The Duniway Lobby Sessions
In 2019, I spent a sunny Saturday drawing portraits at a friend’s coffee shop in Portland, Good Coffee. Among a handful of customers, I drew a woman named Rachael who asked me if I’d be interested in drawing portraits on Tuesdays in the lobby lounge at the Duniway, a Hilton Hotel downtown near the Shnitz. I would be part of their weekly lineup of complimentary experiences for guests. I was intrigued at the idea of meeting folks who were just passing through, and Rachael invited me to stop by the hotel to meet the team and see the lobby. The whole place was spectacularly cozy with a shiny finish. It even smelled amazing. I was thrilled. Soon I was drawing hotel guests most Tuesdays between 5:30 and 7:30pm. This treasured little residency lasted about 5 months—until the year 2020 rocked all of our worlds.
