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Charles Kerins did illustrations for a wide range pf publications. This included both magazine art and commercial advertising art. Kerins did wonderful covers for Catholic magazines, but by the time he worked, Catholics had entered the American and a Catholic president was eveb elected (1960). Thus his images depict the general American experience at the time. Because he did a great deal of work for Catholic magazines, he is not well known to the wider American public. His work appeared in many important American magazines, including the Saturday Evening Post, Look Magazine, Life Magazine, and National Geographic. The greatest impact of course comes from cover art. He was the cover artist for The Red Sox Yearbook, Catholic Boy and Catholic Miss magazines. As a result he is best known within the Catholic community. He also did covers for the Converse Yearbook. He did both general magazine illustrations and commercial advertising art. He received commissiions from Converse Sneakers, William Barry Jackets, Rock of Ages, Milton Bradley, Houghton Miflin, Ginn Publishers, Donnellys, Vermont Life, Dennison, Bell Telephone, Moxie, Duran Chocolates, Schraafts, Hood's Dairy, Notra Dame University, Holy Cross Press, The Gas Company and Red Feather Agendy, among others. He is especially known for the Converse ads because of his interest in scolastic sports. I recall at the time time that Converse sneakers were the ones serious baskeball players wanted.
Kerins did wonderful covers for Catholic magazines, but by the time he worked, Catholics had entered the American and a Catholic president was eveb elected (1960). Thus his images depict the general American experience at the time. Because he did a great deal of work for Catholic magazines, he is not well known to the wider American public. This inclused Catholic Boy and Catholic Miss. Fr. Francis E. Benz formally organized the society for altar boys (1938). He also founded the Catholic Boy magazine. The Holy Cross Fathers of Notre Dame assumed the responsibility for the magazine (1948). Also involved were Fr. Frank Gartland, Fr. Thomas McNally, and Bro. James Lacrofka. Kerins was the primary Cover Artist for the magazine durung the 1950s and 60s. He created classical images of a contemporary boyhood. Some had a Catholic touch, but many did not.
World War II affected many American companies. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 1942), the United States rapidly shifted to a war-time economy. Converse shifted production to manufacturing clothing for the military. This included specialized footwear, apparel, boots, parkas, rubber protective suits, and ponchos for pilots and troops. e men after the War wanted some of this practical apparel. Converse promoted a distinctly American image with its Converse Yearbook during the 1950s abd 60s. Kerins was their most important cover artist. And nothing was more popular with boys than the Converse basketball shoe.
Artist Charles Kerins created cover art that celebrated Converse's role in the lives of High School and College atheletes, as the essential sports shoe. Keirns received commissions from Converse Sneakers, I recall at the time time that Converse sneakers were the ones serious baskeball players wanted. More competition zappears in the 1970s, but through the 60s, basketball generall meant Converse.
Kerins' work appered in a wide variety of different publications, both magazines and yearbooks. This included some of the most important American publications at mid-century: the Saturday Evening Post, Look Magazine, Life Magazine, and National Geographic. The greatest impact of course comes from cover art. He was the cover artist for The Red Sox Yearbook and Catholic Boy and Catholic Miss magazines. As a result he is best known within the Catholic community. He also did covers for the Converse Yearbook. He did both general magazine illustrations and commercial advertising art. He received William Barry Jackets, Rock of Ages, Milton Bradley, Houghton Miflin, Ginn Publishers, Donnellys, Vermont Life, Dennison, Bell Telephone, Moxie, Duran Chocolates, Schraafts, Hood's Dairy, Notra Dame University, Holy Cross Press, The Gas Company and Red Feather Agendy, among others. He is especially known for the Converse ads because of his interest in scolastic sports.
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