Ganesh and some Hindu sculptures

A few more from drawing at the Met.

Merry Christmas!

I know a lot of people will be traveling this week, so I figured I'd post my Christmas Card from this year a bit early. It was originally done for the They Draw and Cook website (posted on December 1) and if you checked my blog earlier this month, you may have seen it already. Hope everyone enjoys their week!





Also, I joined twitter. I'm @ CookingUpComics if you want to see what kind of random stuff I post that's not necessarily art related.

This post actually has a happy ending!

This made me sad the other day: Cosmic Comics is closing! But then I found out that they're staying open under new management. I went to art school about 5 blocks from their store, yet only visited for the first time a few years ago. They are a nice little shop, hope the new management keeps them going! Cosmic Comics was also featured in Urban Nomad 3 in the story of the day Allan and I became domestic partners:


(Click image to see it full size)

Stoned and Dangerous

One of the web projects I worked on launched in November, and here it is! It's a promo for Bride magazine with the catchy title "Stoned and Dangerous." Art direction and design by Chris Pace, Flash animation by me! You can add your picture via your computer or facebook and see what kind of bride you are! This is one of the reasons I was off the radar in September and October. It also got a writeup in The New York Times!

Zen

I went to the Met with Cynthea last week. We were disappointed that the costume institute was closed. But we sketched in the Asian wing and the zen garden.

Life Drawing

A few more one minute drawings and a four minute.

Some comics news!

I just noticed Urban Nomad was reviewed by ComicsGirl in November! We met at King Con and she wrote a super sweet review on her blog. My favorite part:

"My favorite is the story of how she and her boyfriend Allan became domestic partners (for health insurance purposes — which I think is totally great). It’s sweet and simple and if you don’t want to hang out with them after reading this, something is wrong with you."

Thanks for the review, Eden!
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Also, I have some photos and thoughts about the live reading at Bluestockings over on my other blog!

Hope these posts aren't like a broken record!

A few more sketches from King Con. I forgot to bring an extra cartridge for my brush pen on Sunday but luckily I always have something to draw with. It still kind of fascinates me how my style changes depending on the tools I'm using.





Last night I did my first live reading from my comic "Urban Nomad" at Bluestockings, complete with visuals thanks to a loaned laptop. It was pretty cool to get immediate feedback from my work that most people read quietly on their own time. The event was for The Zinesters Guide to NYC which I've been mentioning a lot, and would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone who loves the Big Apple!

King Con 2

More sketches from November.




A reminder, I'll be at the Zinesters Guide to NYC reading this Sunday December 5th at Bluestockings at 172 Allen Street starting at 7 pm. I'll be reading a selection from Urban Nomad #3 and other contributors will be reading from their zines and comics as well. There will also be a vegetarian potluck! Hope to see some familiar faces!

They Draw and Cook

I have a holiday recipe illustration up on They Draw and Cook! It's partway down the page. Check it out!

Sales!

I've decided that I'll be raising the internet prices for my mini comics in the next year to include the cost of shipping. My con prices will remain the same for the time being, but if you're interested in getting Urban Nomad at the low price of $5 and Counter Attack for $2, December is your last chance online! Sorry, I can still only ship to North America.

I also don't have a paypal link for Urban Nomad #3 since I only have a limited number of issues printed. BUT if you'd like a copy I'll be taking online orders until the end of December. Write in the paypal notes of Urban Nomad #2 that you'd like issue #3 instead. Or if you'd prefer, drop me an email. (alisamharris at hotmail dot com)

Check out the shop on my blog for preview pages and order info!



If anyone is interested in original art, my cupcake paintings are now available on the 6x6 Gallery website! I may be using the images for greeting cards in the new year. Anyone want to see cupcake cards?



This coming Sunday December 5th is another reading by contributors to the Zinesters Guide to NYC. This one will be at Bluestockings at 172 Allen Street starting at 7 pm. The evening includes live readings as well as a vegetarian potluck! So bring some veggie snacks and come on down. If you're interested in picking up a copy of the Zinesters Guide, let me know and I'll see if I can get you a sweet discount.

One and two minute drawings

I finally had a weeknight open to attend life drawing class at the end of November.

King Con 1

As promised, here are some brush pen sketches from the first day at King Con.

Rear window

I did a quick watercolor study a week or so ago before the leaves fell from the colorful tree behind our apartment. We don't have the greatest view, but at least the trees give a slice of the natural world before they shed their colors.



And just so I don't miss it, Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you can celebrate surrounded by family and friends this week.

