Ian Ziobrowski Rolls Up His Debut Print

Born in 1985, Ian Ziobrowski has always had a natural ingenuity for art and design and the instinctive ability to bring his ideas to fruition.  Mostly known for his ongoing NUGGLIFE series, Ian pushes the limits everyday, sending out his creations on an international level.  You can view Ian’s works at events like Art Basel, Comic Con’s, and in stores and galleries including Kidrobot, 1AM, Toyqube, and Rendition.

Here for his debut RUN, Ian Ziobrowski, brings us his very first print with the skunky NUGSnNUGGS. Usually a master in the dunny and miniature toy department, Ian Ziobrowski has decided to capture one of his infamous character’s Nuggs with some of his favorite nugs.  Read on as we talk with Ian Ziobrowski about his debut RUN, past influences and more…

1xRUN Thru Interview

NUGSnNUGGS by Ian Ziobrowski

1xRun: Is the original still for sale?

Ian Ziobrowski:  Yes, it will be available here through 1xRUN. The original is 18 x 24.

1xRUN: What materials was the original printed on and drawn with?

Ian Ziobrowski: I created this with Acrylic paint with little touches of oil in the face.  Applied using an transparent technique. I feel this gives an glowing effect, especially in the greens on the plants.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?

Ian Ziobrowski:  January 2012.

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Ian Ziobrowski:  I created this painting while working on a custom vinyl NUGGLIFE set commission for a collector (see pics). This project helps you view the characters in a 3D world.  But I had to illustrate this world in order to put the story together.  So by producing a painting in a hyper animation style I can let peoples imagination have something to feed of off. Now you can start to see the story viewed in my head piece by piece. This is my first print ever to be released.  Also this painting is the first of an on going series of my NUGGLIFE world that illustrates my custom vinyl figures.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Ian Ziobrowski:   3weeks. At the time I was working on the custom NUGGLIFE set and one of the pieces is a grow room with a large window in the front.  Through the plants you can see NUGGS inside, so I instantly had to paint this.  Since it is the beginning of the story NUGGS surrounded with his precious friends would be the perfect way to approach this.

NUGSnNUGGS

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Ian Ziobrowski:  Its makes me wanna jump on in and hang out with Nuggs.

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece/print?

Ian Ziobrowski:  This is just the beginning for me. Three years into the urban vinyl world, I’ve gotten my name into a book to be released Jan 2013 (I can’t say title yet) , and I’m a nominee in the category Break Through Artist in the Clutter Mag 2012 designer toy awards.  I’m booked with huge commissions into 2013 and I’m going to book my first solo show for 2013.  NUGGLIFE is going places and I’ve been working continuously on this for three years.  This is my first painting illustrating NUGGS and with prints being much more cheaper than originals collectors have something more affordable.  I feel they will appreciate this and seeing there’s a whole story behind NUGGLIFE along with my 3D figures, collectors have something to relate to.

1xRun: Describe this piece in one gut reaction word.

Ian Ziobrowski:  intrigued.

Run #00257 // NUGSnNUGGS by Ian Ziobrowski

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Ian Ziobrowski:  When I was 7 years old, I did my first drawing.  Since then I haven’t stopped.  I have an older brother who is an artist as well.  We have two completely different styles but I always had someone to be inspired by growing up.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Ian Ziobrowski:  In March 2009 I was inspired to create a character that portrayed self made prosperity and the ability to live the ‘American Dream’ without following society’s standards of the path to getting there.  So NUGGS was created.  It’s when I realized I had something.  At the time I made a custom birdhouse that was a secret grow room, and needed a character to go inside. It worked out perfectly as my first appearance in the art world.

Smokey


1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Ian Ziobrowski:    When I was in high school studied mostly portrait artist, any where from Rembrandt (Dutch Golden Age), John Singer Sargent (1880’s American Portrait Artist), to Chuck Close (American photorealist, 70’s to late 80’s).  I think that’s why I’m obsessed with details.

Chuck Close

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Ian Ziobrowski:  just to name a few:  Chauskoskis,  Clay “Ferg” Ferguson, Stuart Witter, Colin Christian (man would I love to have a silicone NUGGS!) and Todd Shorr.

Chauskoskis

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Ian Ziobrowski:  Yes, right now there are some crazy instrumentals I’ve been playing in the studio.  I’m listening to some J DILLA as I write this. I do my freelance work in the day time mostly, I like to work on my personal pieces from the evening on.  Much more peace full then.


1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Ian Ziobrowski:  With no thought FERG!  I just love the quality of his pieces and the little clothes designed up for them. Hopefully one day!

Ferg

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

Ian Ziobrowski:  Sounds random but I would love to sit down and collaborate with Rembrandt.  His works and how he executed them were mind blowing.  Right now I’m working Two canvases inspired by Rembrandt for NUGGLIFE.

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

Ian Ziobrowski:  I bought the Shaved Trooper canvas by German Graffiti artist Flying Fortress. It hangs in my studio.

Flying Fortress – Shaved Trooper

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

Ian Ziobrowski:  I purchased a Adam Pratt piece from the Custom Candy Coated Show at the London Candy Shop in NYC. Its an Evil Thomas the train all geared up with guns and stuff.  Its bad ass.

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

Ian Ziobrowski:   Currently I’m working on a Custom Jimi Hendrix & Evil Willy Wonka, three new canvases for NUGGLIFE, and preparing for NYCC in October as I will be releasing resin sets of NUGGLIFE characters.

1xRun: Social Media Links

Ian Ziobrowski:  WebsiteFacebookTwitterFlickr

 -1xRUN