RODRIGUEZ

ORLANDO, Fla. — He had plastered his art all over New York City streets and subway stations.

But then Dixie Rodriguez found a new canvas for his “street art” that police couldn’t force him to clean — his shoes.

Rodriguez was a high-school senior when he first tagged his name on a pair of white Converse Chuck Taylor high-tops. His hand-painted design helped kick-start his business, 1Eleven Designs.

“I was shocked. It turned into something else,” says Rodriguez, 32, who’s been designing shoes for more than a decade and now works out of his Winter Haven, Fla., home.

On his Web site, 1elevendesigns.com., he has sold hundreds of shoes, shirts, purses and hats throughout the U.S., Argentina, Ecuador and Panama.

Japanese culture and tattoo art have served as an inspiration for his thick, black-outlined drawings.

A customer wanted an Asian theme on her long pair of white Italian leather boots. Rodriguez wrapped a geisha and green dragon around the boots using permanent fabric paint.

He also makes purses sparkle. After painting the Hindu deity Ganesha on a handbag, he covered the elephant god’s forehead with rhinestones.

Rodriguez says his inspiration comes from his customers. He briefly interviews his customers to get a glimpse of their personality, so he can make each design different. It’s like going to a tattoo shop, Rodriguez says.