Vivian Marie Westerman

French Quarter Artists Vivian Marie Westerman

The second Ivy discovered the City, she fell in love. The two-hundred-person artist colony nestled in the heart of New Orleans gave her the opportunities she desperately sought as a graphic artist. Ivy's magical time in the Big Easy not only inspired her art but also touched her heart in unexpected ways. Follow her as she pulls up a seat at the Alpine Restaurant and tells her story.



Ivy comes to the City as a naïve would-be artist but quickly gains an insightful education in art and customer relations. She learns that tourists from Canada are the nicest but that no one will pay for portraits that look like their parents. Every customer has a story, and Ivy gets to hear them all. She sketches two fifth-grade sweethearts and tries to lure a meek grandmother out of her shell with a stunning portrait.



As Ivy follows her passion, her love affair with Jackson Square continues as she becomes entwined in the acrimonious relationship between the City and city hall. Each attempt to restrict the vibrant culture of Jackson Square is met with open defiance and innovative rebellion-but it's a looming natural disaster that poses the ultimate threat.