Itsuo Kobayashi was born in 1962 and lives in Saitama prefecture.  Since he was 18 years old he took the time to document each and every meal he ate. Using pen and ink he filled notebook after notebook with delicious-looking paintings. The bento boxes and ramen drawings often included the name, price and ingredients of each meal.  The Japanese outsider artist and professional cook suffers from alcoholic neuritis and has difficulty walking.  Often bed-ridden he still draws from memory relying mostly on food deliveries from restaurants or deliveries from his mother.

Mr. Kobayashi is represent by Kushino Terrace Gallery. There is a great interview with him on the website, Note.

Images:  Courtesy of Itsuo Kobayashi and Kushino Terrace Gallery.