The Clorox Company partnered with award-winning writer, comedian, and mom, Carol Leifer, who has written for shows such as Modern Family and Seinfeld, to launch the Clorox Ick-tionary, a wiki-style dictionary of everyday ick that parents everywhere and others are all-too familiar with. 

Carolyn was asked to illustrate some of the definitions in the project and devise concept sketches based on word usage. Once Carolyn’s sketches were approved, she created the final vector illustrations to showcase the ick.

A sampling of logo and identity design by Carolyn Belefski.

Clients: Maiurano Family Dentistry, Pivotal Web Marketing, DC Brewers Guild, Danaher, Fortive, MS Walk Cure Crew, It’s All Journalism, Sonjay Dutt, Mickie & Mallory, Astray Productions, and more.

The White House Office of Digital Strategy approached Carolyn with the concept of creating health care comics for the Affordable Care Act. The client gave the personas (athletic, caregiver, daredevil, hipster, organized, oversharer, vain) and Carolyn developed the character design, layout, and contributed to the provided script.

The First Lady Michelle Obama posted the athletic cartoon on her Instagram and Twitter accounts and it has received nearly 18,000 likes on Instagram.

Carolyn’s #GetCovered cartoons have been covered by several news outlets including The Washington Post, CBR (Comic Book Resources), The Blaze, The Patriot Post, ComicsDC, and more.

Read about Carolyn’s process and see her sketches for this project in her blog.

Client feedback: 

Big thanks to Carolyn Belefski for agreeing to work with us on this project and then for knocking it out of the park. You're incredibly easy to work with!

You hear a lot nowadays on the importance of STEM education and I'm personally all about it, but art also has a big role to play in solving problems (STEAM)… coming up with unique — and many times more personal — solutions to complex problems. Here, comics are used as a powerful medium that make contentious problems relatable and more human. I'm really proud of what we did!

Press: 

The Washington Post | White House comics? How cartoonist Carolyn Belefski got an unexpected booster shot-in-the-arm from HealthCare.gov
by Michael Cavna

Fusion | Cartooning for the White House: A chat with the artist behind the #GetCovered comics
by Jen Sorensen

CBR | White House uses comic reminders about Obamacare deadline
by Kevin Melrose 

The Blaze | These Cartoons are the White House’s Latest Effort to Make Obamacare Seem Cool
by Fred Lucas

The Patriot Post | White House Resorts to Childish Cartoons to Promote O'Care

CBR | Comics A.M. | Creators
by Brigid Alverson 

Fusion | Going Viral | Obama hopes a selfie stick will get more young people signed up for healthcare
by Abby Rogers

Fortive is an industrial technology conglomerate company. Fortive was spun off from Danaher in 2016. In 2020, Fortune named Fortive one of the world's most admired companies. That same year Newsweek named Fortive as one of their top 500 most responsible companies.

Carolyn designed Fortive’s annual report, which includes many images and innovative chart designs and informative graphics for Fortive Business System (FBS). Production highlights include a short cut cover and embossed logo.

Illustrations for Ranger Rick, a children's nature magazine that is published by the United States National Wildlife Federation.

Carolyn designed the Danaher UR Summit program with a pinball theme. Several spiral bound pages are devoted to the schedule, speaker biographies, and pages to take notes during the event.

Danaher is a Fortune 500 science and technology innovator helping solve complex challenges, and improving quality of life around the world. Carolyn has designed annual reports, brochures, conference materials, logos, and other support graphics as needed for Danaher.

With the annual reports, Carolyn is able to use additional production resources. The 2021 annual report cover is printed in canvas texture paper and features UV coating and embossing.

Vontier is a global industrial technology company focused on smarter transportation and mobility. The 2021 annual report features spot UV coating and matte varnish.

Danaher is a Fortune 500 science and technology innovator helping solve complex challenges, and improving quality of life around the world. Carolyn has designed annual reports, brochures, conference materials, logos, and other support graphics as needed for Danaher.

With the annual reports, Carolyn is able to use additional production resources. The 2020 annual report features UV coating and a corner die cut.

Danaher is a Fortune 500 science and technology innovator helping solve complex challenges, and improving quality of life around the world. Carolyn has designed annual reports, brochures, conference materials, logos, and other support graphics as needed for Danaher.

With the annual reports, Carolyn is able to use additional production resources. The 2018 annual report features soft touch laminate, UV coating, embossing, and a circle die cut.

