MEET SAM LYONS     SAM AT WORK

Did You Know that Sam Lyons... 

► Is a pilot and loves to fly his bright yellow 1946 J-3 Piper Cub.

► Has been making a living as an aviation artist for more than 20 years.

► Will be inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009; and is the first artist to be so honored.

► Lives on a grass air strip north of Atlanta with his wife Mindy and three cats: Amelia, Squeaker and Sweetpea.

► Is a true Southern gentleman, born and bred.

► Had careers as an Army officer, a teacher, sailboat captain, scuba diver, and hobby shop owner before becoming a full-time artist.

► Often has to use a brush as thin as a hair in order to paint tiny details so precisely.

► Actually owns the 1951 black Chevy Truck he “hides” in all of his paintings.

► Was inspired by his father, Samuel A. Lyons Sr., who was a B-24 pilot during WWII.

► Earned a degree in Biology from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina.

► Has a brother, Thomas (or Tommy or Tom) who used to be a professional football player for the Denver Broncos and is now a renowned surgeon. (They are a family of underacheivers!)

► Escorted hazardous materials with the Chemical Corps during his two-year stint as an officer in the U.S. Army.

► Owned a hobby shop for 10 years called Historical Hobbies and honed his model-building skills while running the business.

► Never took an art lesson and basically taught himself how to paint in his super-realistic style.

► Likes to play the harmonica and has two he keeps in his truck so he can play along with the radio.

► Donates many works of art, both prints and originals, to the military and other worthy causes.

► Enjoys classic Southern food such as fried chicken, barbeque and collard greens most of all, but will pick up chopsticks and eat sushi too.

► Is one of the very few civilians who has flown in the F-15 Eagle, the F-16 Falcon, and the F-18 Hornet with the Blue Angels.

► Can paint just about anything including horses, cars, boats, flowers and landscapes.

► Can't stay on dry land too long before the call of scuba diving becomes irresistible.

► Celebrates his birthday on November 23, which sometimes falls on Thanksgiving. 

► Has won multiple awards for his artwork in a number of nationwide competitions.

► Thinks that Bob Hoover is one of the most down-to-earth people he has ever met.

► Laughs like crazy over the Three Stooges, loves old black-and-white movies, and gets teary eyed during sentimental moments.

► Will celebrate his 6th wedding anniversary with Mindy on November 16, 2008. It is predicted that they will live happily ever after.

 

MEET SAM LYONS     SAM AT WORK