I love to buy original art from my travels. It doesn’t have to be a Picasso or anything worth terribly much. It just has to resonate with me and therefore have become some of the best souvenirs I own.
Ricco is happy to pose for a pic – after I bought one of his paintings
One of the best places to buy paintings in New Orleans is from the artists themselves around Jackson Square. The iron railings are hung with their work and you could spend ages here just browsing their work and chatting to them.
Across the road from the famous Cafe du Monde where a plate of 3 hot beignets – donuts dusted in icing sugar – sells for $2.95 and where buskers stand and sing, sometimes with an instrument but more often acapella, I met Ricco who makes long narrow paintings of quintessential New Orleans scenes.
You can’t visit New Orleans without stopping at Cafe du Monde for beignets!
Could you manage all three?
He sells the originals for $50 or a print for $20. I loved them so much I didn’t try to negotiate on the price – but I did ask him for a photo. With his sign that says no photos.
He went on to describe the copycats who he says are costing him about $2000 a week with their similar paintings hanging further along. His are better quality, I told him. And I meant it. I should have told him that all the great artists are copied.
What souvenirs do you like to collect on your travels?