Cody Melick, aka Pitchgrim, enjoys an enigmatic approach to life and art. Florida-born, Melick’s mom worked for Disney, giving young Cody an early appetite for creative magic. But he didn’t quite find himself deeply in love with illustration until he drew the character for an ad for the video game Bubsy. To this day, Melick continues to love ink and paper over digital (he was “crushed” when the movie industry started to adopt CGI so heavily). He aggressively fought for the job as a designer at Santa Cruz Skateboards some 15-plus years ago, and his life and career received an enormous boost when he got it. Melick is the latest participant in So What!  Pop Quiz, addressing all manner of issues from his own time away from art to ’gator-swims.

1. What is Disney’s finest creation, and why?

The [amusement] parks, hands down. Every square inch is covered with little details that create something that can’t be explained unless you see it in person. Going again as an adult with my kids and experiencing it through them, as cliche as it sounds, was almost better than how I remember it. Also, as a creative, it’s hard not to appreciate all the love and craft that went into creating the magic.

2. What was the worst still-life project you were given in art school?

All of them. I definitely learned a lot from doing them, like how light hits objects and how they interact naturally. But it wasn’t something that fulfilled me creatively. Drawing things that looked cool and drawing creatures or whatever came to mind at the time was far more enjoyable. That was what led me down the path of illustrating the way I do today. Being tasked with drawing loose and free or drawing what’s thrown on the table that week allowed me to realize what I didn’t like to do and opened the floodgates for the things I did. Now I draw tons of skulls and other things I enjoy.

3. Snakes or alligators, which do you prefer and why?

Neither really bothers me. If I had to choose a pit of snakes or a lake full of ’gators, then I’m grabbing my shorts and doing my best cannonball. I grew up around both and have been in the water around gators more times than I’d like to admit.

4. If there was one Metallica song you could use as a form of self-defense, which would it be, how would it work, and why?

“Master of Puppets” comes to mind first. Being in control and embodying fear itself. How could anyone compete with that? Obviously, pulling the strings, being the master, and crushing any hope left only allow for one outcome.

5. What did you do in the wilderness years of no art after art school?

I worked in a hospital as a surgical orderly, which is a glorified janitor. Cleaning and prepping rooms before and after cases, transporting patients and sometimes specimens. It was a pretty interesting time, and I saw a lot and learned a lot. I also did marine construction, working on docks, decks, and boathouses – all in lakes, many times with gators. I was a bellman at a large hotel, and at this point, I started getting back into art. I would work late nights, working on clients until early in the morning, just to start the whole thing over the next day.

6. What convinced you to return?

My brother was in a band, and I started to connect with other bands and made friends with them. At the time, I’d offer art for pretty cheap just to get it out there and was working with local bands almost exclusively. Eventually, I started to share my art. I got it seen by labels and made connections with them and others within the industry. The fire was sparked, and I saw that I was able to draw things I enjoyed and that others could enjoy it as well. I’m very thankful to my younger self that I took those risks and made those connections because it allowed me to remember and follow my passion.


7. Have you ever made a three-course meal in a microwave oven? If so, what was it, and what was the occasion? If you were forced to for, say, a birthday, what would it be?

I have not, but if I was forced to, I’d probably go for what is safest. Part of me would want to make the obviously bad things, so the experience makes for a good/funny story. Realistically, if forced, I would probably just make hot dogs, corn on the cob, and cheat by just doing popcorn for dessert. Maybe put some chocolate in to sprinkle over the popcorn since we’re gonna be real unhealthy in this scenario.

8. Has any CGI excited you?

I love to watch animated films, especially with the kids. I’m also a fan of really well-done CGI in film and sometimes get distracted by the amazing things going on instead of focusing on the plot. I personally enjoy hand-drawn animated films. Those artists really created magic with their hands and developed some amazing techniques that, in today’s world, just don’t make sense with how fast we consume entertainment and the budget those would probably require. While we’re talking about films, my absolute favorite is Guillermo del Toro. If he can create it with practical effects, then he will. And his films are visual masterpieces in my eyes. He can do no wrong. No matter how you feel about the story being told, one thing you are guaranteed is a visual feast that always sets the mood and is beautiful, even when the subject is grim.

9. Of all the pen and ink maestros out there, who’s your favorite and why?

There are so many talented artists, so this is a hard one. The one that I can say with confidence is Jim Phillips Sr. Obviously, I work for Santa Cruz Skateboards, and Jim’s art is legendary in the skate community. So it seems like a cheap answer, but I’ve seen his art in person. He created some of the most iconic illustrations in skateboarding, and the original illustrations are literally awe-inspiring. He would draw for a wheel graphic intended to be seen at a small scale but would draw them sometimes as large as 24” wide, and the level of detail is always perfection. I’m also a huge fan of Mike Mignola and his use of stark black and white to create depth and atmosphere with shadows and light.

10. Do lyrics or riffs drive your music-based artwork?

I can’t work in silence, so I always have music or something playing in the background. Music definitely helps to get in the right mindset, depending on what I’m working on. I generally listen to the band I’m designing for a bit prior to jumping on the project but tend to shift once I’ve landed on the concept so that I can focus and not be too in my head about it.

11. Were you an avid skateboarder before Santa Cruz Skateboards & Apparel came along?

I skated a lot when I was younger, but I was never going to turn pro or anything and was average or, probably more realistically, below average. I grew up around it, so it was a huge part of my youth. Going into shops and looking at the wall of boards was something that always inspired me. The sea of graphics was imprinted in my head and was always a goal of mine. I always thought, “How cool would it be to have art on a board?” These goals have guided me my whole career.

12. Where did you first hear The Black Album?

While visiting family back in the ’90s, we’d always play video games and try to get into trouble without getting into trouble. There wasn’t a lot to do, so we’d always fill that time with things like that. I remember listening to a lot of new music with my cousins as well and remember the first time I heard “Enter Sandman.” Sometimes smells or sounds trigger memories, and “Enter Sandman” is one of those for me.

13. What’s your favorite creation?

The piece I’m most proud of is not necessarily my favorite illustration, but it was the most challenging. My Santa Cruz x Star Wars Cantina Scene deck was a behemoth project. The original illustration ended up being four feet wide. I think I went through three ink pens making it. With every new piece, I get a rush when I start inking, and it becomes my new favorite piece until I’m done and then have the time to scrutinize it. This is more than likely normal, but it’s a love-hate sort of thing that drives me to push to do better the next time.