Saturdays. People’s Pharmacy on N. Lamar. You must talk to Ricardo.
On Saturdays Ricardo sits on the benches outside of the people’s pharmacy against a backdrop of tabloid paper sized ink drawings of famous sites all around Austin and other parts of the country. As people pass him to go into the store, he grumbles about people hating art under his breath.
He is a stocky man, white hair, in his 60s, wearing an old T-shirt, unsmiling. From his appearance, I couldn’t tell he was selling art. I thought that the drawings taped all over the pharmacy’s windows were a part of some coloring contest for kids. I told him as much and he countered that everyone knows him and knows that he’s selling art, but people don’t care about art anymore.
Sensing that art is a sore point for Ricardo, I let the subject go, but apparently I had not only broken ice, but floodgates of conversation. Ricardo is a genius quantum theorist, a genius string theorist; he studies voices in white noise and the history of Christianity. Mary, mother of God, hid in Southern France after her son’s death, and aliens probably won’t come back to Earth because humanity is too stupid.
Really, if you want to engage in deep, philosophical coffee shop conversation, you must pay Ricardo a visit. And bring five bucks with you so you can buy one of his drawings. They really are quite good.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Maggie 03.26.07 at 8:48 am
I bought an ink drawing of Congress Avenue Skyline, signed by an artist named Ricardo. In left bottom corner it has a copyright date…1993 RICARDO, INC. and 001-01-01BB above copyright. Bottom left has what looks like a stamp…Ricardo Ink, underlined, with INTERNATIONAL ART below, and something llike a bell centered at bottom, tiny “TM” (trademark) at bottom right of bell. Could this be the same man?
Jessica 05.06.08 at 6:53 am
anyone know where this guy is now????
Johnny 11.30.08 at 4:45 pm
Like Maggie above, I have some prints signed by this artist and markfd the same way. They were also signed TO TOMMY AND ANN BARNES. The Tommy is my deceased brother – in- law and his wife Ann. I asked her about the prints and she said that was during the time when she and Tommy did some heavy drinking and couldn’t remember anything about the prints or the artist. He might have been someone Tommy later on helped in the AA programs. More info would be nice.
AL FLORES 12.09.08 at 11:39 am
I would like to know more about this artist Ricardo. I have 17 pen and ink paintings of different cities in Texas and other states. Some are dedicated and another is to someone. These black and white etchings are very detailed and very good. I would like to see a painting by him from someone else to compare to mine.
AL FLORES 12.09.08 at 11:55 am
Some years ago while at the San Antonio Airport I saw two Ricardo pen and ink sketches of two different cities beautifully framed and featured for sale. These sketches were hanging on a wall along with other artists paintings, the price for each one was $500.00 another time I saw one again beautifully framed at a highend resale shop on San Pedro St. in San Antonio this one was selling for $300.00 .
some years
Alicia R 01.20.09 at 9:36 pm
I also have acquired a drawing of the University of Texas Clock Tower. I would like to know more about it and how much its worth.
mitch 07.26.09 at 12:01 pm
HOW WOULD I GET IN TOUCH WITH RICARDO? IS HE STILL ALIVE?
Marlond 12.16.09 at 8:41 pm
Like Maggie & Johnny above, I too purchased a detailed drawing of the San Antonio River Walk dated 1993. Where’s Ricardo???
John Oakley 12.18.09 at 2:28 pm
I have a drawing of “The Jersey Lilly” done by artist Ricardo. It is the Court House of Judge Roy Bean, Justice of the Peace Law West of the Pecos. I would like to find out more about this artist. Any information?
mIchael s 02.06.10 at 7:15 am
I saw one of Ricardo’s art pieces in a small Austin shop price at $500. The guy was once an Outsideer atrtist now selling quite nicely.