Thank you for this video on Ronald Searle. I am in a foul mood today, hating the holidays. My parents died seven years ago & I have found myself retired with no husband or children. Searle blowing up his characters in an explosion fit my mood beautifully. And then I saw his cartoon of Nigel, who I suddenly recognized from childhood, which was nice. His war captivity was horrifically depressing, but somehow he managed to "create himself through" his pain & suffering. I was not surprised that he found himself drawing Scrooge from A Christmas Carol directly after his split with Kay. That story has long been a companion of mine at Christmas, thrust in my face, dripping with tears. You're the best, Pete Beard. Thanks for everything.
Hello again and thanks a lot for your very personal response to Searle and his work. How he ever found humour following his war experiences is beyond me. I'm sure I'd have thrown in the towel.
And happy holidays to you to - hohoho. Alright, seriously this is a very nice comment you left despite your mood and I hope you only blow up imaginary people in the future. At least you could do a lot worse than feeding your mind visiting this channel and to soothe your sardonic temper may I suggest doing that even more by reading Ferdinand, the man with the friendly heart by Keune. Peace (not humbug).
@@leemeadows9292 I have a 14-year-old Cavalier King Charles-Cocker Spaniel mix and a nine-year-old Merle Chihuahua. My old Beagle died in March this year. My dogs are my world.
@@petebeard Hi Pete, Veterans develop a "black" or "gallows" humor pretty quickly. It's a defense mechanism. Did Searle serve as a Marine or a sailor? Peace.
Lovely tribute. He was also a huge influence as well: it's hard to see Scarfe or Steadman having their careers without having studied his vision & absorbed its lessons.
There is a vibrancy and consistency about Searle’s work, such that his illustrations have a life of their own. His images invoke a feeling that his world really exists somewhere, and he is just documenting it. This is a truly worthy tribute to Ronald Searle. Well done and thank you Pete.
Hello and thanks for that insight. Ive always found that 'non-realistic' illustrators are far better at conjuring reality than those who prefer slavish representation.
“To the Kwai and Back” is an extraordinary, devastating read. Huge fan here in Oz, he was the best and you never waste our time Pete. Many thanks again.
Hello and thanks for the comment. Judging by the comments it seems he is more globally recognised than many others I can think of. Maybe there's hope for mankind after all...
A worthy tribute to a man who has been a key part of many people's childhood reading. His was a life deservedly well lived, having survived unimaginable horrors at the hands of the Japanese in WWII. Thank you Pete.
Thanks a lot. I was never much of a reader when I was a kid but the Molesworth books had me howling. Undoubtedly one of the greatest illustrators this country has produced.
Your excellent work in bringing so many illustrators back from lost history is never a "waste of your time", I for one are most grateful indeed for your efforts. Thank you Pete.
You certainly haven't been wasting your time, Pete. This is a wonderful tribute to a fine illustrator with a genius touch for portraying humans and animals with unforgettable absurdity. As you say, he survived the war, but from what I've read of his life, his experience as a POW of the Japanese affected him more profoundly than we will probably ever appreciate. It might account for his distortion of the human figure, which of course is unique to his drawing style. Thanks again for the series.
Hello again and many thanks for your comment and insight. I must admit that before making the video I had not made a connection between his war drawings and sunsequent cartoon style, but that general emaciation is hard to ignore. He was in my book a true giant of the pen.
You never waste my time. Every time I see a new video - it makes my day. I learn new things about illustrators I did not know or sometimes knew very little. Thank you!
Oh yes! I can remember the school girls ànd the chubby cats of Searle from my youth. He really was / is fantàstic ! Thank you for sharing. He shouldn't be forgotten indeed.
No, Pete, you haven't been wasting your time. Searle is one of the all-time greats. A major source of inspiration; I'm staring at RONALD SEARLE'S AMERICA as I type, always within reach here in the studio. I first become aware of him back in the States with his New Yorker covers. As an illustrator myself, I've been searching for a copy of his CHRISTMAS CAROLE for my collection (that won't break my bank account) ;-).. His story-telling ability in just one illustration, with action, expressions and tone is always a revelation. A wonderful tribute and video, Pete. Thanks as always.
Hello again and thanks a lot for your positive comment. I think anyone who lays claim to humour in their illustration has to acknowledge some sort of debt to Searle - in spirit if not in style. Good luck with the book hunt.
'Tis a far, far better year, with the programs of Pete Beard in 2022, than I would have ever known had, HAD I been bereft of UNSUNG ILLUSTRATORS . MERCI and happy days of Celebration to you and your family. Continue to be inspired and to inspire we the people who would perish without a vision. Respectfully and gratefully yours, Gregg Oreo long Beach Ca Etats Unis
Ronald Searle has been an absolute favourite of mine since I first encountered his work some time in 1971. An unparalleled draughtsman with a keen eye for detail and the absurd.
A wonderful tribute and reintroduction to an amazing talent. I am so glad you spend your time not wasting, but educating people like me. Thank you, sir.
Hello Gabriel. Thanks for your comment. It's amazing to me how he can draw something so unlike the actual creature and yet it seems more real than reality
Thank you so much for this! As a child, I saw the Belles of St. Trinian's and asked my parents if they would please send me to that school. The parental units exchanged worried looks over my head. When they explained that it was all pretend, I became very depressed and did not want to continue grade school. When I heard that the school had caught fire, it felt like a little justice had been exacted on the educational system. And no, I didn't have anything to do with it except some wishful thinking.
Hello and many thanks for your recent comments. Your reminiscences about St. Trinians made me laugh. Although I attended an all male grammar school in the 60s the general atmosphere and mayhem was very like Searle's evocations of school life. Masters in mortar boards and gowns and little devils like me trying to get away with whatever we could.
@petebeard I referred to it as "how far can I bend a rule without breaking it?" I became very adept at that! Well, and looking 100% innocent with plenty in reserve.
Thanks for the video, Peter. As it is Ronald Searle I did the appropriate thing giving the video mu full attention while drinking my coffee. You could say I have long appreciated Ronald Searle as I came across his Down With Skool back in the late 60's when I was about the same age as Nigel Molesworth. I was one of a number of boys in my year who became a fan. I have recently started buying some of his books and I now possess five in total including Paris Sketchbook and Looking At London. These two do remind be very much of the French street photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Brassai or Robert Doisneau. And, as you said, they are now something of an historical record. A prolific tallent and an inspiration to many.
