What’s great about Route 66 is you sometimes find the unexpected.
On Monday, I found it in downtown Commerce, Okla. (population 2,500), talking to a man who creates portraits of rock ‘n’ roll stars and other artwork. He exhibits and sells these pieces all over the United States.
Bill Foss’ studio is right on Route 66, a few doors down from the historic Star Cash Grocery and a few feet from Allen’s Fillin’ Station and the historic Dairy King.
Bill Foss grew up in Commerce, went to art school in New Mexico and lived for years in Arizona. He came back to his hometown to help care for his aging parents.
Foss is also a working musician; he had about a dozen electric guitars lined up around his studio. But it was his paintings that mostly caught the eye. Some of his works sell for up to tens of thousands of dollars, but he also has smaller pieces and prints for the budget-minded.
The day I talked to him, he was getting ready to roll out his “Choppers on Copper” series. A number of his paintings are on metal, and they create an interesting effect depending on the lighting in a room. One of his paintings on copper was inspired by the nearby “Spook Light” phenomenon.
Foss also was set to ship a gigantic painting of Led Zeppelin, so that former lead singer Robert Plant could autograph it. The painting was wrapped up when I was there, but you can see it here.
Foss told me he was going to be opening a space for his artwork next to the Coleman Theatre Beautiful a few miles away in downtown Miami. Foss can be contacted through his Web site here or calling 918-876-1329.
Wow, even as photographs it’s easy to see this guy is a master artist! And hidden way in some remote burg in Oklahoma! It just proves that you never know what you might find while traveling Route 66! I’m certainly going to check him out.
Great story by the way!
Bill is not the only master artist in his family. His mother always had a flair for art which she passed on to her two daughters, Laurie and Annie, and sons Bill and Lars. Their father, Allen, is a guitarist. Lars and Annie also produce artwork but on a not on as regular basis as Bill does.
Bill’s art techniques and perspective are exceptional and a walk through his studio is a walk through hard rock’s hall of fame.