Interview with Cody TheCreative
Cody was born in New York in 1989, and started drawing at two years old. He is mainly self-taught, and therefore his vision is not influenced by any particular school of thought. He has been working professionally as an artist since 2013, and is currently based out of New York and Los Angeles.
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art-making?
I'm Cody TheCreative, and I grew up in New York. I started drawing at two years old, pausing VHS tapes to draw characters from the screen. My mother tells the story of putting in the tape for me, and that was it. I would be in my room for hours, working away, trying to capture the likeness of the characters in the movie. Apparently I set the bar very high for myself, because she remembers opening the door to my room after a while, and there being crumpled up papers all over the floor, and me in the center of the room still at it. I was never satisfied.
As I got a little older, I would work from album covers and baseball cards, and at eight or nine years old, I was designated the first "Artist of the Month" at my school, (a tradition that still continues twenty plus years later) and I had a solo exhibition in Greenburgh, NY entitled, Heroes and Icons . During my adolescence, however, I dropped art completely. It wasn't until finishing up college that the flame was reignited.
How would you describe yourself and your artwork?
I would describe myself as someone who is pretty intense. When I get into something, I get into it in every way. I have always been someone marching to the beat of my own drum, and when I find myself in step with the band I'm usually not my happiest. I have always had a unique outlook on things in comparison to everyone I know. My art has become a vehicle for expressing this perspective. I'm also a spiritual person at peace with who I am, and thoroughly enjoy being me. I think all of this comes through in my work. Different aspects are highlighted in different mediums, though. For instance, I think you will find a lot of playful intensity (especially in my #PennyPopArt) and a lot of peace and joy in my pastel work. I also paint clothing and sneakers, and I have worked on a few 40+ hour pairs. If that's not intense, I don't know what is. I believe that art can (and probably should) be everywhere, and I find great excitement in taking the commonplace and giving it another life; opening the door to new possibilities, new concepts, and new ways of debating the talk of the times. My artwork is everything from a poem for the eyes, to a wink at the culture, to an anvil dropping on your head.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from the world around me. It is a constant collaboration. Sometimes the collaborator is a beautiful sunset, or scenic view. Other times it's a person, their energy, their image, or their impact. I love interacting with the things that inspire me. When I hear a great song, I want to write one. When I see an artwork that speaks to me, I want to put my twist on it. When I notice a cultural focus or event, I want to put my two cents into the conversation in some way shape or form. This is true with everything from the natural world around me, to pop culture icons, to global issues. Art is how I express myself.
What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?
The emotions I hope to invoke in the viewer varies wildly depending on the intent of the piece itself, and the medium and method in which I've chosen to create it. Generally speaking though, there are many common themes within each body of work. With my #PennyPopArt, for example, I am hoping to bring joy and wonder to the viewer because of the unexpected use of a penny as my canvas, by having fun with Abe's profile, and because of the level of detail on such a small space. I also aim to have the viewer consider the absurdity of the importance of pop culture icons in our society. With my pastel work, however, the intent is completely different. With these I think my goal is to make the viewer feel the same peace I feel when creating them.
When do you know that an artwork is finished?
Regardless of which medium or style I am working in, I know an artwork is finished when the impact I intend to have with the piece is felt by me. Sometimes this means scrapping what I've done and starting over.
What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?
I think the most exciting moment of my art career, so far, has been having a TV spot on Madison Square Garden Network for painting New York Rangers-themed sneakers. It's not everyday you get on TV, especially doing what you love, and even less so doing what you love while representing your favorite sports team! I made a pair for the team (this was one of those 40+ hour pairs I mentioned before), and months and months later someone from their marketing team contacted me on social media. We scheduled a date for a film crew to come to my studio, and since December 2018 they've ran the promotion (mostly, but not exclusively during Rangers' games). We actually just put out a new one which started airing July 2020 in which I created a timelapse video of me doing a pastel drawing of my dad and I watching a game, while I discuss the importance of hockey and family via voice-over.
I think the most validating moment of my art career, however, has been being accepted as a member of the Pastel Society of America. I have done commissions, but I have not exhibited my personal pastels anywhere. It has taken me years to be willing to part with them, and there are quite a few that I still don't believe I will ever part with. They are my memories, the roadmap of my life. So to be seen by a national organization as qualified has really meant a lot to me.
How long does it take to produce one work?
I really hate the question, how long does it take to create a piece of art, though I understand why everyone wants to know. The reality is this... Sometimes it takes ten minutes to create a work of art that has impact; sometimes it takes ten hours; sometimes ten days, or more; sometimes it takes years of marinating in my head before the concept is ready to see the world; sometimes I am inspired by something and am able to capture its essence immediately. Either way, as Picasso said (not quite in these words), the time it takes to create a physical work is nothing in comparison to the lifetime spent dedicating one's self to their art, in comparison to the decades it took for us to have the ability to create it as we intend. Ten minutes, ten hours, ten days, ten months is a choice, like choosing a color. It's all about the desired impact, and what you hope to accomplish with the piece.
What exciting projects are you working on right now? Can you share some of the future plans for your artwork?
After months in isolation, I have been throwing myself out into the world to draw from nature a lot. This is refueling me for the moment, and really making me feel at peace. I am always keeping an eye on pop culture, and current events, however, and I feel a focus on that coming on soon. I think the election we are about to have in the U.S. is the biggest one of my lifetime, and possibly one of the most important ones in the past one hundred years. I will definitely be chiming in on this with my Love is the Key project (viewable at https://codythecreative.com/lovekey-movement) and the Change Sign I've created in collaboration with artist, Scott Froschauer.
Do you have any upcoming events or exhibitions we should know about?
Another very exciting project that I have been involved in during quarantine is the #UnityFitsAll custom sneaker creation. Some of the top customizers/artists in the world have decided to join forces on one canvas. They decided to include some up and comers, like myself, in the project and when finished (summer 2020) we are going to auction them off for charity. The sneakers have spent the past few months traveling back and forth across the United States making thirteen stops along the way. We are presently down to the last few.
Where do you see your art going in five years?
I see my pastel work being a lifelong exploration, and the continual addition of new mediums, canvases, and styles. I have no idea what those will be, but I know that I will always be open to finding more ways of expressing myself through art.
Website: https://codythecreative.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/codythecreative
Facebook: https://facebook.com/codythecreative
Twitter: https://twitter.com/codythecreative
