Chris Boyd, also known as Chris Canvas, has recently garnered significant attention from the community. He moved to Middle Tennessee from Houston, Texas, initially settling in Hermitage in 2009 and relocating to Murfreesboro in 2017. These days, those passing through the intersection of Lascassas Highway and Northfield Boulevard may spot him on the street corner in front of the Krystal next to the DJ Mart.

Boyd began selling his paintings in 2020 from a shopping cart and continues to display his colorful art for sale on the streetside. Venturing inside the Krystal, you’ll even find his Alice in Wonderland-themed paintings on their walls, showcasing the restaurant’s support for the local artist’s work.

Boyd began his guerilla marketing strategy out of necessity. He was a single dad who needed work, struggling with the hurdles of the COVID-19 pandemic. The kids were hungry, and Boyd didn’t believe he had anything to barter with until an idea dawned on him.

“I look around, and all the art I’ve been doing over the past 10 years, I said, ‘you know, get y’all’s clothes on’,” says Boyd. “I put all the stuff in a basket that was across the street, went out right there on that corner, and made $90 the first day.”

What began as a survival strategy has since evolved into a passionate local artistic endeavor. Specializing in pop culture art, Boyd creates unique paintings featuring characters from Disney, anime and popular cartoons. His style ranges from nostalgic recreations of childhood favorites to creative mashups like Peter Griffin-meets-Deadpool. Each piece is carefully crafted, with Boyd promising never to reproduce the same image twice.

“I try to hit that nostalgic moment,” Boyd explains. “Anime always sells, and people love seeing characters from the ’90s and 2000s.”

His pricing on the paintings typically ranges from $20 to $40, with occasional two-for-$40 deals that attract passersby. The challenges of street art are numerous. Boyd navigates unpredictable weather, potential run-ins with local authorities, and the daily uncertainty of sales. Some days he might make $200, while others bring in just $50. Despite these challenges, he remains committed to his craft, viewing each painting as more than just a product—but a moment of connection with the community.

Boyd’s ultimate goal is modest but meaningful: to consistently earn around $2,200 monthly, which would allow him to support himself and potentially expand into larger mural projects. He dreams of painting office buildings or local businesses.

Boyd sees his work as a brief respite from the monotony of daily life for his customers.

“I want to make someone’s day a little better,” he says, “to distract them slightly from the grind and monotony.”

Business is now at a pace that Boyd constantly has to work to keep up with. Creating his commissioned paintings preoccupy much of his downtime. The canvases lay around his kitchen and living room in his unit at the Greenland East Apartments.

“One year, I did it for a year straight, and that was a tough year. But now, I’m really just trying to pay rent, pay bills like everybody else, and hope that somebody likes my Rick and Morty painting,” the artist says. But he adds that usually he sells out, so his main predicament now is keeping up with demand.

Andrew Bennett is one of Boyd’s recurring customers. He even commissioned Boyd once to paint a picture of his friend Matt McGill’s cat, Salisbury, as a gift.

“I like his art; I have had it on my wall for years and use him when I want to commission gifts for people,” says Bennett, appreciating Canvas’ work.

A.J. Nua was driving when he noticed Boyd and busted a U-turn on Rutherford Boulevard. Nua said he was happy to go home with two Venture Brothers paintings.

“He had anime stuff and other cartoon characters and I saw those and had to grab them up. He autographed them and told me to follow his IG. I was happy to support a local artist,” Nua says. “I thought, ‘Why don’t more artists just do pop-ups like that?’ It was a fun experience.”

Those interested in supporting this local artist can find Boyd most days near the Krystal, 1911 Lascassas Hwy., his colorful canvases spread out, each a piece of his unique story of creativity and perseverance. Follow Chris Canvas on Facebook to see his latest works.