Johnny Dombrowski

Reel Life (Process) Johnny Dombrowski I’ve been working on...

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:58 -0400

Inked Linework

Linework with scanned in textures/patterns on tracing paper

Layers of coloring done in Photoshop

Johnny Dombrowski

I’ve been working on this here and there for a while now but finally had some time to finish it. The original idea stemmed from the notion that, seemingly innocent apps like Vine are being rated +17 because of a “human error” of posting vast amounts of pornography. Even to the the extent where the six second clips of sex were making it to “Editor’s Pick.” It’s a new form of media, so people can and therefore will, like wolves gorging down food, never knowing when the next meal will be within their grasp.

Now, of course sex or wanting sex isn’t bad. It’s completely natural and, well… good. Then again, because sex sells and always has, it’s all over the place. Being surrounded by sexual imagery in tv, movies, advertising- everywhere, makes us very accustom to it and eventually convince people to expect it around every corner. At the drop of a hat. With familiarity comes de-sensitivity and a need to continuously up the ante in a way.

So what I’m worried about, and wanted to illustrate in a noir/pulp-ish way, was my fear of it becoming something as detached or blasé as the other means of social interaction or expectations we have these days. Where people view the world entirely through a screen, with glazed over eyes. Where this “Reel Life” takes over and they begin to fancy it more than reality. Even when there’s a woman or man sitting in their lap and all they’re interested in is the next raunchy update or scene. I’m sure it won’t take over entirely, though. I hope not.

I would quit everything online if I didn’t use it for networking and promoting my illustrations. Except Tumblr, of course. You’re cool…

…What are you doing tonight?

Reel Life Johnny Dombrowski

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:29:47 -0400

Reel Life

Johnny Dombrowski

Star Trek | Into Darkness Johnny Dombrowski Blurppy just...

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:31:00 -0400

Star Trek | Into Darkness

Johnny Dombrowski

Blurppy just released their Artist Project #2 for Star Trek Into Darkness. I’m very lucky to be in good company with a group of absolutely amazing artists! If you haven’t seen the others yet, you should definitely check them out:

http://blurppy.com/2013/05/13/exclusive-blurppy-artist-project-2-paramount-j-j-abrams-sci-fi-adventure-star-trek-into-darkness/

The scene of Kirk and Bones running through that red forest was just too good to pass up. It’s like an artist’s dream with all of those strong primary colors.

Celestial Spheres

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:44:34 -0400

Celestial Spheres

Prints are now available! For anyone interested, I’ve...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:16:25 -0400

Prints are now available! For anyone interested, I’ve signed up for Inprnt and some of my work is now available as fancy schmancy prints. Buy one or three if you’d like. Thanks and please spread the word!

http://www.inprnt.com/gallery/jdombrowski/

Along with that, I’ve joined Behance! If anyone one wants to follow or appreciate me… go right ahead! I love being appreciated. I really appreciate it.

http://www.behance.net/johnnydombrowski

theartofanimation: Johnny Dombrowski TWO POSTS?! I can’t...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:09:22 -0400

theartofanimation:

Johnny Dombrowski

TWO POSTS?! I can’t thank The Art of Animation enough- it’s an honor. You’re pretty cool in my book.

theartofanimation: Johnny Dombrowski Featured on Art of...

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:07:41 -0400

theartofanimation:

Johnny Dombrowski

Featured on Art of Animation again! Thanks so much, and thanks to the new followers. More work coming soon.

I went to the MOMA today with a few friends. I split off from the rest of the group and started...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:51:42 -0400

I went to the MOMA today with a few friends. I split off from the rest of the group and started looking through the Minimalist work on the 4th floor, eventually stopping in a room with Richard Serra’s “Delineator.” Thinking it was just another piece I didn’t like, I was ready to move on until I read the label “Please feel free to step on the floor component of this work.”

Go ahead. Step on it. Yes, you can read this again, but it’ll still say the same thing.

I walked up to the edge but didn’t do anything. Feeling this antsy suspense in my body, I physically could not step on it. No one else was there. No guards, no tourists, nothing. I took a step back and began to watch other visitors poke their heads in or even wander in to do the same thing. Walk up to the very edge… but not take that final step. I tried to play it cool, quietly laughing to myself, just waiting for that one person to take the leap I couldn’t. It was surprising at how many people walked in and around the piece without touching it.

Finally, someone wandering on his own, like I was, walked up to the concrete and casually rubbed his right foot on the closest corner. My heart skipped a beat. I ran up to him laughing and joking, only then realizing he was French and couldn’t speak English fluently. I slowed down and pointed to the sign. We both laughed, walked up to the edge and stepped on it like we were testing the water in a pool, soon jumping in. Stomping all over it, like kids with nothing better to do.

Not sure if any of that was Serra’s intention, but the fact that it made me rethink about the way I approach art in a museum was worth the trip.

If anyone’s interested, you should check out and follow my...

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:01:45 -0500

What are you smiling about? You think this is funny?

If anyone’s interested, you should check out and follow my instagram: http://instagram.com/jdombrowski

Though I post a few here and there- that’s where you can check out a lot of my sketches and even some of the process for my larger illustrations. Museum sketches, Things I’ve done to either warm or loosen up, etc. You get the idea.