There was a book my sister Casey and I read growing up. It was comics, but, haunting and strange. I hadn't thought of it in four or five decades. I searched to no avail on the internet. I had no author name, just a memory. "I'll never find it", so I just gave the problem to the Universe (with trust). This was last evening! I'm on YT this morning and among all the political and sailing vids there's this one about an artist. Unusual. So I clicked it thinking(with trust), "What are the odds?" It's him! I'm excited. Ronald Searle. Then, while overwhelmed looking at his collections, I said to myself, "I'll never find that one book, I don't even remember the name or what it looked like"(also with trust). Instantly there it was after I thought that! "Merry England, etc." by Ronald Searle. Thank you, Casey. Wherever you are in the Universe.
Hello and thanks a lot for your recollection. Ir's been my experience that illustrators have had a far more profound and enduring effect on my own life than 'proper' artists. I'm glad I helped you to remember.
I was born ten years after Ronald Searle, in 1934. It was following the war and a move from London to Canada, I cottoned onto Ronald and his humour, and his amazing abilities to express laughter, and the sensitivities of people and life. Thanks Pete, for your excellant work. Rodney Vancouver Island Canada
Almost flawless. As a lifelong Tom Lehrer fan I can well remember my parents' copy of Too Many Songs by Tom Lehrer with Not Enough Drawings by Ronald Searle. In those days it made a difference,😀
Bravo another brilliantly concise homage to an original and engaging illustrator. Thank you for adding to the continuing restoration of comic genius to the forefront of the cultural landscape.
Hello and thanks for the comment. 'm still unable to work out how Searle could draw both cats and birds so unlike the actual animals in terms of 'realism' and yet they were such accurate and funny portrayals.
I’ve loved Searle’s work for a long time, and Molesworth’s “Back in the Jug Again” is still on my bookshelf despite moving country several times. I’m a big fan of yours and it was a special treat to watch this episode. Thank you very much.
You didn’t waste your time. You warmed the cockles of the heart of this expat in Victoria Canada. Good on yer! Always loved Mr. Searle. Have book he did for the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Hello and thanks a lot for your positive comment. And my apologies for leaving out that particular book - several others also didn't find a place in the video, unfortunately.
Hello dear Dr. Beard. You're my Doctor in my Mind. When LIFE Magazine commissioned Searle to commemorate the Electoral race between Vice president Nixon and Senator Kennedy, our art Teacher showed us the issue with Searle's terrific comic editorial art. I still recall how Searle wrote words to the effect; "I had no problem with making Nixon immediately recognizable because of a nose like Bob Hope's . But. Senator Kennedy is so handsome: all I can do is pile more hair and more hair atop his head in clouds of cotton candy. " Thank you for reminding me of my adolescent encounter with the genius gentleman. Cheers to you Sir! Happy April 2023! Respectfully yours Gregg Oreo Long Beach Ca Etats Unis
Thank you!! This brings back memories of my childhood growing up in the simpler times of the 1950s, enjoying the St. Trinians and Molesworth books, as well as Searle's cats. It was he who introduced me to the horrors of the Burma railway, and who brings into my head the title song of "Those Magnificent Men" whenever I see those illustrations. I must follow up on some of those other publications !
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. From the sound of things we are pretty much contemporaries and all the things you listed are reasons why I've loved his work fo the greater part of my life. And happy hunting for the books - all are worth investigating.
Immensely enjoyable video, which l could have happily watched at twice the length. I live in the French countryside and recently came across the French translation of "The Illustrated Winespeak, Ronald Searle's wicked world of winetasting" (1985) at a bric-a-brac shop for 1€. Gloriously hilarious. Thank you so much for posting.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of the video. I would happily make them longer in some cases, but as it is average view time is about half the video's length. Attention spans aren't what they used to be.
@@petebeard Liked, Subscribed, entertained, informed, educated and delighted, since. Your own enthusiasm is contagious. and as the word means: " The God Within" . The light shines bright in your postings. 🌠
I have the book Ronald Searle in Perspective. He could say so much more in one illustration than words could possibly say written in a whole book. Thanks Pete, most enjoyable.
Hello and thanks for your comment. I know I'm biased but I've always thought that the expression 'a picture is worth a thousand words' was particulalrly accurate.
A beautiful homage to a beautiful artist. We mighty as Well point to a standing and defining characterístic of His work, which was the creation of the utmost surroundings and atmospheres. Be It in the form of intrincate architectures or crammed interiors that define And stablishes the true meaning of the story mucho vividly than words.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation and comment. It has to be said that many overlook Searle's abilities as an observational drawer. How he could be so apparently haphazard and yet so accurate I'll never know.
Thank you, Mr Beard. Sometimes I see an unfamiliar Impressionist painting and don't know if it's a Renoir or a Monet. But there is never any doubt whatsoever when I'm looking at the work of Ronald Searle. I was always delighted when I found one of his eccentric and delightful drawings lending some style and class to the pages of an otherwise boring magazine. I think my favorites were his gowned and tuxedoed society swells. No, wait, the St. Trinians hellions. Or maybe the impossibly fluffy cats... But they're ALL wonderful.
Hello and many thanks for both your recent favourable comments about videos on the channel. Both Jack Davis and Ronald Searle were idols of mine when I was a teenager so I heartily concur with your high opinion of their work. They provided me with a lifetime of laughter.
Omg, Mr. Beard, you have not been wasting your time!!! Thank you! Even though I've enjoyed Searle's work since I was a little kid it's so much fun seeing work of his I'd never seen before! I'd not heard of his St.Trinnians! Imagine, a whole school of Mean Girls!! He was an absolute genius!!
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment and appreciation. If you have never seen them, a couple of the 50s films are well worth a viewing. Alistair Sim - genius comic actor!
Thank you for reaquainting me with Mr. Searle, I loved his work when I was in college and now will have to find what I did with his books...I know they are around here somewhere!
