Local cartoonists at Smudge Expo in Arlington

Smudge is still going on for 3 hours, but here's some local cartoonists who are there (Jason Axtell, Andrew Cohen, Matt Dembicki, Shawn Padraic Murphy, Jason Rodriguez, Teresa Logan and Joe Sutliff are too, but not pictured). Hopefully if you missed Smudge, you can catch many of these creators at Awesome Con in May.

Jared Smith of Retrofit / Big Planet Comics

Gordon Harris

Cole Goco

Sticky Comics by Christiann MacAuley

Sticky Comics by Christiann MacAuley (with her sister Sheridan)

Jim 8Ball and Last Dollar Comics (out of NY)

Two Cul de Sac drawings by Terry Flippo on the back of his Axel and Alex minicomic.
(He'll be doing a drawing for Team Cul de Sac to auction)

Terry Flippo

Diego Quintanilla 

Even Keeling and his new punk rock comic

Rafer Roberts and his new issue of Plastic Farm

Michael Auger

Carolyn Belefksi and Joe Carabeo of Curls Studio

Michael Cowgill

Robin Ha (who is sharper in real life)

Oliver Mertz and Mike Isenberg of First Law of Mad Science

John Gallagher of Buzzboy

Emily R. Gillis

Michael Brace

Santiago Casares

Kata Kane (of Baltimore)

Chris Artiga-Oliver (standing) and son

Chris Flick of Capes & Babes

Liz and Jimmy Reed, aka Cuddles and Rage

Tina Henry, Smudge co-creator

Dan Nokes

Today: Smudge in Arlington's Artisphere

Smudge is a new comics arts expo meant to showcase independent comics and inspire attendees to become storytellers themselves. Smudge features exhibitors in the Artisphere Ballroom, presenters in the Black Box Theater and hands-on workshops in the classroom. Smudge is an all ages show and it free for attendees.

PROGRAMMING AT A GLANCE

Artisphere

1101 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia 22209

Today

at 12:00pm - 6:00pm

Black Box Theater
1-1:50 – Comics as teaching tools
2-2:50 – Exploring science through comics
3-3:50 – Diversity in comics
4-4:50 – Dreamworld
5-5:50 – 10 years of The DC Conspiracy

Classroom
1-1:50 – Jade Feng Lee – Character Design
2-2:50 - Tom Atkinson (Copic) — Using Color
3-3:50 – Santiago Casares – Make Your Own Comic Workshop
4-4:50 – Liz Reed – Create a clay character
5-5:50 – Pauli Kohberger (Art Way Alliance) – Anime, Manga, and the Basics of Character Design

Dome Theatre – seating in the Dome is free and first come/first served.
Animated Shorts (all ages) – 12-1pm
Root Hog or Die (104 minutes) – 2-3:45pm
The Art of Richard Thompson – 4-4:30pm

Today is Smudge, and Comic Riffs has an interview about it

Smudge! Expo 2015: Matt Dembicki spotlights the line from comics to the classroom
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 14 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/03/14/smudge-expo-matt-dembicki-spotlights-the-line-from-comics-to-the-classroom/

Another Carolyn Belefski interview

Reed, Liz.
Ep. 28 Carolyn Belefski.
People I Think Are Cool podcast13 March 2015
http://peopleithinkarecool.libsyn.com/ep-28-carolyn-belefski
http://traffic.libsyn.com/peopleithinkarecool/Ep28__Curls.mp3

City Paper reviews The Mind of Mark DeFriest

So Far Con: Climate deniers and escape artists have a lot in common.

By Tricia Olszewski •
Washington City Paper March 13, 2015, p. 38

Free as a Jailbird: Houdini meets MacGyver in DeFriest.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/46951/the-mind-of-mark-defriest-and-merchants-of-doubt-reviewed/

The Post reveals decision-making behind Charles Schulz's death notice

How the White House decides whose death is worth presidential notice

By Juliet Eilperin
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-the-white-house-decides-whose-death-is-worth-presidential-notice/2015/03/12/0c43083a-c83d-11e4-a199-6cb5e63819d2_story.html

PreviewsWorld interviews Carolyn Belefski

Women In Comics Month: Interview with Carolyn Belefski

PREVIEWSworld March 2015

http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/1264?articleID=160953

Her Kickstarter campaign has less than 2 weeks to run.

