Still life with onions and potatoes. oil on canvas board. (1953)

This work was painted during a class in Irma Cook's basement.

Corner of Main St. & Church St. with the Andrews Building in the background.
watercolor. (1960s)

Tryon area mountains. oil on canvas board. (c.1960)

This work was painted one summer while studying under Robert Lawrence.

Alvin Francis Riser '57 • Charter Member

Active in Guild 1957-63

EDUCATION:

  • studied with Irma Cook

  • studied landscape painting under Robert Lawrence for two summers c.1960

  • studied Commercial Art through an International Correspondence School

ART RELATED :

  • (1963) was the first First Vice President of the Art Association

  • (early 1980s) Much of Mr. Riser's early work was destroyed when Vogel's Furniture (later Hart Bros. Furniture, which was designed by Frank Collins) which was hosting an exhibition of his work caught on fire and destroyed the exhibit.

ORIGIN:

  • moved to Spartanburg with parents in 1932

PERSONAL:

  • Started college at University of South Carolina. Registered at Wofford when he moved to Spartanburg with his parents in 1932. Began working at the downtown Post Office at that time, and was told that he couldn't go to school while he was working...he would have to be on call 24 hours every day. Wofford refunded his tuition and he worked for the Post Office for the next 43 years. Was Assistant Postmaster under Helen Dupre Moseley. Frank Coleman was their assistant.

  • Mr. Riser was the first Postmaster in the country to be hired based on merit. Prior to that, Postmasters were nominated and appointed at the Federal level.

  • (1961) listed among his hobbies were collecting English porcelains (Toby jugs) and interior decoration