As a child in the 50s I acquired a tattered copy of Souls in Torment that eventually fell apart, and as the decades passed I regretted not keeping it. Luckily, about 10 years ago I came across a second hand copy in a charity shop, and I am taking special care of it now. It was interesting to see how despite my having aged quite a bit my reactions to the brilliant illustrations were unchanged (although maybe I now appreciate some of the double entendres a bit better).
Hello and thanks for the comment. I'm annoyed with myself that I missed this book out. Others were left out too but that was inevitable. This was an oversight on my part. Damn.
@@petebeard In fact I'm sure that one or two of the images that you showed were in that book anyway. I'm wondering how that book affected a 7 or 8 year old boy and his view of the opposite sex...
A wonderful discussion, as are all of your examinations that I have seen (numbering at least twenty) . And a special appreciation for your background music selections, so appropriate.
Wasting your time?! No, indeed! You are enriching the world with these videos, and educating us all! I've been a Searle fan all my life, yet never knew about many of these books. And I'm going to look up the Dick Deadeye movie as soon as I've posted this. You are an international treasure, Mr. Beard. Thank you for these gems.
Hello and many thanks for your support and appreciation. I have a feeling Deadeye is available on youtube but the resolution is pretty bad - which is why I didn't include actual footage in the video.
And hello again. If memory serves it was you who mentioned the Lehrer book, and that convinced me to make room for it in the video. I'm mildly ashamed to admt it was then on the proverbial cutting room floor.
Hello and thanks for the appreciation. Reading those books always takes me back to my own schooldays. It wasn't a public school but it was run on similar lines with teachers in gowns and plenty of casual beatings.
I am sure I have seen his illustrations in a number of children's books by Roald Dahl. I note the pointy nose and pointy beak as a characteristic aspect of his characterizations. Thank you for another excellent production.
Dear Wonderful Mr. Beard. In 1960 my darling mentor, Verajoan Nickles-Nelson, showed her art class the bizarre work of this featured artist who had been paid by either LOOK or EVENING POST to cover the Kennedy-Nixon campaign for U. S. President. She read to us the comments of your featured artist, 'Kennedy was so handsome that all I could do, to satirist him, was pile hair atop hair atop hair ', and,, he did.. we all were inspired to be caricature artists! By the by! At this Christmas season! I dearly loved the inclusion of his images of Scrooge..I am QUITE SURE that Dickens would cheer, "Bravo! That's EXACTLY WHAT I mean to convey in words! ", thanks, Doctor Beard for calling Lazarus forth from the tomes. Happy cheerful days of Celebration to you and yours. Sincerely, Gregg Oreo
You sir are the gift that keeps on giving. I have learned so much and have many artists to admire thanks to your work here. No time wasted and that's a fact. Happy Holidays and see you next year.
Hello again and thanks. Finding decent music that isn't subject ro copyright is one of the toughest parts of making these videos, so I end up re-using quite a few such as these.
No one has come close to Searle, from what I've seen, of those who followed him. He could move so freely between showing us the shades of reality & the wonderful quirks of his wit & imagination.
Ah Ronald Searle! i remember the first artwork i ever saw of him was some from St Trinian's book called Angela's Prince Charming. I quite like the art style in that one.
Just back from a 2 day power outage from a snow storm. Nice to be welcomed with a new video. You sure have not been wasting your time sir. I appreciate every artist you bring to my attention. These images are so amusing and joyful with just enough darkness to make them real and compelling. Thanks again. Stay warm and have a wonderful season.
Hello and that sounds pretty bad to me. 2 days witout power? And here I was feeling sorry for myself in the cold northwest of England. Thanks as ever for your continued appreciation of the channel.
I spent many happy hours of my childhood exploring the cartoons of Searle, and others, searching out the tiny secrets cartoonists are forever hiding in their creations! Happy times...
Hello and many thanks for your comment. While all my little chums were out on bikes or kicking footballs I was busy devouring Searle, Giles and so many others, and trying to copy their work.
Hello again, and I'm delighted that you enjoyed the video. I was very pleased with the positive responses I had from all over the place when it was first uploaded. Quite a lot of recognition from the USA of course.
Great video! Thank you! Searle did some amazingly detailed studies and fun cartoons, and is one of my favourite modern illustrators. I was, however, shocked to my core upon finally getting "The Compleet Molesworth" and finding that Nigel Molesworth was drawn to look exactly like me at that age . . . and my real name is also Nigel. One thing I would quibble about, though: the author Geoffrey Willans created the character of Molesworth in 1939, while Searle "merely" drew the acompanying cartoons, starting in the 1950s, making the character more Willans' than Searle's. Now I'm just awaiting new developments on Uli Meyer's "Molesworth" animated movie, drawn in Searle's style and using many of his actual cartoons, which had a trailer released in 2020, and nothing has been heard from since. I hope it gets released!
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. nd I stand corrected about his association with Willans. I had assumed that they had worked in collaboration for some reason. Live and learn...
Thanks for this trip down memory lane. I loved the "Down with School" books as a child. It's hard to think of another illustrator that does absurd humour quite so well.
@@petebeard I've yet to see a video of yours that I didn't enjoy. So much forgotten talent. Bringing it back into the light is such a worthwhile enterprise.
A big Big BIG THUMBS UP Mr Beard ! My wife Janet and I have been huge fans of Searle for decades. Thank you for pointing out some works that we , as Yankees would not have known about and will seek out through our British connections. The war experiences collection looks harrowing but amazing. My great uncle Paddy was a Japanese POW too and barely survived but made it home. Never talked about it understandably. I saw you had an image at the end for The Square Egg too. Thanks again Pete.
Not a waste of time at all. I had no idea who this man was though I had seen his work throughout my lifetime. He was a resilient man to have gone through so much and still retain his love for creating unique and poignant pieces. Thank you for enlightening me.
Without a doubt Ronald Searle is my favorite illustrator. I have one of his cats drawings as a postcard on my fridge right now :) thanks for profiling such and amazing and creative soul.
Definitely not wasting your time Pete, never had so many laugh out louds on your channel, what a wonderful spidery line, and what portraits! Would love to have seen him working, or gone round to his place for a boozy evening meal! If his work wasn't so light-hearted, he'd be widely considered a genius!
