Daniel Johnston
AUSTIN, TX
Some artists create work that hangs on a wall, but Daniel Johnston created work that lives in people's hearts.
Long before the world discovered him, Daniel was making homemade cassette tapes, filling sketchbooks with drawings, and creating art that was wonderfully unfiltered. His music was raw, vulnerable, funny, heartbreaking, and deeply human. His drawings carried that same spirit. Simple lines with honest emotions. Characters that felt like they had wandered straight out of a dream.
One of those characters would become an icon.
In 1993, Daniel painted Jeremiah the Innocent, the frog from his Hi, How Are You album artwork, on the side of a building near the University of Texas in Austin. What started as a mural for a local record store slowly became one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. Generations of Austinites have walked past Jeremiah, snapped photos, introduced friends to him, and smiled when those four simple words greeted them:
Hi, How Are You?
The mural became so beloved that Austin officially recognized it as a cultural landmark, and when the surrounding building was demolished decades later, the city and developers worked together to preserve the wall itself. Today Jeremiah still watches over Guadalupe Street, reminding everyone who passes that a simple question can mean more than we realize.
Daniel's influence stretches far beyond Austin. As both a visual artist and musician, he inspired generations of creators with his honesty and imagination. His lo-fi recordings became legendary, his artwork found fans around the world, and artists ranging from indie musicians to global superstars celebrated his unique creative voice. Through it all, Daniel never stopped making art exactly the way only Daniel could.
The Hi, How Are You Project
After Daniel's passing, his legacy grew into something even bigger.
The Hi, How Are You Project is a nonprofit dedicated to changing the conversation around mental health, especially for young adults. Inspired by Daniel's life and artwork, the organization encourages people to do something beautifully simple:
Ask someone, "Hi, how are you?"... and be ready to truly listen.
Through educational programs, creative events, community partnerships, and its annual Hi, How Are You Day, the organization reminds us that connection can save lives. Mental wellness begins with compassion, honest conversations, and showing up for one another.
That mission feels right at home here.
BEWM Coffee was built on the belief that coffee fuels art, and art fuels healing. Our company exists because of a young Austin artist whose life was also cut tragically short. Like the Hi, How Are You Project, we believe creativity can open doors to conversations that matter. We believe art has the power to build community, reduce stigma, and remind people they are never alone.
Coffee fuels art. Art fuels healing. Healing often begins with a conversation, and sometimes that conversation starts with four simple words.
Hi, how are you?
As Drop 007 in the BEWM Canvas Series, we're honored to feature the unforgettable artwork of Daniel Johnston.
Known for his heartfelt illustrations, handwritten lyrics, and iconic characters, Daniel's work has inspired generations of artists, musicians, and dreamers. His art reminds us that vulnerability, creativity, and imagination have the power to connect us all.
This isn't just a bag of coffee, it's a collectible piece celebrating Daniel Johnston's lasting legacy. A reminder to create fearlessly, embrace what makes you different, and find beauty in seeing the world through your own unique perspective.
