Have I shown you this little drawing? I thought I had, but I couldn’t find any evidence of it searching the blog archives. Anyway, I have always liked this vignette. I don’t know why; probably because I like to waste time in cozy cafés myself. I can’t remember what I had in mind when I drew it. Perhaps it was intended for coffee-cup art. There must have been some purpose, because I seldom draw for my own amusement. Whatever the project, it was never realized. I like this scene so much, I’ve drawn several versions: a larger version, a warm-weather version, a less somber, more frivolous version. OK, so maybe I do draw for my own amusement now and then. There is even one mirror-image version, with Gene seated on the left and Arlo and Janis on the right. This leads me to think the purpose of that particular piece was coffee-cup art, for that would have put Arlo and Janis front and center for right-handed coffee drinkers. I’m thinking I might work a version into the new Web site. Remember when the Worldwide Web was new? It was perceived as a gathering place, often a metaphorical café. I have always liked that, too.
Café Arlo & Janis
By Jimmy Johnson
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159 responses to “Café Arlo & Janis”
Well, why not make it a mug now?
This would be a great coffee cup! Maybe you could offer it with those tee-shirts!
It certainly looks familiar and yes, it would make great coffee-cup art. Can I order one (along with a T-shirt, hint, hint….)
Not to be hypercritical, but Arlo, Janis and Gene are outside the café, and Ludwig (who appears to have eaten all the food therein) is *inside* the café, looking out the window and thinking about chickadee tartar for desert?
Cool cartoon, though.
Jackie, I see a book titled “Shantyboat”, by Harlan Hubbard. Might that be it?. Looks very good; adding to my list. Thank you!
I think Luddy is the cafe cat rather than Arlo and Janis’ here.
I too noticed Luddy’s eye on the bird. Jimmy is SO good.
JJ:
Delightful drawing. I see nothing amiss in everybody but Ludwig being outdoors, nor in it being non-summery weather, though I think more of cafes as summer places.
Wife and I had a splendid lunch in one in the Jardin des Plantes zoo in Paris, juillet ’85. Also a miserable time at supper in fall ’97 in an overrated Greenwich Village café, maybe the reason I prefer summer café scenes.
Peace, emb
Oh, I just love this picture! Forget the coffee mug — I have far too many of them anyway. This is an oh-so-pleasant fantasy. It wraps up all that is good about Arlo and Janis and puts it in a nifty drawing for us to enjoy. I love the bird … and Gene’s dark glasses … and I too think that Ludwig is the cafe cat.
P.S. The bird is more likely a house sparrow, Passer domesticus, Old World sp. unfortunately introduced here, than a chickadee. Our black-capped chickadee, Poecile atricapillus, occurs in cities, but is less likely to be found scrounging in an outdoor café. It may be the same sp. as the OW marsh tit. Luddie would happily eat, or maybe donate, either one.
Peace, emb
So I guess Gene is sitting by himself with shades(pretending to read book) because he is embarrassed to be seen with his parents. Is the purpose of this cartoon to highlight the generation gap?
I agree with Charlotte, too many mugs. I would ante up of it was offered as a signed, numbered, limited edition print. HINT, HINT 😉
Years ago, a fad was cup art that appeared and disappeared when you made the cup hot or cold (e.g., by filling with hot liquid). I’m imagining this one with the winter clothes done up in the disappearing stuff, so it alternates between summer and winter.
OF due 1331-1351 CST. Peace, emb
http://www.nps.gov/features/yell/webcam/oldFaithfulStreaming.html
Most small speckled birds are chickadees to me. 🙂
Also, a homage to the movie. (They don’t make ’em like that anymore.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-KiyEyTXfk
JJ: Love the café scene!
How are you doing, Gal?
Village: I am back in SE Ohio, as opposing being in East Central Ohio. Lovely services Wednesday… hectic day on Thursday with the family trying to decide what was to be saved, and by whom… I cleaned the fridge & freezer, plus other things, yesterday…
I awoke this morning at 5 AM and knew that it was time to leave. It isn’t like I won’t be visiting his family in the future, but I needed to get MY stuff out so that his daughter could deal with the remainder.
So… two hours on the road, and I am back. The car isn’t unpacked completely, but I have plenty of time. Life goes on…
Wonderful scene. Lots of potential for any item, even the cover of a new book.
I see it as heading up the comments page. Isn’t this a cafe?
This is a symbolic scene. They are all acting out parts in a fantasy. Gene isn’t their son here, but a poor poet. Arlo and Janis are living the life they have dreamed of (sometimes). Even Luddie gets a change of scenery. They are all in Paris, of course.
didn’t you draw this for your ebay gallery ?
Ahhh! La vie de café de Paris. Amoureux romantiques. Un poète de mauvaise humeur. Le chat qui voient toute la fenêtre, mais raconte pas des histoires.
Charlotte
You can never have too many coffee mugs (unless they are duplicates – then a couple will do.
Sand
Mentioning Blue Hiways. It was the title of William Leastheat Moon’s 1980?s book of his backroad drive around America.
Read it back in the day -very good read. If ever I get a chauffeur I am doing that – there is no sense in traveling the back roads if you have to keep your eye on the road and the crazy farmers.
GR6 & emb
There are Eagles, Crows and little brown birds – only variations thereof.
JJ might have to update it with Wifey & GK
Rode with a friend that has a GPS direction machine. We did not go the way we were told
and she almost got snotty – then sulked.
Boise Ed: Good to see ya! We still have a couple of Tardis mugs that did the disappearing trick when they were new…