Creators: Mia Paluzzi, Chris Delk
Publisher: Iris Print
Age Rating: Teen
Genre: Romance
RRP: $12.95
Paintings of You
Reviewed by Dan Polley

In Mia Paluzzi and Chris Delk’s “Paintings of You,” Claudio Verges is an up-and-coming painter who dazzles the art world with his wonderful technique. But he has a secret no one knows about. “But I don’t feel any of it,” he says. “I don’t love it. It’s … it’s nothing but work. Because when it all comes down to it, no matter how well I can paint … I still have nothing to say.”

And Claudio doesn’t do well as he starts the volume out by transferring to a new college and alienating a couple of students who seemed ready to befriend him. One of those students, Benedict Connor, is a photography grad student and Claudio opines in front of him and others that “There’s no talent involved in using a camera. They’re made to ‘point and click.’ ”

But Claudio encounters Ben a few days later and the two have a cathartic conversation. In the end, Ben helps Claudio try to find meaning in his painting, in his art. As the two continue to meet to help Claudio find meaning, they grow closer, but are forced apart a bit by Claudio’s roommate, who unwittingly spreads an erroneous rumor about Claudio’s potential love interest.

“Paintings of You” is, at heart, a love story that centers on the relationship between Claudio and Ben. Their relationship, just like any other, has its ups and downs, but generally fares well in the end — at least that’s what Claudio hopes will happen.

Some of the twists in the plot seem a bit unbelievable, but not enough to sway the reader from the story. The relationships are a great focal point for the story. Claudio’s roommate and his boyfriend are a bit stereotypically over the top, but provide enough humor in the story to make their characters worthwhile.

The sharp, dark lines of Delk’s art creates a great template for Claudio’s rough-around-the-edges character.

“Paintings of You” is a touching love story that does well in trying not to do anything more than it knows it can. It casts compelling characters who are dedicated to each other and helps to show love as something beautiful.

Comment on this review of Paintings of You on the Manga Life Forums.


6 October 2009
Naruto v46
We Were There v6



home | reviews | news | features | about us | advertise | privacy policy | contact us
All materials © Manga Life, 2005 - Site designed and hosted by Silver Bullet Hosting