From piloting to painting

Greenwood artist draws from multiple inspirations

June 5, 2006

By BOBBY HARRELL
Index-Journal staff writer

Luther C. “Skip” Shelton stood in awe of the painting. It was a Norman Rockwell original of an Air Force pilot.
Shelton had already left the Air Force and become a corporate pilot in 1960, but he had never looked at the Rockwell in the Air Force Academy until he visited son Buddy around Christmas time. That night, Shelton spend more than an hour studying every brush stroke and color in the Rockwell painting.
“Touching it with your bare hands made you feel like you were shaking Norman Rockwell’s hand,” Shelton said in his studio on Calhoun Road.
Shelton studied the painting because creating art had been his life since he was old enough to pick up a pen. He’d gotten through elementary school by drawing pictures for his teachers’ lessons on the chalkboard. But after 60 years of being a pilot, Shelton finally got back to his first love of painting after he retired in 1988.
As much as Shelton bounces around his tidy studio, reaching for news articles and paintings, it’s easy to imagine how the 84-year-old rides his Honda motorcycle every chance he gets. Shelton puts the same seemingly limitless energy into his paintings.
He paints very fast, almost racing to the end, said Dot Moore, a former student of Shelton’s. Shelton teaches about six students a day every week.
Moore said Shelton’s mentoring helped her become a better artist. She thinks he can teach anyone to paint.
“He may not be the ultimate artist, the Da Vincis, the Van Goghs, but he’s a great artist,” Moore said.
Shelton knows people say nice things because he can paint. They tend to gloss over his bad parts, he said.
When World War II broke out, Shelton became a bomber pilot stationed in England. He spent much of the time painting the noses of bombers at the request of his commanding officer. Shelton liked painting girls onto the bombers because he loved to paint and it kept him from being shot at by the Germans.
After the war, Shelton became an artist for the Greenville News and a motorcycle cop for the Greenville police department.
Soon after that, he became a corporate pilot for several textile companies.
Shelton flew many celebrities to different cities as a civilian pilot. He has his own opinion about each one. Bob Hope was rude, choosing not to speak to any of the pilots while getting on or off the jet. Jim Nabors, TV’s Gomer Pyle, was very friendly, while Johnny Carson was painfully shy, Shelton said.
Retirement didn’t slow Shelton down. Demand for his watercolors, sketches and murals increased while he was flying, so he had plenty to work on.
He likes diversification in his art work.
“I want to do pen and ink tomorrow, so I can get out of this watercolor I’m doing,” Shelton said. He uses scrap paint donated by Sherwin-Williams to paint murals.
Shelton has painted several murals in the past few years, including a Civil War scene from the Battle of Chancellorville, Va., complete with a six foot tall Robert E. Lee. The mural was painted for Thomas and Jennifer Sawyer’s building on Lake Greenwood.
Lee is one of Shelton’s great-great uncles. Shelton never mentions it, because he thought his dad was greater, anyway.
He makes about $800 a day for murals, up to $800 for portraits and $100 for watercolors.
Shelton gets inspired to create art by the world around him, whether it be a homeless person digging though garbage with a neatly folded Wall Street Journal in his ragged coat pocket or a rusty country mailbox barely hanging onto the post.
Shelton’s brother-in-law Tony Langley sometimes helps him paint murals.
“Sometimes I do, but he’s the artist,” Langley said.
Shelton thinks he’s still got a lot to learn about painting. “I’d like to paint as good as Norman Rockwell.”

Private property rights demand better protection

June 5, 2006

Eminent Domain, According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary it is “a right of a government to take private property for public use by virtue of the superior dominion of the sovereign power over all lands within its jurisdiction.”
As far as most of us learned in South Carolina schools, the key words in that definition are “public use.” However, in recent times a trend has developed whereby some states are using eminent domain to take private property for other private use. In Connecticut, New Hampshire, California and Washington controversies have developed when private property has been taken by the state under questionable circumstances.

WHEN THE FIRST CASE AROSE several months ago, many states’ lawmakers, South Carolina’s included, talked about keeping eminent domain as the Founding Fathers obviously intended. For them, it appears, private property could only be taken by government if there was an overriding need for public use, such as roads or other public facilities to benefit all.
So, when the issue first surfaced, the South Carolina Legislature was among those that showed concern for protecting property rights. However, lawmakers reportedly failed to agree on a bill that would strengthen laws to prevent property from being taken by government seizure.
Something more apparently is needed. Considering how the pattern is now developing across the nation, it’s a good bet that some city or county in the Palmetto State, will at some time take steps to seize private property with no public use in mind.

PASS PROTECTIVE LEGISLATION. Let’s just make sure that all the “i’s” are dotted all the “t’s” are crossed. Do it now. It’s something that should not be delayed by the Legislature. Leave nothing uncovered. Assure that eminent domain will not and cannot be abused as it already appears to be in too many places.
If there’s any one thing that is indicative of the rights and freedoms we all share, it’s property rights. When government begins to trample on those rights, as some are doing with the use of eminent domain, lawmakers everywhere should provide what ever is needed for protection ..... and that should include those in Congress.

Obituaries

Martha Bolt

Martha Bassett Bolt, 78, of 201 Freeway Road, widow of William D. “Bill” Bolt, died Saturday, June 3, 2006 at Self Regional Medical Center.
Born in La Grange, Ga., she was a daughter of the late James T. and Mary Eva Woodall Bassett. She was a graduate of La Grange High School and retired from Parke Davis Pharmaceutical Co. She was member of Jordan Memorial Baptist Church and the Mary Ouzts Sunday School Class.
Survivors include two sons, William D. “Don” Bolt II of Greenwood and James A. Bolt of La Fayette, Ind.; two sisters, Betty Zeigler of Jonesboro, Ga. and Mildred Lamar of Fort Worth, Texas; 10 grandchildren; three great-children.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Greenwood Memorial Gardens, conducted by the Rev. Charles Sprouse.
The family is at the home.
Blyth Funeral Home & Cremation Services is in charge.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blythfuneralhome.com

Mamie Lee Lott

SALUDA — Mamie Lee Lott, 77, of 101 Pine St, widow of John Wesley Lott, died Thursday, June 1, 2006 at her home.
Born in Saluda County, she was a daughter of the late Mose and Fairy Bell Simpkins Davis. She was a retired employee of Knights Industries, home daycare provider and was a foster parent. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church and the Women Home Aide Society.
Survivors include a son, Jerry Lott of Saluda; a daughter, Shirleen Lott-Bosket of Saluda; three brothers, Elijah Davis of Promised Land, Henry A. Davis of Edgefield and Mose Davis Jr of Saluda; two sisters, Lela M. Higgins of Kirksey and Dorothy J. Kinard of Philadelphia; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Antioch Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. R. C. Olesby. Burial is at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
Viewing begins at 1 Tuesday at the funeral home.
Pallbearers are nephews and flower bearers are nieces and cousins.
Visitation is at the home.
Butler & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.