NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — He's the Frenchman who came to our city with a dream of being a chef, but destiny had another idea. According to the artist Simon Hardeveld, "I'm the chef who never cooks, you can see in my book." After working around the city for a period of time, he began to explore his other passion, that of making art, As it turns out, his art became more and more popular. Buddy the Elf bringing Christmas cheer to the Saenger Theater for $39 "People buy one, buy two, and that's it. I never change. I always do the same. Same color, same wood, same painting, same," said Simon. Simon's big break came in 2011 when he colored the WGNO News With A Twist set with his vibrant imagination. That opportunity helped spawn a popularity of his folk art across the region. These days it's easy to spot Simon's colorful work in local businesses and homes. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. See the 10 worst airports for on-time Thanksgiving travel: report 3 children hurt in drive-by shooting, Baton Rouge police chief says Maker of Trump guitars reportedly sent cease and desist order by Gibson Man arrested in Hammond, accused of internet sex crimes Traffic impacts for Bayou Classic weekend event