Rising Stars: Meet Codey Dauch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Codey Dauch. 

Hi Codey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been drawing since I was 3 years old. I’ve always had a love for superheroes and comic books, so I would always draw my favorite heroes. 

Growing up in Ohio, it is almost a requirement to be a sports fan. My father and I would watch every Cleveland Indians game in the mid-90s, and that began my obsession with sports. I was consumed by baseball and hockey at a very young age. I would draw any sports mascot, logo, or player I knew. 

Throughout my 20s, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my art career. I have always wanted to draw comic books for a living, so I focused my time on training to become one full-time. At the same time, I fell deeply and madly in love with the loveable losers known as the Cleveland Browns. Little did I know, that around 2018 that my loves would collide. 

In 2015, the Cleveland Browns changed their uniforms from an iconic, recognizable brand, to a Nike experiment in mediocrity. Many of us Browns fans were not pleased with the new take, and plenty of artists and designers put their spin on a new uniform design. 

I decided I would give it a try in 2018. With football, I like when uniforms keep it simple, so I blended their old school uniforms and modernized them for the 21st century. When I posted them on my Twitter, the response was nothing I could have ever imagined. 

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Even the VP and owner of the Browns told me he liked them! I went on a local Cleveland sports show to showcase them, and it led me to my current position as a designer for BIGPLAY.com, where I design merchandise based on Cleveland sports teams. 

Thanks to the success I have made on social media, I have garnered a following, and I can support my family by doing something I have been doing since I was 3 years old! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being an artist is a very very competitive field. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and some risk. Luckily for me, I have had a wonderful support system my whole life. My parents were always the first to tell me to keep drawing, and now my wife is my biggest supporter! Without them in my life, I’m not sure I could be where I am today. 

The challenges, however, do come. It mostly comes within myself; I am my biggest critic. I am quick to judge my art, and sometimes it can take a toll mentally. I do think it is healthy though. If you know what your mistake is, you can quickly fix said mistake in your next project! 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I describe myself as a comic book sports illustrator. I’ve trained my whole life in drawing comics, and I like to put that style and spin on to sports athletes. Lot of people like my takes on NFL uniform redesigns, and my comic book-style sports mashups. I think what sets me apart from other artists is I am a fan first and foremost, and I love every second of what I do. It is never a job for me, and I think it shows through my work! 

The work I am most proud of is a commissioned painting I made of Odell Beckham Jr for the Cleveland Browns. 

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
YouTube is always essential if I’m stuck on something, or need to see another way somebody does a technique. It’s also a good avenue for inspiration. 

I tend to try to keep up to date with local sports radio in the event I can capitalize on any current sports news. 

Any DC or Marvel comic book have been my main source of inspiration. Batman especially. For some reason, he always has the best artists and writers working on his books. 

But the most important book to me is my bible: How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way by Stan Lee and John Buscema. It has been around since the 70s and it is considered by many to be the standard in drawing not only comic books but anything in general. 100% of comic book artists will recommend this book. 

Contact Info:

• Email: codeydraws@gmail.com
• Website: codeydauch.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/codeydraws/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/codeydraws
• Other: https://www.enter.art/artist/codeydraws