Pandora (Process) Johnny Dombrowski First of all, hello to new...

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:01:00 -0500

Original sketches trying to capture Pandora's movement/pose. That and a mask from the American Natural History Museum, laughing at me. He's always laughing at me.

Mucha Photos for posture reference. Look at those curves!

Inked Linework

Patterns in graphite drawn on tracing paper.

Coloring stages

Pandora (Process)

Johnny Dombrowski

First of all, hello to new followers! I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that people are digging my work. Now on to business…

I’ve been thinking about posting more of my process on here, but with reblogs possible, I never wanted to cram posts with too much writing or images. So I figured I’ll post the final illustration and then a second post with more info about the piece later on. I’ll post whatever stages I have, so you can learn a little more about how I work.

With the urge to experiment more, I’ve started this year playing around with my technique a bit along with working on more concept. First with Chump and now this. I’m not sure what initially caused it, but I got this craving to draw Pandora. While reading through my copy of Bulfinch’s Mythology *pushes up glasses* and I came across an interesting take on her story…

Pandora was created by Zeus, not as a punishment to Prometheus for stealing fire, but as a blessing towards man. Every god in heaven contributed something to perfect her. Aphrodite gave her beauty, Hermes persuasion, Apollo music, etc. And instead of evils, each god also placed a blessing into a jar. Eager with curiosity, Pandora slipped off the cover to look inside, when all of the blessings started to escape. She tried to close the lid as quickly as possible, but was only able to keep hope from escaping. That’s why, whatever evils we come across, we’ll always have a sense of hope in our lives.

Reading through her story, I didn’t see a box ever mentioned- only the jar. Turns out that box is a mistranslation! The original greek mentions it as a “pithos” or jar. But that was later translated to “pyxis” or box, by Eramus of Rotterdam in the 16th century. THANKS ERAMUS.

With the evils of the box gone, I tried my best to instead capture her curiosity. To try and get that peeking look, I used Alphonse Mucha’s photography as reference. Bending her back down, eye level with the jar, taking a quick look at the wonders waiting inside.

And now that I’ve talked your ears off, I’ll wait to see if you all want more of this. If you’d like to share just the image without all of this rambling, you can go to the original post

And now whenever someone uses the phrase “It’s like opening Pandora’s Box” you can slap them across the face with a white glove. Even challenging them to a duel, if you’d like. I don’t care. It’s your glove- do what you want with it. It’s in your hands. Or should I say ON your hands! Do you get it? Because it’s a glove? You wear them on your h- ok I’m gonna get going.

Pandora Johnny Dombrowski

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:01:02 -0500

Pandora

Johnny Dombrowski

fuckyeahillustrativeart: johnny dombrowski Follow Johnny on...

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 13:34:16 -0500

fuckyeahillustrativeart:

johnny dombrowski

Follow Johnny on Tumblr!

Hey, I was featured again! Many thanks to FuckYeahIllustrativeArt for the post! Thanks and welcome to the new followers too. Hope I don’t disappoint. I’m gonna be posting more work and try to figure out the best way to show my process- since tumblr is so image oriented. Maybe post the final illo and a process post after? We’ll see.

Chump Johnny Dombrowski XX

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 18:01:27 -0500

Chump

Johnny Dombrowski

Here’s to New Year’s resolutions. XX

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 02:10:24 -0500

Here’s to New Year’s resolutions. XX

theartofanimation: Johnny Dombrowski Thanks to ArtofAnimation...

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 19:24:36 -0500

theartofanimation:

Johnny Dombrowski

Thanks to ArtofAnimation for the post. Now that the holiday’s over- Time for me to get back to work!

Alice's Friends- Prints on sale today!

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:34:00 -0400

The Alice in Wonderland prints I worked on for Dark Hall Mansion are on sale today. Get yours while they’re still available! http://www.darkhallmansionstore.com

Johnny Dombrowski Alice’s Friends | The Mad Hatter &...

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 13:19:00 -0400

The Mad Hatter Standard Version

The Mad Hatter Variant Edition

The Caterpillar Variant Edition

The Caterpillar Standard Edition

Johnny Dombrowski

Alice’s Friends | The Mad Hatter & The Caterpillar

Alice in Wonderland Limited Edition posters I worked on for Dark Hall Mansion that will be available for sale on Oct 29th at 9:30 AM PST.

To learn more about the work and where you can buy them, check out the DHM blog. The Standards will be an edition of 99, while the Variants will only be an edition of 25. All editions are 22” x 30” hand-pulled color screen prints, signed and numbered by me.

Thanks, everyone for checking out my work. Hope you will all spread the word!

Smoke and smut.

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 20:36:09 -0400

Smoke and smut.

Origins of Violence | Entertaining Dissonance (animated) (Series...

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:21:00 -0400

Origins of Violence | Entertaining Dissonance (animated)

(Series 1 of 4)

Johnny Dombrowski

(Larger version)

Origins of Violence | Entertaining Dissonance (Series 1 of...

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:10:52 -0400

Origins of Violence | Entertaining Dissonance

(Series 1 of 4)

Johnny Dombrowski