Hi Dayna, We have not had any problem with them together but ALWAYS TEST FIRST in case there is something different about your circumstances. Use spare shoes or anything else made of the same materials and use them as a test surface for anything you want to try. Years ago we had pens run (not posca) and it was not fun. Best wishes,
How To Paint Shoes
These tips show how to paint shoes and add unique hand-painted designs to your canvas shoes or sneakers with acrylic paint. There are also tips for painting leather or vinyl shoes or trim. We’ve tested a bunch of art supplies and recommend our top picks.
This is part of the complete ebook, How to Paint Shoes: Beginners Guide to Painting Canvas Shoes with Acrylic Paint, now available to save to your device.
Create Your Own Hand-Painted Shoes
A few years ago my teenage daughter started customizing canvas shoes (which is now a business venture) and hasn’t turned back since. Since that time we have also painted shoes made from leather, mesh, and vinyl surfaces as well. These are our tips for best results.
If you’re like us, you may not want to buy new supplies for each project so we have listed several options in case you already own something that can work.
As new supplies come on the market we try them out and, if we like them, update this article to include them.
Our ebook, How To Paint Shoes, provides more information than we can fit in a blog post. It saves instantly to your device and includes all of our tips. If you’re already experienced with acrylic paints on canvas, you probably just need a few ideas for specific materials to use (see below).
Contents
- Shoe Painting Art Materials & Supplies
- Planning Your Design
- Shoe Painting Steps
- Fixing Mistakes
- Resources
- How To Paint Shoes ebook
How to Paint Shoes
A beginner’s guide for hand-painting shoesby Melissa J. Will
Our best tips for creating hand-painted shoes on canvas, leather, and vinyl surfaces.
This ebook is a digital file you save to your device (PDF format). It is not a physical product.
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Digital products are not available in EU , UK , and Northern Ireland due to tax regulations.
Shoe Painting Art Materials & Supplies
1 Shoes
You can paint canvas, leather, mesh, and vinyl shoes (or a combination). Each type of material requires different preparations.
Options include Converse, Nike, Jordans or any other makes or models you like. You just need to know what type of material you are painting so you can prepare and paint them properly.
The base color or colors of the shoes does not matter. Most shoe parts are paintable except the soles. Shoe soles do not take paint well so just tape those off to protect them while you paint.
If you want all these tips in one handy file, get the ebook.
If this is your first time painting shoes, consider getting a test pair at a thrift shop to experiment on.
Test Your Materials First
Because there is no way for us to test every possible surface and finish, do this at your own risk and always test a small area first to be sure you are happy with the results.2 Paints and Primer / Preparer
We’ll first go over the supplies needed and then the step-by-step instructions.
For Canvas or Mesh Surfaces
Use these two products combined (1-part paint mixed with 1-part 2-Soft Fabric Medium).
You do not need to use any other products to prepare a canvas or mesh surface.
Alternate Materials
Before Angelus Leather Paints were available, we created our painted canvas shoes with these items:
- Acrylic primer (to prepare surface) | All-purpose wall painting primer works great but you have to apply thin coats. You can also use Gesso (artist’s canvas primer).
- Acrylic paints | Golden (brand) is top notch quality – goes on beautifully. You can also use any acrylic paints sold at craft shops such as Decoart, Martha Stewart, Folk Art, artist’s acrylics, or acrylic wall paint.
- Acrylic Paint Thinner | Thin layers are key to preventing cracking and getting a good end result. Acrylic Paint Thinner is the same stuff used with airbrushing.
For Leather Surfaces
Leather surfaces must be prepared first with a product like Angelus Leather Preparer and Deglazer (which is a mild acetone) before they are ready to paint. Read more in the step-by-step instructions (below).
For Vinyl Surfaces
Vinyl requires 3 steps before it is ready to paint.
- Use sandpaper to gently roughen the surface.
- Apply Angelus Leather Preparer and Deglazer to further ready the surface.
- Then apply a clear Adhesion Promoter Primer (spray) made for vinyl, rubber, and other plastic surfaces.
Once that’s done, you can paint vinyl surfaces with Angelus Leather Paints.