Pac Man

If you know any Filipinos (especially if you're dating one) you know who Manny Pacquiao is. Saturday night Allan and I were at his parents house to watch the fight. I'm not a big fan of violence and as a kid was particularly squeamish. Yet I sit and watch and draw the opening fights before the final one where Mom will scream loud enough to scare the cat and Dad awake.





Today is my sweetie's birthday and he's also speaking tonight at the Graphic Artist's Guild!

Zinesters Guide to NYC

A lil review of the release party is over here.

Also, if you're sad you missed out on the fun, fear not! There is another live reading scheduled for Sunday December 5 from 7-8:30 pm at Bluestockings Books (172 Allen Street between Stanton and Rivington) There will be a vegetarian potluck and contributors will be reading from their own zines and comics! Here's the Facebook invite if you're so inclined.

Things have been crazy busy, but I'll try to get some sketches up on the blog by the end of the week.

Yay King Con!

Thanks to everyone who came out to say hi and especially those who bought a book!





I wrote up a little review of the con and posted some more photos here.

EDIT: Allan and I also got a mention on The Beat and Comicsgirl! Thanks Heidi and Eden, glad you enjoyed the books!

ZGNYC

This Thursday November 11th from 7-8:30 pm is the release party for the Zinesters Guide to New York at the Housing Works Bookstore Cafe! Written by Lower East Side resident and zine-maker Ayun Halliday, the book features art and reviews by some local artists, including myself! The guide has an endorsement from none other than Stephen Colbert, so that alone should be reason to check it out!

There will be live music by The Bushwick Bookclub, a live reading from the guide and a mini zine fair where you can pick up mini comics and zines from the contributors. I'll have some issues of Counter Attack with me (and possibly Urban Nomad 3 if you'd like to pick one up and speak up in the comments). All food and drink purchases benefit Housing Works in the fight against homelessness and AIDS.

Housing Works is located at 126 Crosby St (below Houston)

If you're not in NYC, you can still pick up the book online from Microcosm Publishing, Amazon or Powells. I'm so excited to see how it turned out and hope to see some familiar faces on Thursday!

Charmingwall reception!

The Charmingwall Gallery reception on Friday was INSANE! I couldn't believe how many people were lined up on the sidewalk to get a peek at the final 6x6 show! Allan and I were able to squeeze inside for a few minutes to take a look at the variety of artistic styles that covered the walls in the tiny gallery. If you get a chance to check it out, I highly recommend it. There are quite a number of good pieces in the show which is up until the beginning of December.

King Con this weekend!!

Allan and I will be sharing a table at King Con at The Brooklyn Lyceum from 11 am to 7 pm this Saturday and Sunday! Come out, say hi, maybe take a look through Urban Nomad 3...


A quick shout-out to my peeps at The Village Copier who did a phenomenal job delivering my babies! New York City made, all the way!

I'll also have some sample pages from Cooking Up Comics for those of you who have been so patient with me getting a webcomic off the ground.

King Con this weekend!

Thumbnails for the back and interior covers of Urban Nomad #3


I'm pretty happy with how the back cover came out.


Oh what the heck: Here's a preview of the first page!


Come by my table at King Con this weekend and say hi to Allan and I!

Final Cupcake paintings

Here are the last few process photos I took a few weeks ago. I haven't painted in oils since I took a class in art school. I still prefer watercolors, but there is something nice about the juicy paint and applying it to the canvas.







You can come see these two little guys at the last 6x6 Gallery Show at the Charmingwall Gallery. The artist reception is this Friday and the show runs through December 5th. They will also be available to view and to buy from the 6x6 website if you can't make it out to the gallery!

Pumpkin time

So I decided what I wanted to carve into my pumpkin...Pangur Ban from The Secret of Kells! This was my first time carving a pumpkin like this instead of the traditional way and I ended up using a sculpting tool I found in my art box. I think it turned out rather well for a pumpkin that's already starting to go south. (It was sitting above my radiator for a week.) It will probably be soup by next week. But for now it looks at me from the table.

Happy Halloween!

A little pen doodle I painted up in Photoshop for the occasion. Now to figure out what to carve in my pumpkin...

Urban Nomad #3

So I mentioned in a previous post that my original theme of Central Park didn't seem to fit in that well with my earlier issues. So here are thumbnails of the final cover theme: Coney Island!



Partially inked cover


Final color in Photoshop


You can pick up Urban Nomad #3 (in addition to my other comics) at King Con November 6 & 7 at the Brooklyn Lyceum!

Cupcakes!

I did 2 little paintings for the last 6x6 show at the Charmingwall Gallery in NYC. Here are some photos I took along the way. I'll post up the final pictures soon.