John Baeder's painting of American diners

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John Baeder's painting of American diners

A retrospective book of Atlanta-raised artists John Baeder, “John Baeder’s Road Well Taken” by Jay Williams, is out this month, and includes illustrations of 300 of Baeder’s watercolors and oils.

"Big Boy Bop," a 1986 oil on canvas by John Baeder, chooses a subject matter familiar to Shoney's customers.

"Broadway Diner" by John Baeder is a watercolor on paper and dates from 1991. Baeder grew up in Atlanta, and his work was influenced by local scenes.

Photorealist painter John Baeder, who grew up in Atlanta, specializes in painting diners.

"Col. Poole's Pig Hill-of-Fame" is a watercolor on paper from 1994 of an Ellijay barbecue restaurant. John Baeder is known for his photorealist paintings of diners, most of which were in the Northeast, but the former Atlantan also painted Southern scenes.

Photorealist painter John Baeder grew up in Atlanta, and his work was influenced by local scenes. He also photographed the Summerhill neighborhood, as it was being demolished to make room for highway expansion. This is one of those photos.

"Silver Top Diner" (oil on canvas, 1974), is one of photorealist painter John Baeder's earlier works, when he was focusing on diners.

John Baeder's watercolor painting "Bar-B-Cutie" from 2006 documents a barbecue restaurant near Nashville. The photorealist painter focuses on diners and other roadside attractions.

The Memphis scene captured in "Blue Suede Shoe Shine Parlor, a watercolor on paper from 1994, comes from the time that photorealist painter John Baeder relocated from New York to Tennessee.

"Mer's Diner," from 1987, watercolor on paper, is among the paintings of photorealist and former Atlantan John Baeder.

A portrait of John Baeder

Photorealist painter John Baeder grew up in Atlanta, and his work was influenced by local scenes. He also photographed the Summerhill neighborhood, as it was being demolished to make room for highway expansion. This is one of those photos.

"Super Duper Weenie" is an oil on canvas. John Baeder first painted this food truck in 1976, and again years later, after the owners had repainted the truck to look like his original artwork.

Artist John Baeder outside the Majestic diner in Atlanta in a photo from 2007. He has painted photorealistic portraits of many diners including the Majestic. (file photo)

Artist John Baeder inside the Majestic diner in Atlanta in 2007. He has painted photorealistic portraits of many diners including the Majestic. (LOUIE FAVORITE/Staff)

"Orange Circle Diner, East Orange, New Jersey." 1996. oil on canvas. 36''x48''. By John Baeder.

"Majestic." 1977. watercolor. 14"x20" By John Baeder. Sodas at the Majestic on Ponce de Leon Avenue were part of the artist's Saturday ritual, which might include a double fetaure at the Plaza Theatre.

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"Big Boy Bop," a 1986 oil on canvas by John Baeder, chooses a subject matter familiar to Shoney's customers.

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