To Protect Soles
The rubber or other composite material of shoe soles does not hold paint nicely. It is best to tape off areas like this to protect them from the paint.
Vinyl tape works best for covering curved surfaces but you can also use painter’s tape.
For Detail Work
You may already have favorite art supplies for fine or detailed work. These are some we love.
Pay attention to tip sizes! They range from fine to thick.
Markers for Filling in Colors
Markers for Outlining
- Prisma color fine-tip markers
- Faber-Castel Pitt artist pens
- Sharpie paint pens
Note: Metallic markers may run when Scotch Guard is applied over top.
Other Supplies
- Pencil for sketching design on shoes.
- Synthetic paint brushes suitable for acrylic paint.
- Paint tray, water cup for rinsing brushes.
- Rags
- Airbrush kit for fast, even coverage
For Protecting Painted Shoes
These are listed in order of preference.
- Angelus Acrylic Finisher – available in matte, satin, normal, and high gloss
- Scotch Guard for outdoor fabric or polyurethane
- Mod Podge Outdoor or any durable sealant that won’t discolor (apply in thin layers)
Can you Use Acrylic Paint On Shoes?
Yes, you can use acrylic paint on shoes. Ensure the shoes are clean before applying. Acrylic adheres well to these materials. To preserve the design, apply a waterproof sealant after painting. This technique is favored for customizing and adding unique flair to shoes.
Yes, you can paint Converse with acrylic paint.
Traditional cotton duck canvas Converse, known for its durability, pairs exceptionally well with acrylic, as the porous canvas absorbs the paint, ensuring vibrant designs.
For the lighter synthetic polyester Converse, while still paintable, the finish might differ slightly.
Regardless of material, always seal with a waterproof finish to enhance the artwork’s lifespan, ensuring vivid and lasting results on both shoe types.
Can you use acrylic paint on canvas shoes?
Yes, you can use acrylic paint on canvas shoes.
Canvas, known for its porous and absorbent nature, pairs exceptionally well with the water-based composition of acrylic paint.
Given the canvas’s capillarity, it permits optimum pigment penetration.
When acrylic, a polymer emulsion, is applied, it undergoes coalescence on the canvas, forming a resilient film.
How to paint canvas shoes with acrylic paint
Before we dive in, gather these supplies:
Supplies Needed:
- A pair of clean canvas shoes.
- Acrylic paints in your chosen colors.
- Paint brushes in various sizes (from detail brushes to wider ones).
- A cup of water for cleaning brushes.
- Paper towels or rags.
- Painter’s tape (to keep areas clean, like the soles).
- A palette or plate to mix paints.
- Hairdryer (optional, for quicker drying).
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Prep Your Shoes: Remove the laces from your canvas shoes. Clean any dirt or dust off the shoes with a damp cloth and let them dry thoroughly.
- Mask Off Areas: Use the painter’s tape to cover any areas you don’t want to paint, such as the rubber soles.
- Plan Your Design: Before diving in with the paint, it might help to sketch out your design on paper. This will serve as a handy guide!
- Begin Painting: Dip your brush into the paint and start with broader strokes for larger areas, then switch to a smaller brush for details. Remember, it’s always easier to add more paint later, so start with light layers and build up.
- Dry Between Layers: Allow each paint layer to dry completely before adding another one. If you’re impatient like me, you can use a hairdryer to speed up the process. But ensure it’s on a cool setting!
- Final Touches: After you’ve painted your design and everything is dry, you can remove the painter’s tape. Check for any areas that might need touch-ups.
Can you use regular acrylic paint on shoes?
Yes, you can use regular acrylic paint on fabric and canvas shoes, but not directly if you intend to wear them.
You can’t just slap on the acrylic and go; you need to turn it into fabric paint first.
Mix 2 parts of your regular acrylic paint with 1 part fabric medium. This combo ensures the paint stays flexible and long-lasting on the shoe.
However, if you’re thinking about leather or vinyl shoes, this method won’t work as effectively.
And a quick heads-up: don’t use vinegar as a shortcut – it’s not a substitute for the fabric medium.
