Memphis has been fantastic. I arrived here planning to sleep in my car but a local artist contacted me and offered me a place to stay. Turns out he has traveled the world filling countless sketchbooks and painting and it was a real inspiration to meet him. Thanks Owen!

First, a word about the trolley system here. It’s surreal. An even $1 gets you aboard, where the driver insists on knowing where you are going (not sure why, there are only two lines and they both run in loops). A few blocks down the street and he stops the car to chat with a lady on the sidewalk about a building that collapsed a few days ago. I guess we’re not on too tight a schedule. Later in the route someone he knows gets on and starts berating him about her daughter who recently passed and how can he not care. He does his best to ignore her. He gets on the intercom and apologizes to the other passengers (there are three of us) that they have to hear this. I got off at the stop where I got on but it’s definitely a ride I’d take again.

There was a blues band playing in one of the parks so I sat for some time and sketched

A true blues-man… his band wanted a break and he said “I don’t know what y’all came out here for but I came to play”. There was no break.

Just my imagination (running away with me)

I also did a portrait of a couple while I was sitting there. It’s my second one that I’ve done for money after two little girls in Nashville. At $9 total it’s hardly a living, but it’s a start!

And of course, the obligatory few from the coffee shop while I recharge & check emails and whatnot.