License Plate Artist Makes Buffalo-Themed Artwork

License Plate Artist Makes Buffalo-Themed Artwork Rob Piotter’s 20-year hobby of collecting colorful Wyoming license plates evolved into creating one-of-a-kind custom artwork shaped like an iconic American buffalo. He began designing after being inspired by a bucking horse sculpture made from license plates by Conner Baldacci, a Gillette, Wyo., artist. Before starting his first design, he contacted Baldacci to share his plans. Baldacci wished him good luck with his creative work. Piotter’s designs are colorful and creative, cut from Wyoming plates in red, brown, black, white, blue, green and other colors. His patriotic red, white and blue buffalo design for America’s 250th anniversary uses centennial plates from all 23 Wyoming counties. Piotter says finding all the centennial plates was almost as difficult as creating the completed artwork. He found some at estate sales, swap meets and garage sales. The Johnson County plate was the hardest to find, and he bought it from a New York collector who had listed it on eBay for $25. Producing the patriotic design took him about a month. To build his designs, Piotter traces the enlarged outline of a buffalo onto a masonry board. He cuts each plate with a tin snip into creative shapes that form the buffalo’s body, legs, head and tail. Tiny rivets hold the plates in place. Piotter has sold his patriotic designs to several customers and has also created custom designs, including a ranch, a farm brand, and a special emblem. “Every design I’ve done tells a special story,” Piotter says. He’s created artwork commemorating the 2017 solar eclipse, custom plates featuring the Buffalo Bills’ symbols and colors, and even a special commissioned Darth Vader design. Piotter has collected plates from Wyoming and other states for 20 years. Many are displayed at the Rialto Soda Fountain, the iconic Casper business he and his wife own. Originally opened in 1922 as a cigar store, it became a soda fountain and cigar store in 1925. The Piotters reopened it as a throwback soda fountain in 2018. Now, its delectable old-fashioned hand-pulled sodas, cherry phosphates, and the best malts around make the eclectic business a go-to spot for locals and out-of-town travelers. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Rob Piotter, Rialto Soda Fountain, Casper, Wyo. (rialtosodafountain@gmail.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.