Sunday Morning VW Bus DRIVING Lessons: The Story Behind 'Orange Odyssey'

I learned to drive in our family's VW bus. Every Sunday morning, I could be found circling around and around the empty Florida shopping mall parking lot. The long stick shift on the floor felt like a magic wand in my teenage hands - each successful gear change a small victory.

Those early lessons were my ticket to freedom, to endless days at the beach where I spent my youth.

This painting brings back those Sunday mornings. Under the warm Florida sun, the orange and white VW bus sits peacefully by the shore, a reminder of my first steps toward freedom.

The palm trees and ocean create a perfect backdrop - the rich blues making the VW's orange paint shine in the morning light. Each brush stroke holds those memories of gripping the wheel, finding my confidence one lesson at a time.

I chose a vintage tramp art frame for this piece, its hand-carved details echoing the character of the old VW bus - both classic and unpretentious.

Whether you learned to drive in one of these beloved buses, spent your youth at the beach, or simply appreciate their timeless charm, this painting celebrates the freedom of the open road and the joy of mastering something that once seemed impossible.

'Orange Odyssey' is available in my online gallery.

xo,

Merrill