Article re-printed with permission of Alex Carrier of the Greene County Record

Ed Webster on one of his custom paint jobs

Greene resident creates art on two wheels
By Alex Carrier
Record Correspondent

If you want to see a showing of Ed Webster's artwork, you won't be going to an art gallery or museum. You might try your luck on the Web but, for the best view of what Webster Designs, Inc. creates, you need to get moving and take it to the road.

The Greene County businessman mostly paints things in motion - like motorcycles, cars, trucks, boats, and, even, planes. Each day, hundreds see his work passing them on the road.

The Virginia native has lived in Greene County since 1997 and has been creating art in action as a business for almost as long. "I have always liked art," Webster explains. "I have always drawn or painted."

Webster credits a teacher for most of his artistic knowledge. "My high school art teacher was a good influence and gave me a great base. The rest of it I just picked up. I would see something I liked and try to figure out why I liked it. Then, I would try to figure out what the artist had done to make me want to look at it and how they did it."

The trip to Greene County and his own creative business had many twists and turns. 
"I graduated high school and was accepted at art school. But I didn't want to be a starving artist so I took engineering classes at VPI," explains Webster."

"Then I went to community college and got a degree in automotive technology and started working on cars, "he continues. "Finally, I went back to college and graduated with a degree in information systems."

It was computer programming that brought Webster to the Greene County area but art was still his first love. "I did the painting more and more and I liked it. I liked doing the programming and had a good rapport with the customers but it wasn't where my heart was. That was with my artwork."

Webster worked as both a computer programmer and painter but tragedy prodded him to make the jump from part-time to full-time in December 2003. "I had a good buddy who was an automotive painter. He was only 36 when he got lung cancer and was gone in a couple of months."

"I was 40 and you just don't know if you are going to live to be really old or not," explains Webster. "I realized that I needed to do what I really wanted to do instead of working just to be working. I had a great time at my computer job and worked with really cool people. I try to stay in contact with them but now I am doing my own thing. This way I have a little bit more control of my own destiny."

Painting motorcycles grew out of another of Webster's interests. "I have been riding motorcycles since 1991. In my mind, it adds credibility with my customers.

"I know how much they love their motorcycles and the idea of riding them and the pride they have in riding them, "adds Webster. "For most people, it is different than a car. I feel that I am not an artist that is going to paint on your motorcycle, I am someone who loves motorcycles as well."

Webster admits that some people have no idea what goes into painting a motorcycle. "People watch television shows. The shows don't really show all that is going on so the people watching don't realize everything that is involved in doing the job. There is a lot of time and paint and elbow grease happening before it is all finished."

"The most difficult job I did and probably the one that has gotten the most publicity was a motorcycle I painted in 2003," Webster says. "It was a 100th anniversary Harley. It was an Ultraclassic with the radio and bags on the back - everything."

"The guy wanted the whole bike to look like a flag," continues Webster. "Then on the front part, he wanted a ghosted image of the Statue of Liberty. The back part had the names of 419 firefighters, rescue workers and police that lost their lives in the World Trade Center on 9-11."

"It took an enormous amount of time," adds Webster proudly. "But it was on the Today Show and Fox News. The owner calls it America's 9-11 ride."

Although motorcycles are his favorite canvases, Webster paints on a variety of surfaces. Among the items besides vehicles where the artist has left his creative mark are helmets, drums and guitars, wearing apparel, and signs. He even painted a fly lure for a fisherman.

Working with people gives Webster as much pleasure as the painting. "I am a social person so it is great when someone picks up their finished parts and they are happy. That is a real reward for me," admits the artist. "I see the happiness on their face. I have taken their idea and made it happen."

Webster's location on Route 33 is perfect for his business, most of which is by word-of-mouth. "It is actually well situated for a lot of my customers - especially from northern Virginia and the D.C.-Maryland area. It is an alternative to the hustle and bustle of the city."

Webster sees his business in Greene as a long-term commitment. "To me it is great that I get to do this. I don't look at it as a job. I'm not in it for the money. I'm in it because I'm following my heart."

"It is like one of these television movies, "concludes Webster. "Only I am actually pulling it off."

To find out more about Webster Designs, Inc. and see examples of Ed Webster's art, go to www.edwebster.com. Meet the artist at his workshop on Route 33 near Ruckersville Elementary School. Call 434-985-7448.