Featured Artist: Richard “Dick” Nick

A born and raised New Orleanian, Richard “Dick” Nick started selling his original oil paintings on Jackson Square in the 1960s, coming out on the weekends when he wasn’t working for the New Orleans Fire Department. Considered one of the Jackson Square “Old Guard,” Dick’s oil paintings, with their incredible luminescent quality, make him a true painter of light. Drawing his inspiration from the swamp shanties near his Destrehan home and historic French Quarter landmarks, Dick captures both the heart and soul of Louisiana, from the glitz of the Quarter to the simple solitude of the swamps.
In 1976, sensing a lack of art supply stores and custom framing galleries to serve the Jackson Square artists, Dick opened Vincent Art. An instant success, Dick gave up his spot on the fence to sell his own artwork in his gallery. He also began framing and selling the prints of his Old Guard compatriots, as well as providing them with an accessible, local stop for drawing and painting supplies.

When Dick first began making prints of his work, he initially tried a standard, offset lithographic process on heavy gloss bond paper. However, in the printing process, his rich, beautiful colors dulled. Dick still sells these initials runs as his “Set of Four” for those who appreciate his work but would like something smaller or less expensive than his regular prints. Experimenting with printing techniques, Dick eventually discovered that photographic paper captured the luminescence and color depth of his originals. He prints all of his images on 16 x 20 photographic paper; the image takes up the full paper space. He then signs and numbers each print in 24 karat gold ink, limiting each print run to 200.

In 1999, having already retired from the New Orleans Fire Department, Dick decided that it was time to retire from business ownership as well, opting to spend his time traveling with his family. He sold Vincent Art to his long time friend and French Quarter business owner, Rob Lombardi, marking the only time that Vincent Art has changed hands in 33 years. Dick remains an invaluable friend and resource to Vincent Art, taking the time to teach Rob and Kami some of his special framing techniques. He still lives in Destrehan and still produces an oil original once every couple of years, but he is enjoying his retirement, traveling the country and playing with his grandchildren. His most recent production is “Sunken Boat Bayou,” put into print in 2006. Vincent Art remains the only gallery or print shop in the New Orleans area that carries Dick Nick’s work. Dick still stops in to Vincent Art during Mardi Gras, Jazz and Heritage Festival, and French Quarter Festival.