The Same Journey, with a New Road
Sam Flegal at his Zombie Portrait Art Booth
Well my artist’s journey has taken a new twist. When I started this blog a year and a half ago it was to chronicle my progress as an artist. I had no idea where my art, and more indirectly this blog, would take me. Several times in the last couple years I have chosen to be bold, to put myself out there, and just go for it. Each and every time I have been rewarded for doing so.
Two years ago when I first started asking questions like “How do I get to do what I love and get paid for it?” I read a lot of blogs, entrepreneur websites, and articles on doing just that. There’s a lot of different advice out there and like anything I sifted through it all and chose the stuff that I thought would work for me. One things that most of these advice givers agreed on was that when you pursue the path that’s right for you, keep a positive attitude, and work really hard at it: DOORS WILL OPEN FOR YOU.
I can honestly say that from my own experiences there is no truer statement. Over the last year I have worked harder than ever in pursuing a carrier in art and illustration, I’ve stayed positive through all the hardships, and doors have started to open. Many of these upcoming projects are in there beginning stages, and I don’t want to take away there magic by speaking them into being just yet.
But as I embark on this new phase in my life I open another door, and boldly step through. I am now a freelance illustrator and a professional Zombie Portrait artist. I travel to conventions to bring out the INNER dead of fans across the east coast (and one day beyond) as my primary source of income… and business is good! In the words of the great Dick Van Dyke as Bert in Mary Poppins, “I draws what I likes, and I likes what I drew.”
If you’re interested in any Zombie Portraits check out my website www.samflegal.com and shoot me an e-mail. I’d love to do one for you. I take custom requests.
While you are at www.samflegal.com check out my art. I also take commissions, so if you have some crazy fun idea you’ve always wanted to see drawn or painted for you I’m your guy.
All that said I could not be where I am today without the support of my parents, my family, and most of all… my wife, Loraine.
To my parents and my family:
Thank you for allowing me to be strange, for instilling a love of creativity, and for providing the magic to get things started.
To my wife:
Thank you for supporting and encouraging me every step of the way, and for being the magic that is my life.
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way,
Where many paths and errands meet.
-excerpt from Roads Go Ever Ever On, by J.R. Tolkien
An Artist's Journey 
sounds like its going well.
good stuff
Hey man,
I just wanted to say how proud I am of you. It’s been so interesting hearing about your journey as you travel along this road, I wish you the very best of luck and continuing (and expanding!) success.
Xx