Hello again and thanks as ever for your appreciation. I've always thought it unjust and puzzling that the term 'genius' is bandied about a lot when it comes to 'proper' art, but not so much for the humble illustrator.
@@petebeard Absolutely agree! There's a huge class thing Fine Art vs the rest of the visual arts, and talent counts for very little. I often wonder how individual cartoonists and illustrators would have fared if they had stuck to a Fine Arts route, and of course vice versa - plenty of 20th century 'artists' would have gone nowhere!
This was always the video I was hoping you would do Pete, but didn't want impose on you. I just got my Christmas present! Thanks so much Pete! Terry, from Albury Australia.
Hello and many thanks. Don't worry about 'imposing'. I'm quite happy with requests as long as people don't mind waiting. The list of those still to feature is dauntingly long but it keeps me out of mischief I suppose. Your continued support is very welcome.
Searle was a genius who reinvented himself regularly, without changing very much. He was a master draughtsman and I doubt there has ever been a better cartoonist/humourist. Thank you for the video which brings together so much of his work.
*Searle* did an outstanding job on his *Christmas Carol* illustrations as well as his *cat/s* art I might be biased toward the latter as I'm feeding 18 of'em😻 *THX Pete*
Hi again and thanks a lot for the appreciation. 18? Really? Long ago I had 4 and that was more than enough. But when I fall out of my tree I'd like to return as a cat.
Great tribute and retrospective. Lovingly crafted . One of the great illustrators, satirists and creative geniuses ever to put pen to paper. Thank you for this.
Thank you for this video on Ronald Searle. I am in a foul mood today, hating the holidays. My parents died seven years ago & I have found myself retired with no husband or children. Searle blowing up his characters in an explosion fit my mood beautifully. And then I saw his cartoon of Nigel, who I suddenly recognized from childhood, which was nice. His war captivity was horrifically depressing, but somehow he managed to "create himself through" his pain & suffering. I was not surprised that he found himself drawing Scrooge from A Christmas Carol directly after his split with Kay. That story has long been a companion of mine at Christmas, thrust in my face, dripping with tears. You're the best, Pete Beard. Thanks for everything.
Hello again and thanks a lot for your very personal response to Searle and his work. How he ever found humour following his war experiences is beyond me. I'm sure I'd have thrown in the towel.
And happy holidays to you to - hohoho.
Alright, seriously this is a very nice comment you left despite your mood and I hope you only blow up imaginary people in the future. At least you could do a lot worse than feeding your mind visiting this channel and to soothe your sardonic temper may I suggest doing that even more by reading Ferdinand, the man with the friendly heart by Keune. Peace (not humbug).
Was in the same situation until I got a basset hound.
@@leemeadows9292 I have a 14-year-old Cavalier King Charles-Cocker Spaniel mix and a nine-year-old Merle Chihuahua. My old Beagle died in March this year. My dogs are my world.
@@petebeard Hi Pete, Veterans develop a "black" or "gallows" humor pretty quickly. It's a defense mechanism. Did Searle serve as a Marine or a sailor? Peace.
Lovely tribute. He was also a huge influence as well: it's hard to see Scarfe or Steadman having their careers without having studied his vision & absorbed its lessons.
Agreed. Although I’m well familiar with all of their works, I often get them mixed up
I was going to mention Steadman though I was assuming no-one would agree.
@@orsonwelles4254
Same for me even their names Ronald Searle, Gerald Scarfe, are similiar.
I was just noticing how much of an inspiration he was for the original 101 Dalmatians film as well. This man was a genius.
Hello and thanks. You are spot on with the reference to Scarfe and Steadman, and I'm sure quite a few others on both sides of the ocean.
There is a vibrancy and consistency about Searle’s work, such that his illustrations have a life of their own. His images invoke a feeling that his world really exists somewhere, and he is just documenting it. This is a truly worthy tribute to Ronald Searle. Well done and thank you Pete.
Hello and thanks for that insight. Ive always found that 'non-realistic' illustrators are far better at conjuring reality than those who prefer slavish representation.
“To the Kwai and Back” is an extraordinary, devastating read. Huge fan here in Oz, he was the best and you never waste our time Pete. Many thanks again.
Hello and thanks for the comment. Judging by the comments it seems he is more globally recognised than many others I can think of. Maybe there's hope for mankind after all...
A worthy tribute to a man who has been a key part of many people's childhood reading. His was a life deservedly well lived, having survived unimaginable horrors at the hands of the Japanese in WWII. Thank you Pete.
Thanks a lot. I was never much of a reader when I was a kid but the Molesworth books had me howling. Undoubtedly one of the greatest illustrators this country has produced.
Your excellent work in bringing so many illustrators back from lost history is never a "waste of your time", I for one are most grateful indeed for your efforts. Thank you Pete.
Hello and thanks a lot. It's great to know the effort is appreciated.
You certainly haven't been wasting your time, Pete. This is a wonderful tribute to a fine illustrator with a genius touch for portraying humans and animals with unforgettable absurdity. As you say, he survived the war, but from what I've read of his life, his experience as a POW of the Japanese affected him more profoundly than we will probably ever appreciate. It might account for his distortion of the human figure, which of course is unique to his drawing style. Thanks again for the series.
Hello again and many thanks for your comment and insight. I must admit that before making the video I had not made a connection between his war drawings and sunsequent cartoon style, but that general emaciation is hard to ignore. He was in my book a true giant of the pen.
Never knew his story. What a life. What an artist. Thanks so much for this.
Hello and yes, what a life. How he reclaimed it following the atrocities of his war exprerience I'll never know.
He had quite a life! Thank you for letting learn about another wonderful artist.
Hello again and thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. One of my all time illustration heroes.
You never waste my time. Every time I see a new video - it makes my day. I learn new things about illustrators I did not know or sometimes knew very little. Thank you!
Hello and as ever your appreciation is very welcome.
Oh yes! I can remember the school girls ànd the chubby cats of Searle from my youth. He really was / is fantàstic ! Thank you for sharing. He shouldn't be forgotten indeed.
Hello again and thanks a lot for your comment. Im glad you enjoyed the video.
