Autistic Artist

Ever since he was very young, Kendall Collins has been passionate about trains.

Kendall, son of Dana and Brad Collins, and brother to Candace Collins, was diagnosed with Autism at age 5.

He was constantly drawing trains in notebooks and any other papers he could get his hands on and turned his passion into art as a form of dealing with stresses associated with his disorder, said his mother, Dana Collins.

“He is rarely seen without a sketch book in one hand and a simple mechanical pencil in the other,” she said.

Kendall continued to draw trains, including intense details in his pictures and has recently returned from a three-day National Model Railroad Association’s National Train Show in Sacramento, where he displayed and sold some of his artwork.

Dana Collins said the family originally thought of going to the convention to look around. But as the date approached, they reproduced his art work and took it with them.

“Our goal was not to go and sell things. Our goal was to get him some exposure,” Dana Collins said. “He wants to go to art school and we have to figure out how to pay for it.”
By exposing his art work, Dana Collins said she hoped to meet people from train organizations and museums who might consider selling some of his art work at their establishments.

At the recent convention, Kendall displayed dozens of framed drawing replicas, as well as small notes and Christmas Card sets, of diesel, Galloping Goose, and modern train engines.
Kendall, 17, a senior at Porterville High School, said he does not have a favorite train — loves them all. But when asked to describe a drawing, he was not short on words.

“It’s a modernized version of the first train that came to Porterville,” he said.

According to his mother, he always puts a twist on the drawing — either turning the engine or adding something new and rarely drawing them in the same direction he sees them in.
It takes him only a few minutes to an hour to draw almost any engine, his mother said.

People attending the convention were surprised to hear that Kendall was the artist, Dana Collins said.

“They assumed it was me or my husband,” she said. “It’s pretty amazing.’
Dana Collins got emotional as she talked about the first time she framed one of his drawings.

“I don’t know why I hadn’t done it sooner,” she said. “This is pretty amazing. Especially if you think about it, he was placed in a severely handicapped class when he was little and to go from that to now. He’s a senior at Porterville High and carries a 3.4 grade point average and takes 10 classes daily. Most kids take seven.”

Dana Collins also said she never thought about college for him until more recently when Kendall expressed a desire to go to art school.

“I want him to do this — anything that will make him happy,” Dana Collins said. “I want to be able to retire early so that I can help him have a happy, satisfying life.”

When he’s not drawing or in school, Kendall is volunteering at the Porterville Historical Museum and recently made a life-size drawing of Porter Putnam’s gun that was on temporary loan and on display at the museum.

His volunteer work started a year ago when he was there as an intern. But when the position ended, he stayed on to help.

In the meantime, Kendall continues to draw and impress all who sees his art collection.

“It’s marvelous work. I am very impressed,” said executive director John Nash, Porterville Sheltered Workshop, where Kendall’s work is replicated. “I’ve seen talented client artwork but his is very detailed. It’s beautiful work. It’s a labor of love. He has such a strong artistic ability. The way he puts these images together is amazing.”

Ron Killingsworth, director of business services at the Sheltered Workshop, agreed.

“I was absolutely blown away the first time I saw it,” Killingsworth said. “He is definitely a very gifted young man. I have not seen many people with that level of skill.”

Proceeds from the sale of Kendall’s work will be used to further his education, Dana Collins said.

For more information or to order any artwork, visit www.kendallcollinsartist.com.

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or eavila@portervillerecorder.com.