Part 1: Meet My Diverse Crew of Models!

First Up - Webster Belou!

If you have come to any of the Warren, Ohio summer art shows, then I'm guessing you have also seen Webster. From spring to fall, he is my major muse for art. It is impossible for a giant, orange hippied out VW bus to not capture anyone's eye!

But how did we meet?

Well, it was back at the end of 2012 when my husband got the fluke of an opportunity to secretly meet him. At the time, Webster was not up for parole and was tucked deep within a large, heated garage which had been the case for 14 years. The timing was just right, because I had recently underwent my second brain surgery (check out my documentary to learn more) and was finishing up my radiation. My husband was well aware of my undying love for the big, bright, person-like buses and wanted to surprise me with one. Boy, did he ever! He was able to get Webster (who was named after my great grandfather, Webster, and Belou as a free living hippie name) out of his extended hibernation and we had him on the road by March of 2013. He has been with us ever since!

Webster is my knight in shining, orange armor for many reasons. Firstly, he is an amazing model. No matter where we go, it is impossible to be near him and not want to snap photos for both photography as well as just some personal amusement. To me he is like a living being that can do anything (as shown a little in the video above).

With that, he can also bring a frown upside down. Anytime I am feeling blah, all I have to do is step into Webster for an immediate smile. Between the smiles and peace signs we get from strangers while driving by to the unique feeling you get while sitting inside - almost like you are back to the 70's - he is able to make my day.

He is also great at helping me sell my work. When doing the outdoor art shows, 9 times out of 10 he is with me. Having a strange looking orange bus on the street is oftentimes an attention grabber to at least have people walk over to get a closer look. He is almost like the snake, Kaa, on The Jungle Book trying to hypnotize others to come and buy art! With that, people oftentimes buy the $2 polaroid pics I take of them with Webster. He's just not something you see everyday.

So now you know a little more about the large and loveable VW bus model, Webster Belou! Check out more of his professional pics on my Art Page and his own fun pics on Facebook.

Have you met Webster Belou?

#vw #bus #model #webster #belou #websterbelou #photography #diverse #crew #westfalia #westy