Alexandria Hayes lives in Stratham, New Hampshire, where she founded Blue Moon Communications, a marketing and consulting firm. She first encountered Earl Hébert and his work during a visit to New Orleans' historic Jackson Square. Earl Hébert was born in the tiny town of Ossun, Louisiana, and began his working life as a restaurateur. Hébert took up painting as a hobby in the late 1970s. Increasingly successful despite his lack of formal training, he maintained his own gallery, Mr. Earl's Gallery, in New Orleans' French Quarter for more than fifteen years. He passed away in 2006. George Rodrigue is a Cajun artist originally from New Iberia, Louisiana, best known for his paintings of Cajun folk life until his Blue Dog paintings catapulted him to worldwide fame in the 1990s. He was named Louisiana Artist Laureate in October, 2008.