BRANDON CORRAL
THE ART AND CRAFT OF LEATHER
A JOURNEY THROUGH PRECISION AND PASSION

Corral’s journey into leatherwork began in the most unexpected of ways through his teenage love for heavy metal and the bracelets and cuffs that were essential to the lifestyle. “The ones I found in stores just didn’t feel right,” he recalls. Dissatisfied with the mass-produced accessories, he decided to make his own.
It was a simple hobby at first, but once he stumbled upon leather tooling, an intricate technique that involves carving designs into leather, he was hooked. At first, the complexity of tooling overwhelmed him. It seemed like a craft far beyond his abilities. But a life-changing apprenticeship soon revealed a hidden talent.
Corral’s path to becoming a full-time leather artist wasn’t a straightforward one. He had been studying chemical engineering, excelling in the field, but a soul-sucking office job loomed ahead. “I was always looking for a challenge,” Corral admits. “Leather art was far more exciting.
It allowed me to be in control of my own success and failure.” What started as a way to pay for school slowly evolved into a full-fledged career. Today, Corral’s leatherwork is more than just a passion, it’s a profession he never planned but now can’t imagine leaving.
Leather Art and Function Combined
In the world of contemporary art, leather has carved out its own space, blending beauty with practicality. “Leather lets you create form, imagery, and function,” Corral says. “It’s art that enters the real world.” Unlike other materials that remain purely decorative, leather serves as both a canvas and a functional medium, whether he’s designing a wearable piece or a unique art installation.


Corral’s creative process is a mix of structure and spontaneity. He starts by sketching what he calls “scribbling” to work through the design’s constraints, especially if it’s a functional item like a holster. “Leather can be tricky,” he explains. “It stretches, strains, and wears down in different ways. So, you need to plan ahead.” But once the design is in place, he lets the material guide him, adapting at the moment.
Drilling, a technique Corral is known for, requires precision. After two years of intense practice during an apprenticeship, Isaac has mastered handling multiple variables like tilt angle, pressure, and rhythm. His background in death metal guitar has even helped him with the timing and flow of his toolwork, allowing him to create deep textures in what is often very thin leather.
For Corral, ensuring durability is just as important as the art itself. Leather is not indestructible, and the tooling process can weaken it. “I ask my clients a lot of questions to understand how they’ll use the piece,” he says. With this knowledge, he can reinforce weak spots, using layers of thin but tough leather to provide hidden strength without compromising the aesthetic.
Over time, Corral’s work has evolved. He embraced asymmetry in his designs, creating depth and texture that others might overlook. His use of airbrushing has allowed him to explore new techniques, giving his leather pieces a new dimension. “I’ve started to highlight areas most people ignore,” he says. “It’s about creating the illusion of hidden details, things for people to discover.”
One of Corral’s biggest challenges is creating bags, which combine both artistic and functional elements. The process is delicate, requiring precision and careful planning. “It feels like doing surgery with one hand,” he laughs, but these difficulties push Isaac to innovate, driving his creative growth.
Corral has advice for aspiring leather artists: “Devote at least half your effort to selling your work. You need to market yourself if you want to survive,” he says. Building a brand, embracing failure, and staying vulnerable are key to growth. “Good art comes from artists who are willing to put themselves out there,” he explains.
Corral’s journey proves that leatherwork isn’t just about creating functional items, it’s about expressing individuality, challenging norms, and continuously evolving. For him, the path to mastery is paved with passion, perseverance, and a willingness to fail.