Al Shelton (June 27, 1920 – March 22, 2016) established the reputation of “Cowboy Artist to the Stars”, creating custom-crafted leatherwork embossed with iconic cowpoke imagery in his workshop on Ventura Boulevard. Among his regular clientele was

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, and many others. Several of his pieces of are featured at the

Autry Museum of the American West The Autry Museum of the American West is a museum in Los Angeles, California, dedicated to exploring an inclusive history of the American West. Founded in 1988, the museum presents a wide range of exhibitions and public programs, including le ...

. Al Shelton’s interest in leather carving began while working as a cowboy in his teens during the tail end of the depression. The parade saddles he would come across featured intricate designs and Shelton attempted to decorate his own saddle in an attempt he said was “ever so humble, hopeless!” Shelton spent the next decade learning and refining his craft, working at different saddle shops across the Western United States. In the late ‘40s, Shelton moved to Los Angeles and set up shop in the Los Angeles Farmers Market, where hundreds of sight seers daily would watch him work. As his business evolved, he was commissioned to design several patterns and tools for Craftool and began teaching classes as the Pacific Arts and Crafts. Following a five-year stint working with

Nudie Cohn Nuta Kotlyarenko ( uk, Нута Котляренко; December 15, 1902 – May 9, 1984), known professionally as Nudie Cohn, was an American tailor who designed decorative rhinestone-covered suits, known popularly as "Nudie Suits", and other ela ...

, Shelton set up his own shop just as the TV westerns were taking off. At this workshop on Ventura Boulevard, Shelton spent the next 50 years creating leather belts, guitar cases, director chairs, and a wide variety of other bespoke leather goods for the Hollywood elite. In 2004, Shelton's industry contributions were recognized with an

Al Stohlman Award for Achievement in Leathercraft The Al Stohlman Award for Achievement in Leathercraft honors the accomplishments of individual leather workers worldwide for their continued dedication and exemplary service to leathercraft. The criteria for nominations are someone who has demons ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shelton, Al 2016 deaths Leatherworkers Businesspeople from Los Angeles 1920 births 20th-century American businesspeople