My OBT

What if you spent every day looking for One Beautiful Thing?

Eat. Draw. Repeat.

by 19 Comments

Artist John Donohue has the best job in the world! He’s working on drawing/painting all the restaurants in NYC, and I couldn’t be more excited. Donohue describes himself as a “former cubicle-dwelling editor at The New Yorker turned self-taught, world-wandering artist.”

“According to a New Yorker profile of the critic Pete Wells, there were some 24,000 restaurants in the city. It is mathematically possible to visit all of them in under a year by spending 20 minutes at a stop. Luckily, it takes me almost exactly 20 minutes to draw the façade of each place, working strictly from life, in ink (without a pencil or erasing anything).

“In a perfect world, I would have finished New York City in twelve months. Of course, my calculation didn’t take into account openings and closings, travel between each one, sleep, work, outside responsibilities, and coloring and printing. Or black-swan events like the Coronavirus pandemic. So, I have been at it ever since.”

– Meet the Artist

There was one restaurant in particular I wanted that wasn’t already in his collection, so I inquired. The lovely John is so popular, he’s already fully committed for the next three months! Good for him. I told them I’d be happy to wait. His work is definitely going to be added to our home collection!

You can see John Donohue’s art on the All the Restaurants website and on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Author: Donna from MyOBT

I have committed to spending part of every day looking for at least one beautiful thing, and sharing what I find with you lovelies!

19 thoughts on “Eat. Draw. Repeat.”

Leave a comment

  2. Simon
    September 5, 2022 at 6:47 am

    These are really cool

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  4. janhaltn
    September 5, 2022 at 9:50 am

    Great Work. I an sad to read, not only in NY but in every State, the COVID did in a lot of small mom/pop resturants. I hope they all come back one day. Nice art work also — Hal

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. bcparkison
    September 5, 2022 at 11:17 am

    What a unique idea. And I love the black and white with a splash of color.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  6. swallowridge2
    September 6, 2022 at 8:30 am

    I wandered through his drawings to see if he had sketched The Pine in the Bronx which is owned by my daughter-in-law’s family. (They also own The Yankee Tavern across the street from Yankee Stadium.) I didn’t find The Pine but I did see McSorely’s Ale House which you featured above. What fun!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. ChrisLomaka
    September 9, 2022 at 10:18 am

    I know NY is special to you, but I love the character in these Japanese storefronts: https://www.amazon.com/dp/484436734X/?coliid=I3SGC1ASBO8BXY&colid=26VN33JU9BRKX&psc=1&ref_=gv_vv_lig_pi_dp

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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