No, Pete, you haven't been wasting your time. Searle is one of the all-time greats. A major source of inspiration; I'm staring at RONALD SEARLE'S AMERICA as I type, always within reach here in the studio. I first become aware of him back in the States with his New Yorker covers. As an illustrator myself, I've been searching for a copy of his CHRISTMAS CAROLE for my collection (that won't break my bank account) ;-).. His story-telling ability in just one illustration, with action, expressions and tone is always a revelation. A wonderful tribute and video, Pete. Thanks as always.
Hello again and thanks a lot for your positive comment. I think anyone who lays claim to humour in their illustration has to acknowledge some sort of debt to Searle - in spirit if not in style. Good luck with the book hunt.
'Tis a far, far better year, with the programs of Pete Beard in 2022, than I would have ever known had, HAD I been bereft of UNSUNG ILLUSTRATORS . MERCI and happy days of Celebration to you and your family. Continue to be inspired and to inspire we the people who would perish without a vision. Respectfully and gratefully yours, Gregg Oreo long Beach Ca Etats Unis
Ronald Searle has been an absolute favourite of mine since I first encountered his work some time in 1971. An unparalleled draughtsman with a keen eye for detail and the absurd.
Hello and naturally enough I agree wholeheartedly with your estimation of his work. A massively influential illustrator and a very funny man.
A wonderful tribute and reintroduction to an amazing talent. I am so glad you spend your time not wasting, but educating people like me. Thank you, sir.
Hello and thanks a lot for your positive response to the video. Your appreciation is valued, as ever.
Searle's birds!!! Watching them I remembered his sytle.....I didn't know about him and his long carrer, thank you for illustrate us!
Hello Gabriel. Thanks for your comment. It's amazing to me how he can draw something so unlike the actual creature and yet it seems more real than reality
Thank you so much for this! As a child, I saw the Belles of St. Trinian's and asked my parents if they would please send me to that school. The parental units exchanged worried looks over my head. When they explained that it was all pretend, I became very depressed and did not want to continue grade school. When I heard that the school had caught fire, it felt like a little justice had been exacted on the educational system. And no, I didn't have anything to do with it except some wishful thinking.
Hello and many thanks for your recent comments. Your reminiscences about St. Trinians made me laugh. Although I attended an all male grammar school in the 60s the general atmosphere and mayhem was very like Searle's evocations of school life. Masters in mortar boards and gowns and little devils like me trying to get away with whatever we could.
@petebeard I referred to it as "how far can I bend a rule without breaking it?" I became very adept at that! Well, and looking 100% innocent with plenty in reserve.
Thanks for the video, Peter. As it is Ronald Searle I did the appropriate thing giving the video mu full attention while drinking my coffee.
You could say I have long appreciated Ronald Searle as I came across his Down With Skool back in the late 60's when I was about the same age as Nigel Molesworth. I was one of a number of boys in my year who became a fan. I have recently started buying some of his books and I now possess five in total including Paris Sketchbook and Looking At London. These two do remind be very much of the French street photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Brassai or Robert Doisneau. And, as you said, they are now something of an historical record.
A prolific tallent and an inspiration to many.
Hello and many thanks for your comment and appreciation. I still have my Molesworth books and even in my 70s they make me laff.
There was a book my sister Casey and I read growing up. It was comics, but, haunting and strange. I hadn't thought of it in four or five decades. I searched to no avail on the internet. I had no author name, just a memory. "I'll never find it", so I just gave the problem to the Universe (with trust). This was last evening! I'm on YT this morning and among all the political and sailing vids there's this one about an artist. Unusual. So I clicked it thinking(with trust), "What are the odds?" It's him! I'm excited. Ronald Searle. Then, while overwhelmed looking at his collections, I said to myself, "I'll never find that one book, I don't even remember the name or what it looked like"(also with trust). Instantly there it was after I thought that! "Merry England, etc." by Ronald Searle. Thank you, Casey. Wherever you are in the Universe.
Hello and thanks a lot for your recollection. Ir's been my experience that illustrators have had a far more profound and enduring effect on my own life than 'proper' artists. I'm glad I helped you to remember.
I was born ten years after Ronald Searle, in 1934. It was following the war and a move from London to Canada, I cottoned onto Ronald and his humour, and his amazing abilities to express laughter, and the sensitivities of people and life. Thanks Pete, for your excellant work. Rodney Vancouver Island Canada
Hello, and thanks a lot for your appreciation of Searle - and the channel. Both are very welcome.
This appreciation of Searle gives a very broad canvas and one which does not fail to bring out the eccentric genius of the man. Thank you!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. It was a labour of love for me.
Almost flawless. As a lifelong Tom Lehrer fan I can well remember my parents' copy of Too Many Songs by Tom Lehrer with Not Enough Drawings by Ronald Searle. In those days it made a difference,😀
Hello and thanks for the comment.
Bravo another brilliantly concise homage to an original and engaging illustrator. Thank you for adding to the continuing restoration of comic genius to the forefront of the cultural landscape.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciative comment about the video and the channel.
Thanks for the memories! I especially loved Ronald Searle's cats and birds. He was a master of satire, without being spiteful.
Hello and thanks for the comment. 'm still unable to work out how Searle could draw both cats and birds so unlike the actual animals in terms of 'realism' and yet they were such accurate and funny portrayals.
No, Sir, you have NOT been wasting your time. Thank you so much for this comprehensive retrospective on Ronald Searle.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of my tribute to Searle and his genius.
I’ve loved Searle’s work for a long time, and Molesworth’s “Back in the Jug Again” is still on my bookshelf despite moving country several times. I’m a big fan of yours and it was a special treat to watch this episode. Thank you very much.
Hello and many thanks for your favourable comment. I still read my Molesworth books and they still make me laugh 60 years later.
You didn’t waste your time. You warmed the cockles of the heart of this expat in Victoria Canada. Good on yer! Always loved Mr. Searle. Have book he did for the Hudson’s Bay Company.
Hello and thanks a lot for your positive comment. And my apologies for leaving out that particular book - several others also didn't find a place in the video, unfortunately.