Graphic Design USA honored this piece with a 2019 Health + Wellness Design Award.

Danaher is a Fortune 500 science and technology innovator helping solve complex challenges, and improving quality of life around the world. Carolyn has designed annual reports, brochures, conference materials, logos, and other support graphics as needed.

With the annual reports, Carolyn is able to use additional production resources. The 2015 annual report features a short cut cover, vanish, and silver metallic ink.

Fortive is a diversified industrial company, spun off from Danaher in 2016. At the point of its independent incorporation, it immediately became a component of the S&P 500. Spread across in more than 40 countries, Fortive’s portfolio comprised over 20 global businesses that are recognized leaders in the areas of field instrumentation, transportation, sensing, product realization, automation and specialty, and franchise distribution.

Carolyn designed Fortive’s annual report, which includes many images and innovative chart designs and informative graphics for Fortive Business System (FBS). Production highlights include UV coated custom dot ribbon patterns.

Carolyn’s ABCs of Country Music project combines her love of country music with design. She created custom typography to represent some of the best and brightest country artists and posted a different letter each day on her Instagram, from A to Z.

Carolyn created illustration and design to stylize MCPAW’s Animal House themed party to raise money for the lost, homeless, and abused animals in Montgomery County.

Sate the date postcard, folded invitation with envelope, evite, and an ad in Bethesda Magazine have been created – more to come!

NGA uses imagery, geospatial and targeting analysis, image sciences and modeling for US national defense and disaster relief. We were inspired by nature, patterns, cartography, and map typography to inject color into their previous blue and gray look. In addition, the design involves a map fold-out and flipper book resembling navigation materials. The transparent cover overlays on the Flagship piece showcases NGA’s abilities of combining technical, geographic, and intelligence as layers of information for analysis and interpretation.

This project won The Communicator Awards, Silver Award of Distinction in 2012.

Carolyn has designed several patterns that have been produced and assembled for pencil cases. She even designed a dress to wear with her custom Curls fabric at the National Cartoonists Society Reuben Awards in 2015. She has designed fabric with her typography created for her self-initiated ABCs of Country Music project. Carolyn hopes to create and produce more pattern designs in the future.

Here is the poster I designed for AIGA‘s Get Out the Vote campaign. The mission 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. This year, in partnership with the League of Women Voters, AIGA civic engagement initiative will Get Out the Vote by presenting an online gallery of original, nonpartisan posters for printing and public distribution. There will also be exhibitions in conjunction with the Republican National Convention (Cleveland, July 18-21), Democratic National Convention (Philadelphia, July 25–28).

The comedic characters of Sad Fish™ are uplifting, but they also disguise a grim aspect of existence. Sad Fish™ is more than Carolyn Belefski’s artwork, it’s a credence, a mindset, an anthem. If you woke up breathing, then you have more life to live. Sad Fish™ is about enjoying your time and the struggles, melancholy, and hope that comes with staying alive.

After drawing Sad Fish™ in sketchbooks for many years, Carolyn first created a five button set that sold well at comic conventions. In early 2018, Carolyn was inspired by the Make 100 incentive to create 100 different character designs and produce a Sad Fish™ menagerie for a limited edition book.

100 Sad Fish™ book available in the store.

Nicole Belanus
Carolyn created the CD and sleeve packaging for "The Grown Demos" by folk musical artist, Nicole Belanus. Listen to her sounds here.

Monday Mistress
Carolyn created the gig poster and social media graphics for a performance by the rock band, Monday Mistress. Listen to their sounds here.

Mickie & Mallory
Carolyn created a logo for Mickie & Mallory, a voodoo/western/blues/neofolk band. Listen to their sounds here.

Carolyn illustrated an Adventure Time comic cover for BOOM! Studios. Adventure Time is an animated cartoon on Cartoon Network watched by millions. The series has launched comic books, video games, and other merchandise. She is excited to be a part of a talented group of artists who have worked with the Adventure Time world.

Carolyn created the character design that was converted into the animated TV spot showcasing Ourisman’s family of used cars. View the full advertisement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ISGngjHxQ

Carolyn was asked by the organizers of Fairfax Comic Con to create a print for their inaugural show in 2018. Carolyn’s concept features Fairfax Fox and the Tidewater Shark mascots (the shark as an airplane to tie in the location proximity to Dulles airport and as a nod to Tidewater Comicon in Virginia Beach, another show run by the same organizers).

