About the FantaSigns Artist
Anthony Ross

FantaSigns are created and "built" by California photorealist artist Anthony Ross.

Anthony has spent several years creating original acrylic on canvas paintings of old americana, from broken down roadside cafes to long forgotten Route 66 motels. He has traveled the country in search of "the lost icons" for his "Road/Signs: Adventures in the Driver's Seat" series.

While Anthony continues work on his original paintings he has developed a series of new work based on his original lost america images. FantaSigns are works that he has designed himself which expresses the lost bygone days of Route 66, Saturday matinees, and the corner soda shop. But Anthony has taken his designs further by incorporating the buyer into the art.

"I noticed that collectors really wanted to immortalize themselves in my work by purchasing art that had a personal meaning to them," says Anthony, "one collector of my paintings purchased the piece, not only because she liked the painting, but that it had her name in it!" Anthony took note of this purchase, which happened several years ago, and kept the thought in the back of his mind. For the next several years he has had requests to find signs that had the names of potential purchasers in them, only to come up short handed with the amount of images available. "I could have just painted their name in the work, but then it really wouldn't reflect the reality of what I wanted to show...that this image is, or was, a piece of americana that is disappearing, that it really at one time did exist."

What was the solution? Several events occurred to provide Anthony the means to work on what would eventually become the FantaSigns series. The solution came with knowledge of 3D graphics, computer painting, and the ability to produce quality prints in-house to allow the price to be affordable. Today anyone can afford to immortalize themselves in art by choosing a FantaSign that means something to them, place their name in it, and creating a special marquee message.

"When I started the FantaSigns I had intended to have them purchased by individuals or families for themselves. However it seems that up to 70% of the prints are being purchased as a unique gift item. I didn't see that one coming" said Anthony.

Fantasigns are the unique gift for someone who is hard to by for or has everything. These works can also be handed down from generation to generation as a moment of a families history, likes, and loves.

To see Anthony's original acrylic on canvas work please go to: www.ross-art.com