I’m a huge sneaker fan. I started painting sneakers about 3 years ago and have sold about 10 pairs on Ebay during that time. After failing to earn the kind of money I was expecting from this venture I gave up and moved onto other hobbies. But I still have always had the itch to paint sneakers because it is something that I really enjoyed doing and creating your own designs is very exciting to a sneakerhead like me. A month ago I had the idea to paint a pair of sneakers for my 8 year old stepson but being tight on funds I didn’t want to spend $40 for a new pair that I was just going to paint over anyway. So I stopped into a second hand store and was able to find a pair of sneakers in his size for $8 that had the tags still on them. These happened to be brand new sneakers but they don’t always have to be (I’ll get into that later on). I wasn’t a huge fan of the colors on the shoe but the lines and patterns of the stitching showed promise and would allow me to create my own style. Next I got a can of spray paint and a Gold Leaf Marker for an additional $10. So for under $20, and a few hours of your time, you can create a one of a kind sneaker that will get plenty of attention. Not too bad, huh?

Now there are a few things I should mention before I get into the process of how to paint the shoe properly. First, you can use an airbrush if you have one and you can also hand paint the sneaker using a brush if you’d like. I’ve used both methods and they both work great. These methods require additional tools and some level of practice, especially with the airbrush, but if you’ve got the skills and you think you can accomplish your goals then go for it. I chose to use a can of black interior/exterior glossy acrylic spray paint for this pair of sneakers because I wanted to change the entire color of the sneaker and a spray can does this quickly and effectively. I had to use about 2-3 coats to make the color even in this situation but that will depend on the colors and materials that you are working with. If you choose to use another method of painting make sure that you use acrylic paint and you can mix it with a little bit of nail polish remover to increase the flexibility of the paint. Once you have completed your painting and are satisfied with the results you can use either a matte or glossy finish to seal in your work and protect it from running or water damage. I also recommend using a sneaker/shoe weatherproofing spray to further increase the protection from the elements.

As far as choosing the shoe to use for your canvas you can go one of two ways, new or used. New shoes will be more expensive in most cases but there should be no concerns with the physical condition of the sneaker. If you find a good pair at a good price then go for it. When buying a used sneaker to paint it is very important that the sneaker shows no physical wear and tear. That means that you want to make sure that the sneaker does not have any tears, cracks, creases, scuffs or other marks. Dirt or grime is ok as long as it is just on the surface since you will be painting over it anyway. When you are picking out a used sneaker you must ask yourself if the shoe will look new after you paint it since your goal is to turn a used sneaker into something entirely new. Also it is important to look at the lines, stitching, design and cut of the sneaker you are purchasing. The easiest way to design a sneaker is to follow the lines that are provided in the initial design. This means that you will paint an area as defined by the seams on the sneaker and hold true to the original intention of the designer. This works especially well with Air Force Ones and is one reason why they are the most popular sneaker to customize. If you want a more complex design then look at a shoe with a more unique stitching pattern for you to follow. If you want to paint something freehand on your sneaker then maybe look for something without many stitches that will make it easier to create your work. Painting over a ridge or a stitch on a sneaker is a very tricky task and can make your job a lot more difficult than it has to be. Do not make your purchase without examining the sneaker closely and devising some sort of game plan. The plan can always change after you get started but the basic design elements you start with will almost always remain true in the end.

During the process you can feel free to change your plan as you see fit. After you complete each section of your work it’s a good idea to take a step back and look at what you’ve done and try to visualize your next move. My current creation has gone through many changes from my original plan but each change came from this method and the end result is perfect. Using this visualization technique can also save your design from disaster. By going in sections and reviewing the outcome you may be able to stop yourself from doing something that you may regret later on. Remember, it is always easier to add than it is to take away when you are painting. Also, ask the person you are creating the shoes for to give you input on colors and what they like. This will make them happier in the end but don’t let them influence your artistic decision making. My stepson wanted me to let him draw skulls on his shoes and I had to say no. Making sure that your creation looks professional will be more important in the long run and they will be happier as well. If you can’t do something artistically then don’t even try. If I could paint a really good skull then I would’ve done it for him, but I can’t so I’m not going to ruin his shoes trying to please him. They may not be your shoes but they are your piece of art and you have artistic control over them.

So if you want to make your kid stand out from the crowd in our new sneaker obsessed culture but you don’t have the funds to splash down on the latest pair of Jordan’s, then just do it yourself. Many children may think that Jordan’s and Nike’s are cool but they’ll also think that a pair of one of a kind sneakers are cool too. In fact, your creation may turn out to be even more popular…especially if it’s shiny. Kid’s love shiny things.

This method can also be used to update any pair that you have sitting in your closet that may have lost some of its luster. You can get yourself a new pair of sneakers for the cost of the paint. That sounds like a pretty good deal to me.