REFLECTION from the waters and on life with Ed Obermeyer

“Life is a series of patterns we’re constantly diving in and out of.”

As a former Virginia Beach Public Schools educator, Ed Obermeyer is no stranger to presenting to a group of people, and on this first fall morning at The Garage, everyone in attendance surely became his student, as Ed shared his REFLECTION on the ebbs and flows of nature, art and life.

Ed first picked up a crayon when he was two years old and proceeded to draw all over the world. Rather than scold him, his mother purchased him paint and art tools, fostering his artistic affinity. It wasn’t until the 1970s, however, that the prolific Virginia Beach-based artist, photographer and Army veteran would begin capturing nature in its most detailed form, exploring various art styles, from Cubism to Realism. Traveling the world, including several immersive journeys to Australia, inspired him to portray his vision of the world’s natural landscapes with the intricate patterns of lines and swirls that would soon become the trademark of his contemporary works of art.

Ed’s distinct paintings are further characterized by his use of long, liner, scroller and pin-stripe brushes – several of which he shared with those of us in attendance – that he uses to create dually realistic and abstract representations of the natural world around us.

After retiring from teaching 13 years ago, Ed dove into his art full-time and spent the first seven years of his retirement traveling to more than 30 art shows per year. Ultimately, he would find that the life – and the subjects – he’d been seeking were right here in Virginia Beach, a community he credits largely for his successful career as an artist.

“Happiness is right here, where we are right now.”

Always in pursuit of finding new ways to see the world, Ed found himself quite literally diving into the ocean to capture one of his most cherished natural forms: waves – plenty of which he also found in our coastal town. An avid surfer and WRV’s first surf team captain, Ed reflects frequently on how his journey as an artist has gone hand-in-hand with his physical movement – traveling across the world and surfing the waves, always vigilant to capture it all as he sees it.

A unique angle and personal perspective give Ed’s iconic surfing photographs, featuring both surfers and standalone waves, their distinguishing characteristics, which, like his paintings, have made him a longtime staple at Virginia Beach’s notable Boardwalk Art Show.

On a good surf day, Ed rises at 4 a.m., gears up with his fins, wetsuit and safety equipment and takes to the waves at his favorite local spot in Croatan. Duck-diving under the waves, he’s both a rider and a passenger, observing the movement of the ocean as he captures the shot.

And photographing water in its rawest form is no easy feat! Ed wears no flotation and has to date broken five ribs as he trades water next to, in between and under surfers – all the while handling an impressive suite of equipment that includes water housing for his cameras and a variety of lenses and ports suited for all conditions and temperatures. Having held one of Ed’s housed cameras during his lively show-and-tell, I can vouch for how strong he must be to handle it all with water (and surfers) well above his head!

At the end of the day, Ed says, his career as an artist has been an exercise in reflection, an appreciation for community engagement and a gift for connection. His affinity for teaching and learning has made him an invaluable asset to Virginia Beach’s thriving arts scene, with which he openly shares his resources, lessons and gifts, whether you’re in search of the right tool, printer, backdrop or tent.

Undoubtedly, Ed’s art has been distinguished by his unique, and refreshing, perspective on life. In that spirit, he encourages everyone to be who they are – individuality being the best lens of all.

Browse Ed’s artwork, including the recently published 2025 “Storm Riders” Calendar featuring his photographs, at www.edobermeyer.com.

“It’s important to always look back on where you were. Reflecting on the past makes you realize just how good it is right here in the present.”

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Written by CMVB volunteer blogger Valeria L. Palmertree

Join us every third Friday in 2024 as we explore, along with 236 other cities in 69 countries around the world, 12 new themes in a face-to-face community format. Past themes have included Rhythm, Endurance, Simplicity, Pride and Treasure. September’s theme is VISION, and our speakers will be Anita Patel and Stephanie Walters on Oct 18.

CM also has virtual field trips and a database of previous talks to enjoy and explore at home.