Arizona Artist a Day: Day 215: Cody DeLong

A Little History

In my work you'll notice a variety of subjects and painting styles. I always say 'experiments lead to insights'. So I'm always trying something new, it's what keeps my love alive for the process. I like to let the subject dictate my approach to some degree. I come from a background of airbrush illustration, you know, before computers took that over. Before that I had a custom airbrush facility in Las Vegas, painting hood murals and custom Harleys, even backgrounds for casino shows. Before that I even did sign painting, back when hand lettering was an art in itself.

Artist Statement

"Each painting I do springs from an idea I have about my subject. I'm not a formulaic painter, meaning I don't use the same approach for each painting I do. I prefer to let the subject dictate my painting techniques to some degree. This is a sometimes risky way of working, but it's what keeps my love alive for the process. I feel like I can never learn it all, so each new day is an opportunity to challenge myself to grow in new directions. The end result hopefully, is painterly with great color, light and drama. I hope to catch your eye and make you think differently about the scene, and perhaps, about painting."

A lifelong student of art, Cody has studied and the Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, as well as the Scottsdale Artists School, where in 2003, he was awarded a Merit based Scholarship. In 2004 the Oil Painters of America selected him as that year's Shirl Smithson Scholarship Winner. In 2009 Cody was awarded a Teachers Scholarship by the Marilyn Sunderman Legacy Fund for his innovative workshop techniques.

Cody has been featured in many books Sedona's Best Artists, Sedona Verde Valley Art,

Plein Air New Mexico, Jack Richeson Series- Volume One, The Richeson 75 International Landscape and Exteriors 2007 and magazines including the cover of Sedona Magazine (fall 2008 with 3 page color feature) Western Art Collector (many times), American Artist Workshop Magazine, Arizona Highways, Southwest Art, Sedona Monthly, Phoenix Magazine, Mountain Living Magazine (feature article) Most recently Cody had a 5 page feature article in Plein Air Magazine (June/July 2015).

These days Cody divides his time between his Jerome Studio/Gallery in Jerome AZ, and painting outdoors (Plein Air). He has participated in numerous plein air events.

Artist Choice Award- 2015 Grand Canyon Plein Air Invitational

First Place, Painting Category- 2015 Sedona Arts Festival

Two Purchase Awards- 2015 Zion Natl. Park Plein Air Invitational

Best in Show/First Place- 2010 Grand Canyon Plein Air Invitational

Cody is a founding member and former Vice President of the Arizona Plein Air Painters, and is a core member of the Jerome ArtWalk Association, and Jerome Chamber of Commerce, and has been a cornerstone of the Jerome arts scene for nearly

twenty years now.

Cody is also a dog lover, and a member of the Red Rock Mountain Bike Patrol, an all volunteer chapter of the National Mountain Bike Patrol.

CodyDeLong.com