Do you decorate your office/cubicle/work space? I’ll bet you do. Artists are no different. In fact, having a well thought out space is key to fueling inspiration! Every artist’s studio is unique. Of course, we share some similarities, but the nature of our work, personalities, and available space makes all of our needs diverse.
I’d like to take you on a little journey through my work space. Hopefully, it will inspire your own creative endeavors!
Traditional Art Work Space
I’m primarily a traditional artist, working mostly in oil paint and ink. I collect a lot of art supplies, so it is important to have enough space to store all of these materials in my studio. Whenever possible, I label containers with a label maker and store them in easy-to-find places. Nothing is more frustrating than being in an artistic groove and having to stop and search for the art supply you need!
Paint Cart – I store all my paints on a rolling cart that is thin enough to perfectly slide into the space between my art table legs and the wall.
Swords – I have a longsword I bought when I was 16 and a replica of the MacLeod Clan sword from the Highlander TV show that my dad gifted me years ago.
Custom Art Taboret – I converted a kitchen island cabinet into my art taboret. The top area acts as a paint pallet by rolling out freezer paper (attached to one side of the taboret) and covering the surface. The paper is held down on the other side with a magnetic strip. Extra art supplies are stored in the shelving below, including paper towels and a place to hang my rulers.
Longhorn Beetle – I love to collect bugs for reference. I found this guy at a comic con years ago!
Pencil Sharpener – I like using an old-school electric pencil sharpener because these things will last forever if you keep them relatively clean.
iPad Holder – I like to load reference photos onto my iPad for use while painting. I have an arm attached to my table so I can easily move the iPad around.
Camera Arm – I often take videos while I’m working, so the camera arm helps navigate my digital camera above my workstation, recording from various angles.
Storage Solutions
I also need to have a space for paintings to dry, so I installed a shelf with a lip above my work area. Now, my wet paintings have a dedicated place in the studio AND visitors can see my works in progress without fear of accidentally knocking them over.
I came across a great sale at Home Depot for a Martha Stewart flat file cabinet. The only catch was that it had to be that green color! I was more than happy to snatch up that find, and it has survived me well. It’s rated for a lot of weight, so I converted the top surface for use as a cutting, frame assembly, and mailing station.
Kermit the Frog – I love Jim Henson and, of course, Kermit the Frog. I had a doll just like this as a kid and expressed to my fellow artist and friend, Allen Panakal, that I missed having it. A few weeks later, this green wonder showed up at my door. I am a lucky guy to have such wonderful people in my life! It’s not easy being green, or an artist for that matter, but honestly it’s exactly what I want to be!
Digital Work Station
Even though I focus on traditional paint mediums, I also love to sketch digitally. I use my computer to gather references, process all the reference photos I take, and handle all the marketing elements necessary for a thriving career as a fantasy artist. I keep my digital area as clean and accessible as possible—no major frills here, just solid gear that gets the job done. Installed nearby is a microphone handy for use when podcasting and recording sound for my YouTube channel videos.
Yetti Blue Snowball Microphone – for recording voice overs or talking on podcasts.
Studio Plant – I keep two Sansevieria plants in my studio, useful for filtering out chemicals used in oil painting.
Tablet – I am very old-school when it comes to digital art, and I still use an Intuos 3 11x17 Wacom Tablet. I love that thing and hope it never dies, because they don’t make tablets that big anymore.
Art on Walls – Two paintings by Steve Prescott, one by Ralph Horsley, a print by Mike Mignola, and a big poster of The Lord of the Rings by Jimmy Cauty that I’ve had since college.
Havamal & Voluspa – I typically have a copy of these two books nearby as I reference them often in my work!
Books, Skulls, and Dragons!
Not surprisingly, I’m also an avid collector. One of the things I love about being an artist is it gives me an excuse to indulge my various interests. I have several art books, both for reference and inspiration, so sturdy bookshelves were a must! I also needed a place to display my collection of skulls, dragon toys, sculptures, reference maquettes, a one-foot-tall knight with fully articulated armor, and an Anglo Saxon-style helm. I love all these things both as reference and as cool curio cabinet oddities!
The walls of my home are filled with art that inspires me, and this decorating choice extends to my studio as well. I have several paintings and drawings from artists I admire hanging on the walls of my studio, and I also installed several cork bulletin boards so I can pin up ideas and reference images. You never know when the muse will strike, and I find it helpful to have a way to jot stuff down quickly, and pin it up for later review.
Helm Book Shelf – I have a fully articulated knight in full plate, though he is only one foot tall. All the buckles actually buckle, the swords can be removed from their sheaths, and all the straps have holes to adjust them. Joining him on the shelf are a crystal skull, an Anglo Saxon-style helm I picked up at Pensacon this year, a couple of human skull replicas, and an alligator head my father-in-law gave me from the gulf of Mississippi.
The Norman Rockwell book is one my grandparents gave me, and it is older than me! First published in 1970, it contains actual prints that have been attached to the pages.
Skull Shelf – I have all sorts of skulls… cow, beaver, house cat, otter, wolf, coyote, squirrel, muskrat, and boar just to name a few. My friends know I collect skulls, so when one of them found a dead snake while mowing their lawn, they gave it to me. Oddly enough, the snake carcass contained a partially-eaten rabbit, so I ended up with a rabbit skull, too!
Dragon Shelf – I love dragons and monsters. I’ve got a few of the Todd McFarlane dragons, some from Dungeons and Dragons, and then a few random ones. For good measure you can also see an Alien Queen, Rancor Monster, and a wind up skull toy with feet that my daughter gave me when she was 4 because she knew daddy “liked skulls.”
Hopefully you enjoyed a virtual trip around my studio! Outside of workshops and a bit of travel, every drawing, painting, and video you’ve seen from Fateful Signs was made in this studio. It has evolved over the last 10 years, and I’m sure it will continue to do so. I hope your space evolves, too!
Remember to love each other, and make great things!
-Sam
Photography by Loraine Posadas Flegal, copyright 2019
Sam Flegal is the creative mind behind Fateful Signs. He has been a freelance Illustrator since 2009. He likes to work in oil paint and with brush and ink, focusing on exaggerated expressions and detail. Sam lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his lovely wife and daughter. He makes art almost everyday and is a very lucky man.