Kickstarting Comics: Tim Bird’s ‘Adrift On A Painted Sea’

Something new to get behind on Kickstarter: Adrift on a Painted Sea by Tim Bird.

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As I always say, Avery Hill is one of those publishers whose works I will always take a good look at, knowing that their history is absolutely full of books that I’ve loved. They’ve also got a fine track record of breaking incredible new talent such as Tillie Walden and Zoe Thorogood, both of whom had their first graphic novels published by Avery Hill.

So every time I get an email from them, every time they notify of a new Kickstarter, I know it’s going to be, at the very least, something interesting. More often than not, it will end up being one of my favourite books of the year.

This time though, I already know the work of the artist, Tim Bird, well, having seen his increasingly poignant and thoughtful works find a home at Avery Hill for over a decade now. And this new one, Adrift on a Painted Sea, looks to be something very special.

The graphic memoir is said to be an exploration of family, loss, and art through the author’s relationship with his mother. As with every other of Bird’s work, it’s got that sense of gentle, poetic drifting about it, his artwork stylised yet never anything less than evocative, accomplishing so much in an economy of line that’s just perfect for the stories he’s telling.

Here’s a little of what I had to say about Bird’s The Great North Wood back in 2019…

“The Great North Wood is a beautiful piece of comics work, the sort of drifting, delicate, thoughtful thing that I have to admit to being very partial to. But, it’s a wonderfully immersive experience, something that rewards your time, gives you more as you give yourself to the pace and the rhythm of the work, letting the slow passage of time control your reading. Let it overwhelm you, intrigue you, entertain you, delight you, it’s yet another beautiful example of what comics can be, something the best of British comics have been doing for many years now.”

Expect a lot more of that in Adrift on a Painted Sea.

As for what it’s about, Avery Hill are telling us this at the Kickstarter…

“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.

At its heart a book about creativity and family relationships, Adrift on a Painted Sea tells a story about the things we overlook in the people closest to us.”

Yes, I have a feeling I’ll be absolutely loving this one.

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Obviously, the Kickstarter for this is all about getting the book published and putting as much of the funds raised in Bird’s pocket, so the main tiers for this are the physical and digital versions of the book. But there will be plenty of extras to look at – a postcard set featuring art by Sue Bird, a making of/back story 20-page zine by Tim looking at the creative process for the book, and signed and sketched edtions

So, all you really need to do now is head to the Kickstarter and back it.

Adrift On A Painted Sea – by Tim Bird, published by Avery Hill Publishing
Kickstarter runs until Friday 21 June 2024, 9:00 pm BST