Single panel cartoons and illustrations by David Gomberg

Bio

I am a cartoonist and illustrator from New Jersey, USA. Some might say that I got started in cartooning somewhat late in life.

I studied Computer Science at Rutgers University, and I've spent most of my adult life in that field. Yet, I've always had a quirky nature about me, experimenting creatively with in many forms. When I found cartooning, however, it felt like a natural medium for my 'quirk'.

My cartoons appear in various publications, including Airmail, The Times Luxury, The Wall Street Journal, Narrative Magazine, Alta Journal, and elsewhere.

I also post on Instagram @davidgomberg

This is one of the ways that people wind up on deserted islands.

#desertisland #waterski

The health risk assessment

#doctor #checkup #lawyer #lawsuit #malpractice #healthrisk

Not to worry, he didn’t jump.
They’re best buds now.

#talkoffledge

But…but… we’re here!

#shark #feedingfrenzy #frenzy #dinner #romanticdinner

Let’s celebrate fifty years of terror. Yay!

#jaws #shark #greatwhiteshark

Player piano

#piano #playerpiano #ragtime

Sippy science

#science #chemistry_lab #chemistry #sillystraw #crazystraw

I’m pretty sure it happens this way

#gospel #bible

TBT - way back.

#adamandeve #gardenofeden

It’s Monday, time to get moving.

#mondays #scarecrow #wizardofoz #stick

A few photos from an overnight trip to Ocean City, NJ. got up for the sunrise to find thick fog, which was still kinda cool. The first day we saw a man with his child, and the design on his swim trunks could have been improved - we thought his pants had dropped down.

#beach #sunrise #fog #seagulls #sand

From months ago, as they rose together.

(Yeah that’s supposed to be Musk on the right, during his sunglasses and big chain period)

TBT - for the grads out there.

Originally appeared in Phi Delta Kappan magazine

#graduation #school #laptop #technology #pdkinternational

Except for the commute.

#godzilla #city #newyork #monster #monstermovies

Silly old bear

#winniethepooh #christopherrobin #honey #bees #hundredacrewood #cartoon

TBT - the summer season will soon be upon us and that means seagulls. We’ve all had seagull thefts, it’s a rite of passage. I recall two, one like the first cartoon - a seagull swooped down (from behind) and almost got a full slice of pizza from my paper plate. The other time was a half of a candy bar as I was lifting it towards my mouth!
Any good theft stories ?

#tbt #seagulls #summer #beach

One that I did a while back, and since it was on paper, I really couldn’t fix detective Escher on the left, who’s both in front of and behind the podium😄.

#police #pressconference #escher

A car can dream, can��’t it?

#western #loneranger #horse #tirechange #flattire #desert

Or roast. Either way, summer is coming, slather away!

#summer #sunburn #uvrays #pigs #beach #sun

Chris and I spent this weekend in NYC, visiting with friends, family, and enjoying the sights. The JP Morgan library and museum was memorable. They have a “life mask” of George Washington, created in 1785. If you ever wondered what he really looked like, this is him. Age 53. Lots more there.

#nyc

Idea progression. This cartoon went all over the place and wound up taking a long time. I really want to do a cartoon with time travel and a falcon (maybe someday), but then it turned into a military mission to have the gull poop on Hitler, and then I was stuck on the grocery stand thing, until seagull+food=incentive. Went with that.

#seagull #food #makingof #chef #timemachine #cartoon

This cartoon progression came from seeing a subtitle on a movie, and the description of the background noises [indistinct chatter] intrigued me. (there are other good ones too). My initial drafts, as you can see, are just an effort to get “anything” on the page 😄.

#cartoon #makingof #party #cocktailparty

TBT - Now that it’s getting warmer, don’t forget to blah blah blah you know what to do.

#dehydration #fish #schooloffish #hydrate #swimming

Look at the birdieeeee

#sketch #birds #heron #parrot

Or week, or year. As the school year wraps up, let’s go slang for the summer.

#grammar #slang #english #school #summer

Here’s a cartoon from last June, along with the idea progression, which oddly stayed the same - maybe I thought of a fire station or hospital, but stuck with the church. I remember wanting to have this big grand cathedral and then I drew myself into a perspective and detail abyss. Past the point of no return, I kept at it but acting as my own editor, my comment is “What, are you nuts?”

😄

#church #cathedral

101 Dalmatians actress Dame Joan Plowright. She died at the age of 95 in January. I hope her family are good sports - I liked her pose in the source photo.

#joanplowright

Another idea progression. This time the “gravity” cartoon. The last two are the digital and watercolor finishes.

Some roughs can sit around for weeks or months, often revisited with fresh eyes to tinker, then leave again.

In Procreate, I have folders per month and at the end of the month, if some roughs look interesting, I’ll drag them into the next month. Some get dragged many months! 😄

#cartoon #makingof

A little idea progression which became the “trapeze guy” cartoon.

#cartoon #makingof #trapeze

A sketch, inspired by a photo from.

@runningwineguy (Brian Cronin)

We are fortunate to have a lot of herons in our area. Growing up in a different area, seeing a heron was rare. The sight would stop you in your tracks. Still does

#heron #sketch

Togetherness

#couple #togetherness #holding

Gotta keep Movin’ On

#bike #bicycle #pedaling #moving #exercise

One of my other passions is woodworking and I’ve integrated that with nature to create Nature Wood sculptures. I’m excited to announce my Etsy shop. The link is in my bio (DavidGombergDesign.etsy.com).

I will be opening a new Instagram account for that - stay tuned!

Thanks as always for your support 🙏

Dave

#wood #woodsculpture #naturewood

Go, be free, get outside 😀

#bears #bearattack #park #pigeon #catskills #cats #waterski #moses #seagull #swimming #beach #bikini

Continuing the outdoor series, why not get out there ?

#park #dislikes #roadtrip #speeding #picnic #seasick #boat

The weather is nice now, so whether you’re golfing, hitting the beach, climbing a mountain, or attending a renaissance festival, enjoy !!

#golf #beach #climbing #wisdom #renaissancefestival

Clown dreams

#clowns #circus #balloonanimals

I’d like to thank everyone who came out to the Princeton Art Bazaar yesterday. The weather was great and the turnout was amazing!

I’m so grateful for the enthusiastic support of my art and cartoons, and the wonderful conversations throughout the day.

Can’t wait to do it again !

Thanks,

Dave

@artscouncilofprinceton

#princeton #princetonartbazaar

Close enough.

Not that this is Everest, but if you’re going to take a shot at it, now is the peak time to summit. (April-June). I saw this footage from a drone flying up Everest and parts of it were just like this, back to back lines of climber traffic. I chuckle at the city slicker stuck in traffic daily, then goes on his/her once in a lifetime trek up Everest to be in commuter hell again.

#alpine #climber #summit #everest #traffic

The early days of cloning.

#cloning #splitpersonality

Metaphor Monday

#ice #iceage #climate #cocktail

Is it breezy in here ?
This originally appeared in Airmail.

@airmailweekly

#redwood #drivethrough

My wife and I use two different weather apps. I just use the one Apple gives you on the iPhone. She uses a fake weather app. Not really, but when we have different forecasts, one of them is wrong, right?? I call hers fake weather because instead of golf ball sized hail, it turned out to be sunny!

#fakenews #weather

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Follow me on Instagram

@davidgomberg

In the News

Princeton Art Bazaar

I'm happy to be returning to the Princeton Art Bazaar May 3rd, 2025 as a participating artist. It was such fun last year. I hope you can visit. There are over 100 artists, a beer garden, music. It's in the heart of Princeton which is a wonderful place to spend the day. I will be offering: