Paintings of Walmart

Works such as "Deli and Shampoo" capture Walmart shoppers in their natural habitat. In a few decades, such scenes may no longer be part of everyday life, O'Connell says -- just look at how quickly the bookstore is fading into nonexistence.

Early on, O'Connell, who lives in rural Connecticut, was kicked out of many stores. A man taking pictures of shoppers and bottles of mayonnaise seemed odd. Eventually store managers came to accept his research methods (positive press didn't hurt) and welcomed him back, sometimes even supplying a forklift for panoramic shots. The company also bought a painting he made of the original Wal-Mart store. Now fans can submit their own photos on Twitter and Facebook for a project O'Connell calls Everyday Walart. Any would-be muse whose photo inspires a painting receives a free, signed print of the work.