Speed painter makes a name for himself making art for sports figures Sidney Crosby, Joe Musgrove and more
Cody Sabol’s Instagram direct messages could function as a Rolodex of the best professional athletes in Pittsburgh.
The 24- year- old speed painter is a hot commodity these days for his specific brand of artistry, which ranges from portraits to custom cleats and even weirder requests.
For example, one of his latest projects was a baseball glove painted to look like Thanos’ infinity gauntlet from the “Avengers” movies, created for Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove. It received some national attention during the team’s Aug. 5 game against the Brewers.
Mr. Sabol — a North Huntington native and Norwin High School alumnus — has become so sought after for his work that he cut back on his job as as a preacher to focus full time on his art.
“It became a real thing as far as people reaching out,” Mr. Sabol said. “‘ Hey, we want you to paint this live, do this mural, do this custom painting.’ I was working at a church before this, and I was thinking, ‘ This thing’s getting really big and taking time away from my ministry.’ It was the moment I realized I could be a full- time artist.”
For the uninitiated, Mr. Sabol is a live speed painter, and what exactly that entails is best described by the man himself.
“The simple equation is trying to paint the most realistic picture in the least amount of time,” he said. “I’m able to perform it at a variety of different events, like fundraisers, concerts, festivals, church services, wherever it fits. It can be an onstage, big thing or something muted off to the side. It can really fit any event.”
This was never the plan for Mr. Sabol. He graduated from Kentucky Christian University in 2017 with degrees in biblical studies and preaching ministry. Somehow, he also found time to play quarterback and outside linebacker for the school’s football team.
He had no designs on pursuing art as a full- time career.
“I just didn’t think it was possible,” Mr.
Sabol said. “I didn’t think that would be what I was going to do because you hear the stereotype of the starving artist. I didn’t think I could do it.”
In 2017, his life was changed forever by none other than two- time Stanley Cup champion Phil Kessel. Mr. Sabol on a whim painted a portrait of the well- known Team USA photo of Kessel that he hoped might garner some love.
The painting wound up being featured everywhere from WTAE- TV to NHL. com and found its way into the possession of Kessel himself, who still had it in his Marshall home as of a few weeks ago.
“That’s the painting that started everything, put me on the map,” Mr. Sabol said.
Since then, Mr. Sabol’s DMs have been inundated with requests by athletes, organizations and event planners who want him to make something for them or perform live at a public function.
Some of the biggest names he has worked with include the Penguins’ Sidney Crosby, the Pirates’ Josh Bell and the Steelers’ Cam Heyward.
He’s gotten even more messages since that Musgrove infinity gauntlet glove went viral last week week.
“It was so cool to see how many people liked it and how many people were retweeting it,” Mr. Sabol said. “Then I got a bunch of DMs asking how much it would cost to, like, paint my son’s tee- ball glove.”
Mr. Sabol has often partnered with charities such as the Ronald McDonald House, Penguins Foundation or American Heart Association to ensure a portion of the proceeds his art earns goes to a good cause.
Some of Mr. Sabol’s relationships with athletes run deeper than just that of an artist and client. He said Heyward and his wife, Allie, gave him a wedding gift, and when Pirates pitcher Trevor Williams found out Mr. Sabol was about to become a father, he simply responded, “Congrats on the sex.”
Last week, Mr. Sabol completed a new painting commissioned by Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster.
He’s also in the process of painting “Area 51 cleats” for Williams, which seems fitting given the pitcher’s notoriously offbeat sense of humor.
Though Mr. Sabol doesn’t preach nearly as much as he used to, he did use this pulpit to offer a bit of advice on how to make a living as an artist, speed or otherwise.
“Don’t listen to the starving artist lie,” he said. “If you want to go out and be an artist, it’s absolutely attainable. For a guy who wasn’t even looking for it and just stumbled across it, it’s absolutely there. Just put your head down and work, and you’d be surprised about what you’ll be able to accomplish.”
Mr. Sabol certainly has a few goals he would still like to achieve. For one thing, he’d love for Steelers receiver JuJu SmithSchuster to check out the portrait of him that Mr. Sabol created.
“I did it just because I know people love JuJu, and I wanted to do the halo, [ for] good juju,” Mr. Sabol said. “I want JuJu to see it and be like, ‘ Dude, that’s the sickest thing I’ve ever seen.’ ”
Considering all the other Pittsburgh athletes who have seen Mr. Sabol’s work, that can probably be arranged.