He studied art in Würzburg, left home in his teens and supported himself by restoring paintings in churches and monasteries in Italy, Switzerland and France. While working, Carl studied at the Art Institute of Chicago along with Walt Disney.
Known throughout his life as "Carl", he spent his early years in a seminary preparing to become a priest. However, by age twelve he had opted to pursue an art career instead. In 1911, John Carl immigrated to the United States. to avoid mandatory military service in Kaiser Wilhelm II"s army.
Carl eventually became a draftsman and designer.
Josephine Herrmann Boigegrain wrote in her biography: "One of his fellow students at the Chicago Art Institute was a young man by the name of Walt Disney. Disney had fantastic, revolutionary ideas about doing animated artwork, pictures that moved and told a story.
He proposed to Carl Doemling that they go in together on the idea. Carl thought Disney was crazy.
He did not accept. He later learned how wrong he had been." In 1919, Carl had his first solo exhibit with the Palette and Chisel Club.
He displayed thirty five paintings ranging from $15 to $400 in price. During the 1920s he made many trips to art colonies throughout the United States. including Los Angeles and Laguna Beach. He would have numerous exhibits throughout the United States. during his career.
A year later, they made plans to take up permanent residence in Laguna Beach where they both were active with the local art association, but instead moved back to downtown Chicago where he continued his work.
During World World War II, Carl worked at the Bendix Corporation - Aviation Department in South Bend Indiana. Carl was known among artists to have painted in Brown County, Indiana and like many Chicago painters, rented a cabin and spent summers there.
His paintings are still sought after today and displayed in numerous galleries.
He also was a member of the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Artist