Tomorrow: Gordon Harris at Smudge w/ Dust Elves and screen prints

Gordon's latest screen print will premeire at the SMUDGE COMIC ARTS EXPO next Saturday, March 14th. Heads up all you Bronies out there, this one stars your favorite little pony, Applejack. It's the second in a series of three vintage, cereal, mash-up silkscreened prints.

Gordon will be giving away Ashcan copies of the newest - and next - issue of The Secret Origin of the Dust Elves at the Smudge Comic Arts Expo. They go fast, so come early to the Artisphere Gallery in Arlington, Virginia Saturday, March 14th. As a reminder, here's a link to more information about ASHCAN comics.

The Post on Cinderella, Roz Chast and animation

'Cinderella' looks terrific, but otherwise drags
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post March 13 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/review-cinderella-looks-terrific-but-otherwise-drags/2015/03/11/05fdcf36-c717-11e4-a199-6cb5e63819d2_story.html

The other shoe drops: 'Cinderella' offers us a tough lesson
By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express March 13 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2015/03/13/the-other-shoe-drops-cinderella-offers-us-a-tough-lesson/

Just In: Roz Chast wins Best Autobiography award from National Book
Critics Circle
By Michael Cavna
March 12 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/03/12/just-in-roz-chast-wins-best-autobiography-award-from-national-book-critics-circle/

Review: 'The Mind of Mark DeFriest' looks at a man behind bars — for now
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post March 13 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/review-the-mind-of-mark-defriest-looks-at-a-man-behind-bars--for-now/2015/03/11/5323ef50-c692-11e4-aa1a-86135599fb0f_story.html

March 21: Dave Roman at Big Planet College Park

• Dave Roman drawing party! Big Planet Comics Saturday, March 21 at 1:00pm - 3:00pm Next Week · 55°F / 35°F Rain

• Show Map Big Planet Comics of College Park 7315 Baltimore Ave, College Park, Maryland 20740

We are excited to welcome Dave Roman, (Astronaut Academy, Teen Boat) for a special drawing party!

See how Dave creates his art and characters, get some tips, maybe help out a bit!

Dave's website: http://yaytime.com/
Dave's twitter: https://twitter.com/yaytime

The Post looks at Disney's Cinderella marketing

Disney Expands the Princess Demographic [online as What $4,595 "glass slippers" say about Disney's princess sales machine].

By Drew Harwell

Washington Post March 12 2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/what-4595-glass-slippers-say-about-disneys-princess-sales-machine/2015/03/11/b58f28f6-c29d-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html

Mark Anderson's Andertoons in today's Post

3rd in the ad campaign.

Curls Studio interviewed for Dollar Bin podcast

Episode 349: Curls and Ninjasaur Kickstarter Promotion

Dollar Bin March 12, 2015
http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/2015/3/12/episode-349-curls-and-ninjasaur-kickstarter-promotion

This week Adam and Shawn decided it was time well spent to help promote a couple of currently running Kickstarters by some close friends of the Dollar Bin.  First up is Curls Studio who are promoting their Kickstarter for Curls:  The Ultimate Book Collection, which is a collection of Carolyn Belefski's Curls comic strip.  Next, we talk with Jason Horn , creator of Ninjasaur to help spread the word on his Kickstarter for Collection Volume 2 of his Ninjasaur Webcomic.  I hope you enjoy and take the time to check these worthwhile projects out.

Express on Smudge

D.C. comic books get a nudge at Smudge

By Tim Regan

For indie publishers and small-press cartoonists who don’t have Marvel levels of fame, finding an audience can be tricky. Luckily, Smudge Expo is here to help.

Click here to read the article online.

 

The Artisphere also placed an ad in today's Express featuring Smudge.

 

 

Finally, here's a wrap up of the ads Smudge ran

online over the past few weeks to promote the show.

 

 

 

 

PR: Colonial Comics is on tour this Spring!

Colonial Comics Spring Tour: This April, editor Jason Rodriguex will take Colonial Comics: New England 1620-1750 to the following cities and towns.  All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted.  Thursday,  April 16th, 6:30pm: Comic Book Workshop at Fantom Comics in Washington, D.C. Friday, April 17th, 4:30pm: Comic Book Workshop at Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Philadelphia, PA. Friday, April 17th, 7:00pm: Book Signing and After Party (with contributors Josh O'Neill, James Comey, Mike Sgier, and J.T. Waldman) at Locust Moon Comics in Philadelphia, PA.  Saturday, April 18th, 4:00pm: Book Signing (with contributors Erika Swyler and Charles Fetherolf) at Bookcourt in Brooklyn, NY.  Tuesday, April 21st, 9:00am: Comic Making Workshop hosted by historian J.L. Bell and The Boston Comics Roundtable at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, MA.  Tuesday, April 21st, 5:30pm: Book Talk and Signing at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, MA.  Tuesday, April 21st, 7:30pm: Colonial Comics Happy Hour at the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston, MA for Massachusetts Historical Society Members only.  Wednesday, April 22nd, 7:00pm: Book Talk and Signing at Harvard Bookstore in Cambridge, MA.  Thursday, April 23rd, 10:00am: History in Panels: Comic Book Making Workshop at the Concord Museum in Concord, MA.  "I used the amazing artwork in Colonial Comics to teach inferencing. The students were not only engaged while learning in the comic format, they used the strategy extremely well. They continue to ask me to read from this book." — Christina Morice Khamo, elementary teacher, Chicago, IL "This book is smart, surprising, fun and educational. Each story has its own visual and verbal style but all will delight, intrigue, and enlighten both novice and expert alike." — James David Moran, Director of Outreach, American Antiquarian Society  Jason Rodriguez is a writer and editor, whose books have been nominated for an Eisner Award and 8 Harvey Awards. Colonial Comics represents his most ambitious project to date. Jason lives in Arlington, VA with his wife and their four dogs, two cats, and a parrot. You can usually find him on a street corner, staring out into the future. For more on Jason's current and future projects, visit his website at jasonrodriguez.com. You can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.  Marketing contact for review copies, author interviews, or events: Melanie Roth, Marketing Manager, Fulcrum Publishing 4690 Table Mountain Dr., Ste. 100, Golden, CO 80403 melanie@fulcrumbooks.com  I  303-928-8213

John Lewis on the Daily Show

John Lewis.

The Daily Show with John Stewart (March 9).

online at

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/rx583q/john-lewis-pt--1
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/c2kd2t/john-lewis-pt--2

SPX organizers Warren Bernard and Bill K talk about their alt comix exhibit

From Newsprint to Museum: Curating Comics

By Ward Sutton
SuttonImpactStudio.com

SPD blog 03.11.15

http://www.spd.org/2015/03/from-newsprint-to-museum-curat.php

NY Times notes LOC's Herblock exhibit

Political Jabs in Ink at Library of Congress

By WILLIAM GRIMES

New York Times March 11, 2015, on page C3

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/11/books/political-jabs-in-ink-at-library-of-congress.html

Curated by Sara Duke of the Prints and Photos collection.

Our Matt Dembicki, featured in magazine

He's too modest to post it himself.

Fairfax cartoonist Matt Dembicki brings comics to the classroom

By Matthew Tracy / Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

http://www.northernvirginiamag.com/game-plan/2015/03/10/fairfax-cartoonist-matt-dembicki-brings-comics-to-the-classroom/

Curls by Carolyn Belefski Kickstarter halfway point

	#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