Page 45 Review by Stephen
One man's memory of his Mum, ADRIFT ON A PAINTED SEA is neither mawkish nor maudlin but quiet, tight, dignified and head-shakingly effective.
So many of our memories are visual, as are their triggers and associations. So it is here, both within and without the car, pertaining to the paintings or otherwise.
Written and drawn by Tim Bird, creator of THE GREAT NORTH WOOD, a former Page 45 Comicbook Of The Month, it incorporates paintings by Sue Bird, his Mum. You'll understand why when you read it.
Published by Avery Hill. They write:
"Sue Bird was always painting: botanical art, landscapes, still lifes, and especially the sea. She took classes, kept countless sketchbooks, and filled the house with art. From their neighborhood to their family trips, all the moments of her life were memorialized in her artwork. Throughout her life, she never sold a piece-she gave art to family and friends, and shared her work online, but never received wider recognition for her work.
This graphic novel by her son, Tim Bird, explores their family life and her creative explorations through a mix of her paintings and Tim's comics, depicting their relationship and her life from teenagehood to her struggle with cancer at the height of the COVID pandemic. After her death, this graphic novel at last showcases her work."
