EVEN BETTER THAN WE COULD HAVE IMAGINED
When one artist submitted a painting of their baby, cared for through RMHC, we realized the depth of connection this campaign had created. Another painted a flower with the names of RMHC staff and volunteers woven into the petals—an unexpected and emotional tribute. These weren’t just submissions; they were stories.
When we learned that one of the artists, John Price, was a former crew member. We tied this to the ongoing national “1-in-8” McDonald’s campaign celebrating that one in every eight Americans has worked at McDonald’s, presenting him with a surprise varsity jacket.
The moment he shared his Michelangelo-inspired idea—to replace the spark of life in The Creation of Adam with a French fry—we knew it had to be the front-and-center of all our promotional images. It was THE McMasterpiece.
RESULTS
- When one artist submitted a painting of their baby, cared for through RMHC, we realized the depth of connection this campaign had created. Another painted a flower with the names of RMHC staff and volunteers woven into the petals—an unexpected and emotional tribute. These weren’t just submissions; they were stories.
EVALUATION:
Our goal was simple: test a creative concept and do something meaningful for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond. What unfolded went far beyond our expectations. McMasterpieces became a heartfelt showcase of real stories tied to McDonald’s and RMHC.
- Earned a feature segment on CBS6’s Virginia This Morning, filmed on-site with an interview with Crossroads Art Center owner Jenni Kirby.
- Built a lasting realtionshop wfor the future with Crossroads Art Center received new visitors and confirmed they’ll host McMasterpieces again in 2025.
- Reinforce partnership with our local RMHC.
- Localized McDonald’s national 1:8 campaign
- Feedback was overwhelmingly positive—from artists, guests, and our nonprofit partner. Pieces sold before, during, and after the show—and continue to sell.
McMasterpieces was born from a creative insight: We noticed a trend: artists were organically referencing McDonald’s in their work—blending nostalgia, humor, and memory into visual storytelling.
When we learned that one of the artists, John Price, was a former crew member. We tied this to the ongoing national “1-in-8” McDonald’s campaign celebrating that one in every eight Americans has worked at McDonald’s, presenting him with a surprise varsity jacket and his piece for the show because the hero piece in our campaign promotions.
And God Said, Let There Be Fries (Italian: E Dio disse, Sia fatta la Patatina) is a striking fresco by John Price, a contemporary artist, drawing inspiration from Michelangelo’s renowned The Creation of Adam. Playful but profound, this piece reimagines Michelangelo’s iconic work. In this latest addition to the McMasterpieces collection, the divine hand doesn’t offer the spark of life—but the perfect, golden McDonald’s fry. 🙌
The painting mirrors the iconic scene from the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, where God imparts life to Adam, but here, the divine spark is reimagined. Instead of the moment of human creation, we witness the creation of something equally revered in the modern world—McDonald’s fries. The hand of God extends outward, offering a perfectly crisp, golden fry, while the hand of man, mirroring God’s, reaches out, desperate to grasp the divine creation. The gap between their fingers remains, a symbolic nod to the unattainable perfection that McDonald’s fries represent—ever so close yet always leaving us yearning for more.
The golden arches are implied in the divine light, casting a sacred glow over the entire scene, reminding us of the eternal pursuit of satisfaction. This work evokes a sense of reverence for everyday indulgence, celebrating McDonald’s fries as a near-spiritual experience that transcends the mundane and approaches the divine. It captures the moment where the sacred meets the simple pleasures of life, reminding us that sometimes, a fry can feel almost divine
Growing up poor in Augusta, Georgia, John Price’s employment at McDonald’s as a teenager came about by means of necessity.
“You want to talk about poverty? We had summers with no electricity, winters with no heat. All of our clothes were hand-me-downs,” Price says. “I wanted to earn money for myself.”
When he wasn’t sneaking a Chicken McNugget or two on the sly, Price was wowed by the level of order and efficiency he witnessed as a fry cook.
“I learned a lot more about structure at McDonald’s than I did at school,” he says.
After a wide-ranging career that has included serving in the Army as a petroleum supply specialist and multimedia illustrator, selling cars, working in pest control and co-owning a “paint and sip” business where guests create paintings while drinking wine, Price decided to pursue artistry full-time in 2018.
Today, Price paints a little bit of everything, from portraits to murals to fantasy art. Working primarily in oils and charcoal, Price follows his passions, including a portrait series depicting every American president and a painting of abolitionist Harriet Tubman that took him more than a year to complete.
He also specializes in live wedding painting, capturing romantic moments as they take place to create both permanent pieces of art and entertaining spectacles for guests.
His favorite quote? A line attributed to Edward Hopper: “If I could say it in words there would be no reason to paint.”
Thank you, John, for being part of the 1-in-8 Americans who make our Arches so golden.
Merrily Johnstone
Fast Food Pastorale
Oil on Panel
11 x 14", Framed 17.5 x 20.5"
$1745
I wanted to present a modern burger and fries in a dramatically lit composition, reminiscent of Baroque still-life paintings in landscape settings.
Artist Statement:
For me, the language of painting has always been a means to explore and document the underlying layers of my visual experience. The way light and shadows fall over objects, describing their forms, teasing emotion. Lines that signify shapes while simultaneously creating the abstract pattern of the composition. The lyrical shorthand of marks, magically suggesting texture and detail. Color against color, tone upon tone. All comprise the vocabulary used to record the timeless moment of observation, my message to the viewer.
This fascination with painting as communication is rooted in childhood travels while living in Europe with my military family. My earliest memories include visiting palaces and art museums, where I was deeply affected by the historic portraits and figurative masterpieces. As I gazed up at them, the faces portrayed there spoke to me in a silent mysterious language, reaching across generations and cultural boundaries. At such a young age, these paintings showed me the world in an instant, in a language that I understood.
Today, years of exploration have led me from Renaissance and Baroque through Post-Modernism. Regardless of literal subject matter, my well of enduring inspiration is usually found in the technical achievements of history's great masters.
Sue Stuller
An American in Paris
Watercolor on Arches 300lb Paper
29 x 21", Framed to 37 x 29"
$2500
Visiting Paris and eating dinner at a cafe and couldn't believe the number of people going into the McDonalds across the street.
Artist Statement:
Susan has been a professional artist and instructor for over 30 years. Her emphasis is on rich color and strong design She tries to elevate ordinary subject matter to a new level. Susan paints in a variety of media's though her passion lies in watercolor. She is a signature member of many national and international watercolor societies and has won numerous awards.