This is a logo design and brand identity for Audrey Maiurano Family Dentistry that encompasses the client’s initials AM, which form to create a house and tooth. The house represents family care and trust. The tooth resembles a heart shape as well as helps to create the door. Carolyn designed and arranged printing for business cards (which include a custom map on the back) and letterhead. She also referred the client to photographer Joe Carabeo at Astray Productions for headshots.

Carolyn created the logo for It’s All Journalism, a weekly podcast about the changing state of the media. The show is produced in partnership with the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, whose mission is to “provide services and leadership that ensure the success of its members; and to strengthen alternative journalism through advocacy and education.”
 

Here are some illustrations Carolyn has done using Adobe Illustrator.

Anne Likes Red contacted Carolyn to create and illustrate several characters for a postcard set, animated promotional video, and trade show display for NASW Assurance Services, Inc. focusing on professional liability insurance for social workers. 

Watch the animated film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEGy0vqduZY

Carolyn created personal branding graphics and business cards for a film producer, using her initials AA. The client requested to use pink as a main color and it pairs nicely with white and black in a classic style. The AA motif is formatted throughout the design and vital information is spotlighted.

Logo for Stable Hands Pet Care and Services, LLC, a company based in Virginia Beach. They specialize in pet sitting, overnight stays, and horse and farm services.

Carolyn designed their logo identity, business cards, and services chart.

A former co-worker of Carolyn commissioned her to illustrate her family’s holiday greeting card. The client provided photographs of her two cats and one dog to work from. Each animal has character and attitude as they have fun together sledding in the snow.

Client feedback: 

Yay! I love this. Thanks again for your help with this Carolyn! It was a hit.

Postcard announcement for wedding engagement with an illustration Carolyn created featuring the bride and groom as runners starting their journey together by going on the run of a lifetime – marriage. The client’s wedding colors are mint and peach are also encompassed in the design.

Carolyn worked Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront presents the Military Child of the Year® Award to outstanding military children. Recipients representing each service branch are recognized at a Washington, DC Gala celebration every year.

For this project, Carolyn designed the Save The Date Card, Invitation, Reply Card, and 36-page Program Book.

Freelance design, illustration, and copywriting for National Geographic’s Great Migrations merchandise. Great Migrations is a seven-part global programming event that takes viewers around the world on the arduous journeys millions of animals undertake to ensure the survival of their species.

Visual identity for Astray Productions, a multimeadia production company with a primary focus on film and photography. Carolyn updated the arrow identity from a previous look and took a minimalist approach with the new look.

Carolyn illustrated a cover featuring American icon Uncle Sam for The Insider, published by The Heritage Foundation. She also had a cartoon published in Heritage Forum and designed book covers, newsletters, invitations, and more.

Carolyn self-publishes the Curls strip on www.curls-studio.com/curls.

Black Magic Tales is a comic book property created by Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski. 

Roxy Monroe and Dean Casanova love pulling off the most fantastic heists on the face of the planet – and that’s why the public loves them. Add up Bonnie and Clyde, John Dillinger, or any other outlaw on the run in human history and they still wouldn’t equal the amount of fun and out-of-control mayhem that ensues whenever Roxy and Dean show up.

The Legettes is a comic book property created by Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski.

For some people the future is bright with possibility. Every hard day is worth it because of the thought that the effort will payoff in a glorious payday. Meet MC. He’s exactly that type of person. A hard worker, loyal, passionate, and full of goals, MC is definitely someone that you can count on when the chips are down. He also happens to be part of DEKO, the most prestigious and powerful corporation on the planet.

What he does, we can not say. What he gets paid is confidential. The name of his job title can’t be known to people not in the know, but what we do know is that MC is about to experience a huge change in his life. His whole world is about to be flipped upside down and dropped on his head. And when the lights finally come back on, MC will wake up in a future that has more enemies than friends, a future where tech is now skin and skin is now fake, a future where everything is manufactured for the manufacturer, and a future where being nostalgic will get you killed. Welcome to a dark and dangerous future. Welcome to the world of The Legettes!

Carolyn worked with photographer Joe Carabeo and burlesque performer Dolli Holiday for a photo shoot featuring Dolli as the Layla LeGette character to spotlight t-shirts Carolyn designed for The Legettes and DEKO.

On Saturday, November 2, 2013, twelve of the finest cartoonists in the Washington, DC area devoted their time and talents to sketch for blood donors for the inaugural ‘Cartoonists Draw Blood’ event with the American Red Cross at Seekers Church in Washington, DC.

The reason is simple: Cartoonists Draw Blood is a great opportunity for cartoonists to serve their community while showcasing their art skills and encouraging blood donation – a single blood donation has the potential to save as many as three lives!

Since our first blood drive was so successful, the American Red Cross asked us to do it annually and we have saved the lives of hundreds of people. The ‘Cartoonists Draw Blood’ crew has expanded our activities beyond the yearly drive by exhibiting work in gallery art shows and anthology books. We hope you can join us and participate at future events.

PAST EVENTS

October 26, 2019
Blood Drive at Holy Trinity Catholic Church (Gainesville, VA)
Hannah Churn, Al Goodwyn, Carolyn Belefski, Matt Rawson, Troy-Jeffery Allen

October 20, 2018
Blood Drive at Palisades Community Church (Washington, DC)
Eric Gordon, Carolyn Belefski, Steve Artley, Joe Sutliff

October 25, 2018
Blood Drive at The King's College, Student Union (New York, NY)
Ed Steckley, Jason Chatfield, Ray Alma

September 30, 2018
”Cartoonists Draw Blood" panel at Baltimore Comic-Con
Wes Haynes, Troy-Jeffery Allen, Chris Flick, Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski

October 21, 2017
Blood Drive at Palisades Community Church
Eric Gordon, Carolyn Belefski, Steve Artley, Joe Sutliff, Art Hondros, Troy-Jeffery Allen

October 29, 2016
Blood Drive at Seekers Church (Washington, DC)
Mike Jenkins, Carolyn Belefski, Liz Reed, Mal Jones, Bill Brown, Art Hondros, Eric Gordon, Joe Sutliff, Kerry Johnson, Troy-Jeffery Allen

July 7- September 4, 2016
”Cartoonists Draw Blood" art exhibit at Takoma Park Community Center (Takoma Park, Maryland)
Art Hondros, Bill Brown, Carolyn Belefski, Eric Gordon, Jake Warrenfeltz, Jay Payne, Joe Carabeo, Joe Sutliff, Mal Jones, Matt Rawson, Steve Artley, Steve Loya, Teresa Roberts Logan

October 31, 2015
Blood Drive at Seekers Church (Washington, DC)
Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Bill Brown, Chris Flick, Eric Gordon, Art Hondros, Mal Jones, Teresa Roberts Logan, Joe Sutliff, Troy-Jeffery Allen

May 31, 2014
Blood Drive at Seekers Church (Washington, DC)
Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Bill Brown, Eric Gordon, Mal Jones, Teresa Roberts Logan, Jay Payne, Matt Rawson, Joe Sutliff, Troy-Jeffery Allen

November 2, 2013
Blood Drive at Seekers Church (Washington, DC)
Steve Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Bill Brown, Eric Gordon, Art Hondros, Mal Jones, Teresa Roberts Logan, Steve Loya, Jay Payne, Joe Sutliff, Jake Warrenfeltz, JTW, Troy-Jeffery Allen

Carolyn has organized and contributed to anthologies and other comics projects. Here is a small sampling:

Carnival Anthology
Carolyn organized and published her first anthology featuring people she admired, most of whom she met as fellow exhibitors at comic conventions. With the carnival theme in mind, the book is dedicated to showcasing individual artistic styles and storytelling techniques. Joe Carabeo, Carolyn Belefski, Elizabeth Watasin, Ava Ann Vrooman, John Bintz, Else Tennessen,  Kris Black, Rafer Roberts, Terry Flippo, Jim Coon, Nick DeStefano, Kenneth Rocafort, Rob Levin, and Rafael Navarro are all the writers and artists involved in the project.

Queen Crab
Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Jonah Hex, Harley Quinn) asked Carolyn to create a pin-up for his graphic novel, Queen Crab. The project was funded by Kickstarter and published by Image Comics. 

Wonder Woman
Carolyn created art that was produced on t-shirts for Wonder Woman Day 2010. The original sketch was donated to Comic Fusion, a comic store in Flemington, New Jersey, to use in an auction to benefit SAFE in Hunterdon, a non-profit agency serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

RISE: Comics Against Bullying
Carolyn worked on the story “Left Behind” with writer Elizabeth-Amber Love in this comics series dealing with bullying. It is currently in production and geared to be distributed for free by organizations such as GLAAD, Stand for the Silent, and Prism Comics.