Kota Tua has many interesting old and historical buildings to be visited by tourists. This condition is taken advantaged by street painters to earn money from tourists. They offer their ability in painting.

The street painters have been part of Kota Tua. Every day, at least 30 painters stand by in several building corners. 

They sit beside the old buildings on Jl Pintu Besar Selatan to Gadjahmada. They only bring simple equipment. Canvas paintings are exhibited on their lapak, a place for them to work.

For some people, especially foreign tourists, posing in front of old architectural buildings are enjoyable.

"This becomes our memory visiting Kota Tua. That's why I want a painting," said Yahya (32), a tourist from Bandung, West Java, asking to be painted.

The painters have been there since 1980. They gather in group in the old buildings.

One of the painters is Slamet Nugroho (34). He has painted there since 1980s. He has been known as a sidewalk painter. He thought, the painters' existence is to give image for Kota Tua. 

"Tourists are not only picturing Kota Tua by their cameras, they can also take their portrait by painting. They can make their caricature," said Slamet to beritajakarta.com, Wednesday (4/28).

The prices of their paintings vary, depending on the style and material. Black and white face portrait painting is in the range of Rp 250,000 to Rp 300,000. If the tourists want to be painted in front of an object, they should add Rp 50,000.

Slamet admitted, "Usually many orders come on Saturday and holiday. We could have orders from two to three people. The tourists can take the result in two days, depending on the target."

The painters in Kota Tua are needed by the tourists to paint them as a souvenir from Kota Tua. The classic Kota Tua visit is an unforgettable moment. That's why the tourists having art spirit think that portrait painting in old buildings has an artistic value.