“Sidelong Glance” is the title of the new comic by Maisie Cowel, a young illustrator and comics artist with a straightforward and sensitive style.
Just after graduating from the University of Brighton, and after a whirlwind of doubts and questions about the future of the world and her job, Maisie chose to ride the wave of her existential crisis and created an indulgent and witty comic.

“Sidelong Glance” is a collection of single plates, paginated and printed by Bug Belt Books, a small zine and comic book publisher and printer. Maisie’s publication collects funny images, made in ink and black acrylic on purple rice paper, which deal with episodes of loneliness and dissatisfaction.

“I think I was trying to find a way to personify that frustration I had, in the literal sense of being an artist unhappy with the work they’re making but also with feeling emotionally a bit stuck.”

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The protagonists of the story are an artist and a bird, linked by a dysfunctional relationship. Maisie’s story is not strictly autobiographical, but processes multiple stimuli and contains elements of references from both the artist and other people.
“Sidelong Glance” mixes wit and dismay and meanwhile demonstrates how from the worst moments one can always find inspiration to create something new. Maisie was able to find meaning and inspiration in her work after this negative period and is now a fully-fledged freelance artist and illustrator.

Check out some of her new comic here and follow her on Instagram to make sure you don’t miss any more updates.