Sunday, March 19, 2006

French Quarter Paintings

French Quarter Balcony

Many of my paintings are familiar places in the French Quarter. Initially to get inspired I would purchase old used postcards and then go to that spot in the Quarter to see how the place changed over the years. Other than trees growing taller and bushes bigger the buildings have remained the same. I guess due to the work of the preservation groups. I would then take photographs to get the details of the location and go back to the studio and paint from my many pictures. I would then add in the moon and stars in some to make the painting a starry night style of composition. The above French Quarter Balcony was inspired by one of the old postcards and several photos taken in that same spot for many years. Including several of my own. It is used on the cover of a paperback book titled 'Po-Boy' by Alice McDaniel.
Recently I went back to Jackson Square to see what changes Katrina made. Some trees and bushes are gone opening up the view to the Cathedral. As soon as I can get to a studio to paint I will have new angles that were once blocked by trees and bushes. I like the more open view of the buildings that existed in the early 1900's before the trees blocked all the unique views of Jackson Square. Look for some more paintings this time next year as I rebuild or relocate Fig Street Art Studio.


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Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Top 10 T-Shirt Shop



Fig Street Studio of New Orleans has be designated one of the top ten t-shirt shops on the web by Cafe Press. See the story at this link. http://www.cafepress.com/shop/wire/
Thanks to all those who frequest the shop and all the customers who ask for personalized designs from those helpful artists at Fig Street Studio. Stop in and see all the famous t-shirts sold in New Orleans and around the world. Fig Street Studio

Monday, February 06, 2006

Old New Orleans Maps

Old New Orleans Map


Many Old New Orleans Maps disclose that the lower areas of the city marked 'swamps' were not developed until later. The original old city was built on ridges in the higer elevations. See the maps for sale on this page : http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/

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Sunday, January 15, 2006

Well Behaved Women Don't Get Jewelry


Well behaved women rarely make history, for that matter well behaved women don’t get jewelry either. Of the two outcomes I venture most women would have a better shot at getting jewelry or at least a nice t-shirt.

See: http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/1029968

Friday, January 13, 2006

New Orleans Water Meter Cover




NOLa Water Meter Cover photosculpture
NOLa Water Meter Cover by figstreetstudio
Water Meter Cover from New Orleans, French Quarter plastic reproductions.


Tourists toting stolen goods: city's
water meter covers



By Matt Scallan, The New Orleans
Times-Picayune





NEW ORLEANS — The distinctive cast-iron covers of New Orleans water meters have been turning up in unusual places lately: departing tourists' luggage. Transportation Security Administration workers at Louis Armstrong International Airport found six of the 9 1/2-pound discs in recent months when they set off alarms on baggage-screening equipment, airport spokeswoman Michelle Duffourc said. A passenger was pulled off a departing airplane on a Monday morning this month by security personnel after they discovered one in his luggage, but he was released when he told police he bought the cover at a French Quarter flea market, Duffourc said. The covers, which were designed in the early 1920s by Edwin Ford, founder of the Ford Meter Box Co. of Wabash, Ind., have an art deco design featuring a crescent moon and stars. The Sewerage & Water Board still buys its covers from the company. Theft of the covers is not as big a problem as it once was, Sewerage & Water Board spokesman Joe Puglia said. "There was a time when we were replacing the covers in the CBD with plain ones to cut down on theft, but it's not an overwhelming problem," he said. 




Original New Orleans Water Meter Lid ornament
Original New Orleans Water Meter Lid by figstreetstudio
Click image to see and order.



I always thought those copies of the New Orleans Water Meter Covers on shirts and things were just that copies. Instead I tried to be original and came up with a design using the Mardi Gras colors and paying homage to the rusty iron cover in front of my old house. I made several different designs but that rusty old water meter seems to be the favorite. I have it in many colors and shapes on shirts, stickers,hats, clocks and more. See the Water Meter Design at : http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/1126148

Links to clocks of all sorts including pictures of the Original Water Meter Lid in the French Quarter with the lock.; http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio

Zazzle also has unique Christmas ornaments both plastic and porcelain, see them at my Zazzle Shop: http://www.zazzle.com/figstreetstudio*



 The water meter cover ornament and tile is sold in New Orleans at Arius Gallery 504 St Peter St, on Jackson Square, French Quarter. Stop in and see and ask Peter for them.







 Charm Necklace $15 at Cafe Press-http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio.509857236


Tourists toting stolen goods: city's
water meter covers



By Matt Scallan, The New Orleans
Times-Picayune





NEW ORLEANS — The distinctive cast-iron covers of New Orleans water meters have been turning up in unusual places lately: departing tourists' luggage. Transportation Security Administration workers at Louis Armstrong International Airport found six of the 9 1/2-pound discs in recent months when they set off alarms on baggage-screening equipment, airport spokeswoman Michelle Duffourc said. A passenger was pulled off a departing airplane on a Monday morning this month by security personnel after they discovered one in his luggage, but he was released when he told police he bought the cover at a French Quarter flea market, Duffourc said. The covers, which were designed in the early 1920s by Edwin Ford, founder of the Ford Meter Box Co. of Wabash, Ind., have an art deco design featuring a crescent moon and stars. The Sewerage & Water Board still buys its covers from the company. Theft of the covers is not as big a problem as it once was, Sewerage & Water Board spokesman Joe Puglia said. "There was a time when we were replacing the covers in the CBD with plain ones to cut down on theft, but it's not an overwhelming problem," he said.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Mardi Gras Shirts



Each Mardi Gras I add a new design, this year is no different so I added a few for kids too. See all the Fig Street Art Studio Mardi Gras designs at: http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/397084

Sunday, January 08, 2006

J'aime La Novelle Orleans: I Love New Orleans in Any Language


No matter how you say it or in whatever language people love New Orleans. Cute shirts, bumper stickers in French, German, and Russian available at Fig Street Studio on the web only. See this link: http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/883710



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Tuesday, January 03, 2006

New Orleans Valentines


Several people asked I do Valentine's Cards like the New Orleans Christmas Cards I have on my web page so I took 3 of my paintings and added in some funny hearts and this is what came out. The other designs can be seen on this link: http://www.cafepress.com/figstreetstudio/456495