Hello dear Dr. Beard. You're my Doctor in my Mind. When LIFE Magazine commissioned Searle to commemorate the Electoral race between Vice president Nixon and Senator Kennedy, our art Teacher showed us the issue with Searle's terrific comic editorial art. I still recall how Searle wrote words to the effect; "I had no problem with making Nixon immediately recognizable because of a nose like Bob Hope's . But. Senator Kennedy is so handsome: all I can do is pile more hair and more hair atop his head in clouds of cotton candy. " Thank you for reminding me of my adolescent encounter with the genius gentleman. Cheers to you Sir! Happy April 2023! Respectfully yours Gregg Oreo Long Beach Ca Etats Unis
Hello again, and if I'm your doctor you need a second opinion, mon ami.
@@petebeard ha ha ha ha. Doctor of Divinity for your divine posts, scripts & narrations. Sincerely yours Gregg Oreo Long Beach Ca Etats Unis
yes yes yes...thank you!
My first encounter with Ronald Searle were the Molesworth books,
and he has been a favourite of mine ever since.
I was 10
Hello and the Molesworth series always takes me back to my old school days.
Thanks Pete - RS had slipped downwards in my memory, so it was good to be reminded of his work & his life. Best facial expressions ever.
Hello and I'm glad I've jogged your memory. He was a real genius of comedy.
Thank you.....I think that having folk say they found this informative and interesting is the actual definition of "not wasting my time." Well done😇
Hello and many thanks for your supportive comment. It's very welcome.
Thank you!! This brings back memories of my childhood growing up in the simpler times of the 1950s, enjoying the St. Trinians and Molesworth books, as well as Searle's cats. It was he who introduced me to the horrors of the Burma railway, and who brings into my head the title song of "Those Magnificent Men" whenever I see those illustrations. I must follow up on some of those other publications !
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. From the sound of things we are pretty much contemporaries and all the things you listed are reasons why I've loved his work fo the greater part of my life. And happy hunting for the books - all are worth investigating.
Immensely enjoyable video, which l could have happily watched at twice the length.
I live in the French countryside and recently came across the French translation of "The Illustrated Winespeak, Ronald Searle's wicked world of winetasting" (1985) at a bric-a-brac shop for 1€. Gloriously hilarious.
Thank you so much for posting.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of the video. I would happily make them longer in some cases, but as it is average view time is about half the video's length. Attention spans aren't what they used to be.
Thank you very much. No Sir you certainly haven't wasted you time. What a delightful find. 🌈
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation.
@@petebeard Liked, Subscribed, entertained, informed, educated and delighted, since. Your own enthusiasm is contagious. and as the word means: " The God Within" . The light shines bright in your postings. 🌠
I have the book Ronald Searle in Perspective. He could say so much more in one illustration than words could possibly say written in a whole book. Thanks Pete, most enjoyable.
Hello and thanks for your comment. I know I'm biased but I've always thought that the expression 'a picture is worth a thousand words' was particulalrly accurate.
A beautiful homage to a beautiful artist.
We mighty as Well point to a standing and defining characterístic of His work, which was the creation of the utmost surroundings and atmospheres.
Be It in the form of intrincate architectures or crammed interiors that define And stablishes the true meaning of the story mucho vividly than words.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation and comment. It has to be said that many overlook Searle's abilities as an observational drawer. How he could be so apparently haphazard and yet so accurate I'll never know.
Another wonderful video about another awesome artist! Thank You 🙏🏽💙🙏🏽😎
Hello and thanks a lot for your continued appreciation for the channel. It means a lot.
Thank you, Mr Beard. Sometimes I see an unfamiliar Impressionist painting and don't know if it's a Renoir or a Monet. But there is never any doubt whatsoever when I'm looking at the work of Ronald Searle. I was always delighted when I found one of his eccentric and delightful drawings lending some style and class to the pages of an otherwise boring magazine. I think my favorites were his gowned and tuxedoed society swells. No, wait, the St. Trinians hellions. Or maybe the impossibly fluffy cats... But they're ALL wonderful.
Hello and many thanks for both your recent favourable comments about videos on the channel. Both Jack Davis and Ronald Searle were idols of mine when I was a teenager so I heartily concur with your high opinion of their work. They provided me with a lifetime of laughter.
Thanks for the fantastic video. Ronald Searle was sublime.
Hello and thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for this homage to a truly Great Briton. You've whetted my appetite and I'm off to re-read Molesworth!
Hello and thanks for the comment. The words of Molesworth are always a great tonic for the troops I find.
Been a fan since I was a young child, in my 60's now and still get pleasure from his genius.
Hello and the same here - although I'm in my 70s. How on earth did that happen?
Mr Beard,you have never wasted yours or any viewers time!! Great stuff as always.
Thanks a lot for your ongoing support and appreciation.
Marvelous, loved his work since I was very small!
Hello and me too.An all time great.
Bravo. I'm so glad this appeared in my feed. I remember Searle's Cats and it was great to see more examples of his wonderful talent.
Hello and thanks for your comment. I'm glad you enjoy Searle's work.
Your presentations are amongst the most splendid pockets of time wasting I can think of ; ) Much love...and thanks Pete...top geezer.
Hello and thanks a lot for your positive comment - much appreciated.
Omg, Mr. Beard, you have not been wasting your time!!! Thank you! Even though I've enjoyed Searle's work since I was a little kid it's so much fun seeing work of his I'd never seen before! I'd not heard of his St.Trinnians! Imagine, a whole school of Mean Girls!! He was an absolute genius!!
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment and appreciation. If you have never seen them, a couple of the 50s films are well worth a viewing. Alistair Sim - genius comic actor!
Thank you for reaquainting me with Mr. Searle, I loved his work when I was in college and now will have to find what I did with his books...I know they are around here somewhere!
Hello and if I've re-ignited your admiration for Searle's work then I'll call that a result.
As a child in the 50s I acquired a tattered copy of Souls in Torment that eventually fell apart, and as the decades passed I regretted not keeping it. Luckily, about 10 years ago I came across a second hand copy in a charity shop, and I am taking special care of it now. It was interesting to see how despite my having aged quite a bit my reactions to the brilliant illustrations were unchanged (although maybe I now appreciate some of the double entendres a bit better).
Hello and thanks for the comment. I'm annoyed with myself that I missed this book out. Others were left out too but that was inevitable. This was an oversight on my part. Damn.
