Once there was an artist wandering around Riga, painting fast and prolific, offering and selling his artwork to fellow citizens. He had a saying that he works on a painting only for the amount of time he can stand on one leg. Maybe because of this approach he was able to paint over 1000 pastels in his lifetime!? He mostly used social life, sights from markets, unambitious buildings and other imaginary humble things for his paintings.

This is one of my favorite monuments in Riga – an old bearded, barefoot man draws with such a kind-hearted look. It just gives me a dose of positive energy every time I go past it.

By the way there is a small blooming (in springs and summers) square behind his back where bums like to hang out and there is a theater building as well. Together with the lively street it makes quite a scene to experience Riga.