Windmill. Watercolor.

Spartanburg architect Les McMillan came into possession of this watercolor when he was looking for some metal flat files to store his tracings.

Collins’ daughter, Emily, had placed an ad in the paper, and Les had responded. When McMillan tested one of the drawers, he heard a crunch. Upon closer inspection, Les found this watercolor, the left portion damaged, possibly by the aforementioned “crunch.”

McMillan ended up buying the cabinet for his office, and Collins' daughter gave him the painting as a bonus.

Landscape.
watercolor.

Landscape.
Watercolor.

One would think that an architect of Collins’ stature would have given architecture a more prominent role in his paintings. Instead, the buildings he painted are often overwhelmed by their environment, little more than details within the surrounding landscape.

Whether these were faithful renderings of the scene in front of him or an attempt to represent nature’s grand scale is unknown.

Collection of the SCMA
Gift of Frank Coleman

Picking Cotton . oil.

untitled.
12"x16". oil on canvas board.

 

Frank Collins '57 • Charter Member

(1883 - 1969)
Active in Guild 1957-1961

EDUCATION:

  • other than having individual instruction in architectural renderings, Collins was entirely self-taught

ART RELATED :

  • former architect of high repute, who designed many well known buildings in Spartanburg, among them:
    • The Masonic Temple
    • The Old Water Works Building
    • Routh (sp?) Memorial Presbyterian Church
    • Original Spartanburg General Hospital
    • Spring Hall Vocational Building at Cedar Springs
    • Coca Cola Bottling Company
    • Cleveland Junior high School
    • Southside Elementary School (now the Arts Center)
    • Duncan Park Stadium
    • J. Frank Blakely Co.
    • Vogel & Son Furniture Co. (later Hart Bros.)

    • source: Spartanburg County Historical Association

  • Frank Collins often painted watercolors on both sides of the paper. According to his sister, he would sign the side he like the best.
    - Les McMillan-

  • Collins lived near the house where architect Les McMillan grew up, and Les remembers getting old architectural magazines from Collins. According to Mr. McMillan, this is part of what influenced him to become an architect. - Les McMillan-

ORIGIN:

  • Native of Mecklenburg County, NC

  • known address: (1957-61) 330 Alexander Ave., was a neighbor of Frank Coleman