@@petebeard In fact I'm sure that one or two of the images that you showed were in that book anyway. I'm wondering how that book affected a 7 or 8 year old boy and his view of the opposite sex...
Another rich & revealing in-depth documentary - what a treat, many thanks
Hello again and thanks a lot for your continued support for the channel. Glad you liked it.
Love love love Ronald Searle, was waiting for the wine book lol.
Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed it. And to think I almost left out the wine pictures - among others - to keep the length of the video down.
A wonderful discussion, as are all of your examinations that I have seen (numbering at least twenty) . And a special appreciation for your background music selections, so appropriate.
Many thanks for your appreciation of my work with the channel. It's great to be appreciated.
Certainly not wasted time - great video again, thank you
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment.
Thank you for the introduction to Ronald Searle!
Hello and its my pleasure.
Great imagination & great art after all he lived through.I remember his books.
Wasting your time?! No, indeed! You are enriching the world with these videos, and educating us all! I've been a Searle fan all my life, yet never knew about many of these books. And I'm going to look up the Dick Deadeye movie as soon as I've posted this. You are an international treasure, Mr. Beard. Thank you for these gems.
Hello and many thanks for your support and appreciation. I have a feeling Deadeye is available on youtube but the resolution is pretty bad - which is why I didn't include actual footage in the video.
You have not wasted your time. I LOVE pen and ink comic illustrations. I will look more into him. Thank you for the introduction.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. There are plenty of books still in print I think, and a lot of his work is also online.
Good one, personal favorite, much appreciated, lots of new info to chase down the rabbit hole.
Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed the tribute.
Wonderful! I've loved his work for years. I got the Tom Lehrer book in college and used to sing all the songs with my friends.
And hello again. If memory serves it was you who mentioned the Lehrer book, and that convinced me to make room for it in the video. I'm mildly ashamed to admt it was then on the proverbial cutting room floor.
@@petebeard Oh yeah! I remember! Thanks! Again, your videos are wonderful!
Thank you. 'The Gerund' Molesworth leading and elephant on a piece of string has had my coming in and going out ! Lovely.
Hello and thanks for the appreciation. Reading those books always takes me back to my own schooldays. It wasn't a public school but it was run on similar lines with teachers in gowns and plenty of casual beatings.
Certainly not wasting your time. I really appreciate the background information you provide in an entertaining matter. Thank you.
Hello and thanks for yout comment. It's great to know the work is appreciated.
I am sure I have seen his illustrations in a number of children's books by Roald Dahl.
I note the pointy nose and pointy beak as a characteristic aspect of his characterizations.
Thank you for another excellent production.
Hello and thanks for the appreciation. The illustrator you have in mind is Quentin Blake - another successful scribbler.
Dear Wonderful Mr. Beard. In 1960 my darling mentor, Verajoan Nickles-Nelson, showed her art class the bizarre work of this featured artist who had been paid by either LOOK or EVENING POST to cover the Kennedy-Nixon campaign for U. S. President. She read to us the comments of your featured artist, 'Kennedy was so handsome that all I could do, to satirist him, was pile hair atop hair atop hair ', and,, he did.. we all were inspired to be caricature artists! By the by! At this Christmas season! I dearly loved the inclusion of his images of Scrooge..I am QUITE SURE that Dickens would cheer, "Bravo! That's EXACTLY WHAT I mean to convey in words! ", thanks, Doctor Beard for calling Lazarus forth from the tomes. Happy cheerful days of Celebration to you and yours. Sincerely, Gregg Oreo
Hi again and just another thanks from me.
Many many thanks for sharing this with us. Kind regards, and greetings from Africa.
Hello, and thanks a lot for your appreciation, it's very welcome.
You sir are the gift that keeps on giving. I have learned so much and have many artists to admire thanks to your work here. No time wasted and that's a fact. Happy Holidays and see you next year.
Hello again and many thanks for your generous comment. And best wishes to you too.
Another wonderful presentation. Thank you
Hello and thanks a lot.
You *haven't* been wasting your time! That's a very good potted intro to Searle - thank you!
Hello and thanks a lot for the supportibe comment. Im glad you enjoyed it and Searle made my job much easier.
You haven’t been wasting your time. Thank you!
Hello and thanks for your comment. I must say I've been pleasantly surprised by the popularity of this video.
Thank you so much for the retrospective of my all time favorite illustrator/satirist.
Thanks a lot for your appreciation and I'm glad you enjoyed it. And he's certainly one of my all time heroes.
Love the cool jazz soundtrack, Good Sir!
Hello again and thanks. Finding decent music that isn't subject ro copyright is one of the toughest parts of making these videos, so I end up re-using quite a few such as these.
What an unusual style! I've seen it before but never knew or appreciated his lifelong works. Tnx!
Hello and I think Seare was one of the great 'scribblers'. The agitated linework influenced many who came later.Thanks for watching as ever.
No one has come close to Searle, from what I've seen, of those who followed him. He could move so freely between showing us the shades of reality & the wonderful quirks of his wit & imagination.
Hello and thanks for the comment. And you have successfully encapsulated his gift perfectly.
Ah Ronald Searle! i remember the first artwork i ever saw of him was some from St Trinian's book called Angela's Prince Charming. I quite like the art style in that one.
Hello and thanks for the comment.
Just back from a 2 day power outage from a snow storm. Nice to be welcomed with a new video. You sure have not been wasting your time sir. I appreciate every artist you bring to my attention. These images are so amusing and joyful with just enough darkness to make them real and compelling. Thanks again. Stay warm and have a wonderful season.
Hello and that sounds pretty bad to me. 2 days witout power? And here I was feeling sorry for myself in the cold northwest of England. Thanks as ever for your continued appreciation of the channel.
@@petebeard Wasn't so bad. We are equipped to deal with it. Wood stove, hand pump on the well, gas for cooking. It gave me plenty of drawing time.
Thank you.
I spent many happy hours of my childhood exploring the cartoons of Searle, and others, searching out the tiny secrets cartoonists are forever hiding in their creations! Happy times...
Hello and many thanks for your comment. While all my little chums were out on bikes or kicking footballs I was busy devouring Searle, Giles and so many others, and trying to copy their work.
