphic novelist workshop. Our program is open to our students and the community at large. Visiting teachers and librarians are welcome at our Workshop (though I may put them to work).

What has been the most challenging part of the program?

Art by Hobbes Hillock
Funding. For the first three years we offered the workshop free or with a small fee for expenses. This year, funding has made it necessary to charge a $25 registration fee to cover the costs.


Saturday, July 02, 2016

Cartoonists Draw Blood art exhibit at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7/7/2016


On Thursday, July 7th, from 6:30-8:00 pm, come visit the Takoma Park Community Center for the official opening of the "Cartoonists Draw Blood" art exhibit, featuring a diverse display of some of the DC area's finest cartoon and comics-making talent. There will be refreshments and live drawing, as well as books available for purchase. Organized by Carolyn Belefski, of Curls Studio fame, the project began a couple of years back when a small band of local comics/cartoon creators from the DC region got together to draw and give away original art work to folks who stopped by a local Red Cross to donate blood. Many of the participating artists themselves donated blood as well! So, if you're in the area, don't hesitate to check this event out, as you'll be in for an excellent show.




Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Curls by Carolyn Belefski Kickstarter halfway point




Kickstarter

#3

Want to be a Cartoon?

Posted by Carolyn Belefski
Recently Bleeding Cool asked me to write about Curls and professional wrestler Sonjay Dutt tweeted about the project. I was also on The JellyVision Show podcast and have already recorded with other podcasts -- they will be releasing the episodes soon.
Our top pledge level is for the Curls book, which is awesome because that's the reason why we are doing this Kickstarter together. I also want to let you all know about another popular pledge level -- the $100 Avatar level. This is a cool opportunity to turn yourself, a friend, or family member into a cartoon! It makes for a great gift and you get to keep the original line art and received a color digital file. How cool is that? You also receive a Kickstarter exclusive signed and numbered Curls print, the Curls cowgirl print, Curls book with autograph and sketch from myself, postcard set, Kickstarter exclusive button pack, Curls patch, computer wallpaper, your name printed in the book acknowledgements, and song. 
Check out the image above of my pal, Lara. This illustrates the process steps and shows you an example of the custom cartoon avatars I can create for you.
We have 14 more days and $1,895 to raise to make this project come to life and become a reality. I believe we can do this.
Send your friends a direct link -- http://kck.st/1EprkMX -- or use the "Share this project" button under the video to connect with your pals on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, or Embed Video or Widget on your website or blog.
All the backers of this project inspire me to keep creating. Thanks for the encouragement.
XOXO,

Carolyn












Monday, February 23, 2015

Carolyn Belefski's Curls book Kickstarter

Curls: The Ultimate Book Collection


"I hope you'll join me in supporting Carolyn's Kickstarter. Because I really want to see what a really talented goofball does with 90 Billion dollars."
-- Richard Thompson (Cul de Sac - 2010 Reuben Award)
for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year

"This collection is what kickstarter was made for. Carolyn is able to bring to life her ideas in a way that is both charming and funny with the compliment of beautiful art and skill. I love this strip and am so happy to see it finally collected. It's about time!"
-- Jimmy Palmiotti (Harley Quinn, Jonah Hex, Painkiller Jane, Power Girl)

"'Curls' is a thoroughly engaging comic that positively brims with joy and warmth. Strip by strip, Carolyn Belefski constructs a magical world of animal (and toast!) friendships that feels, well, utterly believable -- proof that the cartoonist has the rich imagination to pull off this sleight of hand and heart. Raise a (large) toast to the world of Curls!"
-- Michael Cavna ("Comic Riffs" Columnist/Cartoonist, The Washington Post)

"The expressions, movement and attitude in Carolyn Belefski's characters resonate because she's somehow created a line that is at once deft, fun, innocent and sexy."
-- Nick Galifianakis (The Washington Post)

I've just put my money in.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Carolyn Belefski's cartooning for the White House

Wow. Click through to see them.

Remind You of Someone? You Should Share These:

As more Americans gain coverage and we near the February 15th HealthCare.gov enrollment deadline, one artist highlights what these diverse Americans have in common in a series of shareable graphics.

Monday, May 05, 2014

Free Comic Book Day photos

Victory Comics in Falls Church:

Tangent cartoonists



Monica Marier


Big Planet Comics Vienna (Curls Studio aka Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo):










Big Planet Comics Bethesda (with Joe Sutliff):







Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Original Christmas ornaments by cartoonists

Barbara Dale had a few people over to her house after a tour at Geppi's Entertainment Museum. After pizza, she coaxed people into decorating ornaments. Here's the one-of-a-kind ornaments now on my tree with a Thomas Nast's Santa Claus, a Cliffored Berryman's teddy bear (from the Smithsonian) and a couple of Snoopy's (from Hallmark's Peanuts line).



Carolyn Belefski



Joe Sutliff



Barbara Dale



Steve Artley

I kept getting this glowing nose on Artley's ornament - Christmas is magical after all...


Thursday, September 19, 2013

Team Cul de Sac panel at Baltimore Comic-Con

ZARVOX PRESENTS: The Team Cul De Sac – BCC13 Panel

BCCP01_130908_105_cropped
EPISODE 244
Download! Subscribe! iTunes! Stitcher!

The Carolyn and Joe Show has been hijacked by aliens once again!
The alien warlord ZARVOX has intercepted the original show that was intended to be released this week and has used their alien technology to rewarp what they believe is a more important show to broadcast on the Carolyn and Joe Show, The Baltimore Comic Con 2013 – TEAM CUL DE SAC panel with Barbara Dale, Dawn Griffin, Carolyn Belefski, Chris Sparks and Joe Sutliff. Enjoy…humans.

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Sunday, September 08, 2013

Cartoonists and others at Baltimore Comic Con.

The Con is the busiest and biggest that I've ever seen and continues through today. Labels to come later, but the name of the person is in the file name.

Dave McDonald
Frank Cammuso (who will be at SPX with Jay Lynch)Joe Carabeo and Carolyn BelefskiSteve ConleyDave Roman C DowdBarbara DaleTR Logan aka The Laughing RedheadJoe Sutliff
Kevin KAL KallaugherCarla Speed McNeilJK Snyder III and his Shadow coverRoger Langridge doing a Popeye sketchChris SchweitzerKen BaldDon RosaKevin KAL KallaugherJoshua Luna