Comments on: Charles Keeping’s Cockney Ding Dong

By: Jonathan Madden

Jonathan Madden — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 10:08:40 +0000

Charles Keeping was such a gifted and prolific illustrator, the drawings and prints are full of vitality and spirit. I am very fortunate to own a copy of Cockney Ding Dong, published by Penguin in 1975. My bookshelves also play host to a complete set of Folio Society Charles Dickens, all illustrated by him, a monumental body of work. Thanks GE for posting an excellent article about him and his family.

By: C Scofield

C Scofield — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 14:07:46 +0000

What a talented, observant man! Your portrayal was terrific.

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 14:02:43 +0000

Although this illustrator is a name brand for you — rightfully so! — I have learned about him through Spitalfields Life. And am so grateful. He is a master of so many t0pics — and maintains a signature style throughout. I love the dripping/drizzling COLOR and the intricate web of line work. Flawless composition – he guides the viewer’s eye to JUST the right spot — and mixes up the areas of dense detail with big sweeping blocks of white space. Just feast your eyes on the costumed girl with white skirt. In theory, she should have been swamped by that intricate background —
but Keeping is fully in control; knowing how to make her the star of the panel. I’m especially fond of the piano player at the top. Wow. The artist caresses the wood grain of the piano, with his
pen work, and he provides the “audience” for the tune with the row of framed photos above. A masterpiece of illustrated art, if you ask me. Thank you, GA.

By: Eve

Eve — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 11:21:30 +0000

Charles Keeping’s pictures of everyday realism are brought to life by his enthusiasm for his characters & their circumstances. Thank goodness he persevered against all odds, defying the status quo & doing as he wanted!

By: Christine

Christine — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 10:46:29 +0000

What a superb artist! I had never heard of him before. I especially love the 3rd drawing as it reminds me of the video for Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds x

By: Bailey Jones

Bailey Jones — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 10:30:14 +0000

A wonderful success story about a man who stayed close to his roots.
The illustrations are superb. Thank goodness his doctor was so encouraging and supportive.

By: Ellie Ling

Ellie Ling — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 09:57:12 +0000

Thank you for such a fascinating interview with Vicky and Sean Keeping about their father Charles. It provided a lot of really interesting background about him and the way he worked. As a student of Illustration at art college some years ago, I came across Charles Keeping’s work, and realised who it was who had been responsible for all those illustrations I had so loved

as a child. I’ve always admired his flowing eloquent lines….his drawings are just beautiful. And in a way his work acts almost as his autobiography, revealing those aspects of his life which were so important to him, and infusing them with a very distinctive energy.

By: Bernie

Bernie — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 08:09:29 +0000

I have never before heard of this excellent artist. His ability to render horses and carts is particularly notable.

By: Vivian French

Vivian French — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 07:51:40 +0000

Thank you so much for this! I’ve always been a massive fan of Charles Keeping’s work; I have an original watercolour that I love dearly. I didn’t know that he lived in Vauxhall Walk. Walker Books, one of the greatest publishers of illustrated children’s books, is at number 73… I find that quite ironic.
Thank you so much for all your articles. They give me huge pleasure….
Vivian