Superb! I've been meaning to watch this for a while now; I love Searle. Thanks, Pete.
Hello again, and I'm delighted that you enjoyed the video. I was very pleased with the positive responses I had from all over the place when it was first uploaded. Quite a lot of recognition from the USA of course.
@@petebeard Yes, Searle is popular in the U.S. The old Disney animators loved his work, too.
You're never wasting your time, Pete, all your videos are worth watching!
Hello and thanks a lot for your positive comment
Great video! Thank you! Searle did some amazingly detailed studies and fun cartoons, and is one of my favourite modern illustrators. I was, however, shocked to my core upon finally getting "The Compleet Molesworth" and finding that Nigel Molesworth was drawn to look exactly like me at that age . . . and my real name is also Nigel.
One thing I would quibble about, though: the author Geoffrey Willans created the character of Molesworth in 1939, while Searle "merely" drew the acompanying cartoons, starting in the 1950s, making the character more Willans' than Searle's.
Now I'm just awaiting new developments on Uli Meyer's "Molesworth" animated movie, drawn in Searle's style and using many of his actual cartoons, which had a trailer released in 2020, and nothing has been heard from since. I hope it gets released!
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment. nd I stand corrected about his association with Willans. I had assumed that they had worked in collaboration for some reason. Live and learn...
Super. I’ve loved Trinians and Molesworth for years but your video showed me so much more.
Hello and I'm very glad you enjoyed the video. What a career the man had.
Thanks for this trip down memory lane. I loved the "Down with School" books as a child. It's hard to think of another illustrator that does absurd humour quite so well.
Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. And I agree completely with your assessment of Searle's talent.
@@petebeard I've yet to see a video of yours that I didn't enjoy. So much forgotten talent. Bringing it back into the light is such a worthwhile enterprise.
Obrigado. Thank you.👍
From Portugal, wishing you a merry Christmas !🇬🇧🇵🇹
Hello and thanks. I hope you have a good festive season and we'll see how 2023 turns out.
so many memories...thanks!
Hello and Searle was a major creative force throughout his life. And so prolific.
A big Big BIG THUMBS UP Mr Beard ! My wife Janet and I have been huge fans of Searle for decades. Thank you for pointing out some works that we , as Yankees would not have known about and will seek out through our British connections. The war experiences collection looks harrowing but amazing. My great uncle Paddy was a Japanese POW too and barely survived but made it home. Never talked about it understandably. I saw you had an image at the end for The Square Egg too. Thanks again Pete.
Hello to you both and my gratitude for your comment and insight. It's particuarly nice to know he's appreciated in quite a few other countries too.
Thank you for this wonderful gift. I hope your season is jolly!
Hi again and thanks. My season will be inebriated as usual.
@@petebeard I like to call that "the spirit Christmas" (this way I can honestly claim to keep it alive all year).
Not a waste of time at all. I had no idea who this man was though I had seen his work throughout my lifetime. He was a resilient man to have gone through so much and still retain his love for creating unique and poignant pieces. Thank you for enlightening me.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of Searle's work. It's good to know that others are as impressed as I am by his illustrations and hunour.
Without a doubt Ronald Searle is my favorite illustrator. I have one of his cats drawings as a postcard on my fridge right now :) thanks for profiling such and amazing and creative soul.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation.
Definitely not wasting your time Pete, never had so many laugh out louds on your channel, what a wonderful spidery line, and what portraits! Would love to have seen him working, or gone round to his place for a boozy evening meal! If his work wasn't so light-hearted, he'd be widely considered a genius!
Hello again and thanks as ever for your appreciation. I've always thought it unjust and puzzling that the term 'genius' is bandied about a lot when it comes to 'proper' art, but not so much for the humble illustrator.
@@petebeard Absolutely agree! There's a huge class thing Fine Art vs the rest of the visual arts, and talent counts for very little. I often wonder how individual cartoonists and illustrators would have fared if they had stuck to a Fine Arts route, and of course vice versa - plenty of 20th century 'artists' would have gone nowhere!
Great artist! I’ve seen his work before but never knew his name-my thanks!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
This was always the video I was hoping you would do Pete, but didn't want impose on you. I just got my Christmas present! Thanks so much Pete! Terry, from Albury Australia.
Hello and many thanks. Don't worry about 'imposing'. I'm quite happy with requests as long as people don't mind waiting. The list of those still to feature is dauntingly long but it keeps me out of mischief I suppose. Your continued support is very welcome.
Thanks Pete! Great artist.
Hello and Im glad you like his work.
Love you. These videos are very much appreciated. Thank you❤
Hello and many thanks for your appreciative comment.
Excellent! Thank you!!
Hello and thanks a lot for your positive comment.
Bravo! Thoroughly enjoyable and hugely informative. I know what I am giving my friends for Christmas now!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciative comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
Such an accomplished illustrator & so much humour…wonderful..the sketchy pen & ink style suits his humorous interpretations..thanks for this
Hello and I'm very glad you enjoyed his work.
Searle was a genius who reinvented himself regularly, without changing very much. He was a master draughtsman and I doubt there has ever been a better cartoonist/humourist. Thank you for the video which brings together so much of his work.
Hello and many thanks for your comment, and appraisal of Searle - naturally I couldn't agree more.
One of my all-time favorite Illustrators! Thank you for celebrating him!
Hello and it's good to know that you enjoyed the video.
*Searle* did an outstanding job on his *Christmas Carol* illustrations as well as his *cat/s* art I might be biased toward the latter as I'm feeding 18 of'em😻 *THX Pete*
Hi again and thanks a lot for the appreciation. 18? Really? Long ago I had 4 and that was more than enough. But when I fall out of my tree I'd like to return as a cat.
Great tribute and retrospective. Lovingly crafted . One of the great illustrators, satirists and creative geniuses ever to put pen to paper. Thank you for this.
Hello and many thabks for your appreciation. I've been very pleased with the popularity of this video.
This is wonderful! Thank you so much for making this and for sharing it.
Hello and I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment.
Wooooo love it when I find a new upload it uplifts me 👍🏼
Hello and I'm very pleased to hear that.