Tutorial: Painting Shoes

June 16, 2010
Welcome to the Shoe Tute
Part of Art Spark’s Tutorial Tsunami!

Question?

What can a person do with some acrylic paints, brushes, some nifty new paint markers, and a favorite pair of old but comfy shoes?

Answer!
 Get some STYLE my friend!


Ready? Find a pair of shoes, preferably leather. My favorite comfy shoes were my first try – they couldn’t look any worse so there was nothing to lose eh? My next pair were a great pair of  NAOT’s (one of the very few brands that fit me.) I think these were as cheap as they were on Ebay because they were kind of an ugly color. Maybe you’ll have the same luck as I did there.

You’ll need: shoes, fingernail polish remover, gesso, acrylic paint, spray sealer. Optional – sharpie, paint markers.

Take the shoes and clean them up as much as you can then rub a little nail polish remover all over them . It roughs them up and removes any finishes so the paint will stick to the leather.

Prime the shoes with a layer of gesso then let them dry.

Chose one or several base paint colors and block them in. That just means put the colors where you want them. I used textile paint because those happened to be the paints I have on hand. I did choose opaque paints rather than transparent in order to get better coverage. 

I like using the paint markers next to doodle in some shapes. You could also choose to start out with the sharpie and doodle designs onto your color blocks. On the blue shoes I painted blue first, purple next, used the sharpies, then filled in spots with the paint markers. For the red shoes, I knew I wanted them to be RED, RED, RED so I kept it monochromatic. I was so excited about the paint markers that I played with those first then filled in around them with the sharpies.
Loved what was happening here so I kept going and doodled more with the sharpie. Uh… didn’t like it much. Hey – not a problem! Now I know what I want. Paint back over it and decide that for this particular shoe, less is enough!
 

Take the shoe outside, stuff the inside with newspaper, tape off the soles if you’d like to then spray a thin coat of sealer to protect the paint.Wait patiently for the stuff to dry then wear with STYLE!

Now don’t forget that Alisa Burke also has a tutorial today. An adorable altered tank top!

If you missed the first wave of tutorials you can check out Melanie, Diana, and Jane for their fabulous tutorials!

30 Comments

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  • Reply
    Peg H
    May 7, 2012 at 12:44 pm

    Oh WOW! Thanks so much for this wonderful tutorial. I've been wanting painted shoes for some time but hadn't a clue about how to make my own. Now I can be fearless about giving it a try. Thank you!

  • Reply
    JAILUD BUNDLE ENTEPRISE
    August 9, 2011 at 11:35 pm

    eXCELENT,Thanks very much for your toturial,

  • Reply
    lyric
    September 9, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    Hi Susan – I think the gesso is simply a layer that helps the paint to stick better and is probably necessary when using bright or light colors.

    I think you could get away with a thin layer of black paint instead – or try none at all. ON my really old shoes that get that crease across the toe – sometimes (especially if I forget to seal it) the paint will flake a bit and a white gesso shows through.

    It never hurts to experiment and see what works for you!

  • Reply
    Susan Brubaker Knapp
    September 9, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    Hey, Lyric,
    Thanks for the great tutorial. My local fiber arts group is getting together to do this next week, and I have a question. What purpose does the gesso serve? If I want my background to be black, and my shoes already are black, can't I just do the nail polish thing, and then start painting my design? Or will my bright colors not work against the black without the white gesso behind them?

  • Reply
    iHanna
    June 18, 2010 at 10:54 pm

    Both pairs turned out so great. I've been dreaming about painting a pair of shoes for years but never had the right pair, or dared doing it… Thanks for a great tut!

  • Reply
    lyric
    June 18, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    Hi Lera!!! It's great to see you again. Fabrications was one of the best ever teaching experiences!

    And yes – I brought these to work on – it's taken me more than a year to get around to actually getting them done. But now I'm on a roll and am working on pair number three. IN fact – just got another terribly ugly pair of NAOTS for very cheap on ebay so that I can paint them. Most NAOTs are very cute – these are not. but they soon WILL be!

    Hope you are well!

  • Reply
    Grace
    June 18, 2010 at 3:13 pm

    OMg… I have to do this….your shoes looks so darn cool! I'm going searching to find a pair and then going to town with this tutorial. Thanks Lyric!

  • Reply
    Johanna
    June 18, 2010 at 10:22 am

    Great shoes! I need to find some to paint!
    Fun!!

  • Reply
    upstateLisa
    June 18, 2010 at 9:13 am

    Oh my goodness! what a great idea! I love those shoes!

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    June 18, 2010 at 3:30 am

    Lyric,
    Love the shoes. Weren't you working on the blue pair at Fabrications last year? I need to go thru the closet now…Have a great summer and thanks for the tute.

    Lera Cavanaugh

  • Reply
    Ruth Anne Olson
    June 18, 2010 at 2:32 am

    How much fun!

    The plainer red is better, proving the old adage, "less is more."

  • Reply
    Cassie Shella
    June 17, 2010 at 11:48 pm

    This looks like so much fun! Now I just have to find an older pair of shoes (I just cleaned out my closet!). Have a Blessed week.

  • Reply
    lyric
    June 17, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    Sandy – use whatever acrylic sealer in a spray can you have. Perhaps if you are worried about rain use several very light coats.

  • Reply
    Sandy
    June 17, 2010 at 8:22 pm

    "spray a thin coat of sealer to protect the paint"

    hi Lyric, What do you use for sealer? And what if you live in a place where it rains alot…does one sealer work better than others?
    Thanks,
    sandy in the UK

  • Reply
    Anita M
    June 17, 2010 at 5:14 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing your time and talent. They look like such fun!

  • Reply
    Lisa
    June 17, 2010 at 5:01 pm

    Awesome! What a great way to recycle some comfy shoes!

  • Reply
    Gloria
    June 17, 2010 at 5:00 pm

    These are fantastic, Lyric!! Wow!!

  • Reply
    Vivika
    June 17, 2010 at 4:39 pm

    You are right – they WERE hideous, but now… watch out world, altered shoes are now the new rage!

  • Reply
    alobsiger
    June 17, 2010 at 4:32 pm

    YOWZA! Those shoes are amazing! But I want THOSE shoes — such a cute style. THANK YOU for sharing this. Uh-oh, my shoes will never measure up again.

  • Reply
    Vickie Hallmark
    June 17, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Brilliant! I've been checking out Zazzle for custom printed shoes with my artwork and had just come to the conclusion that I should paint my own. Here you are with all the how-to info. How perfect! Thanks!

  • Reply
    Jane LaFazio
    June 17, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    waay stylish, girlfriend!! thanks.

  • Reply
    Kay Koeper Sorensen
    June 17, 2010 at 2:32 pm

    Love them Lyric.
    Heading to my closet and then will gather up the supplies which I have somewhere in this house!

  • Reply
    annflaherty
    June 17, 2010 at 2:15 pm

    I love these!!! Can't wait to try it out. I've got a pair of shoes that desperately need updating!
    THANKS!

  • Reply
    DianaTrout
    June 17, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    I LOVE these, Lyric. Great idea and I have a pair of shoes that are just aching for a make-over. Fun, fun, fun! Thanks

  • Reply
    lyric
    June 17, 2010 at 2:00 pm

    It's totally addictive – none of your shoes are safe once you start painting them!

  • Reply
    delanequilts
    June 17, 2010 at 1:58 pm

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these shoes!!! Thanks for the tutorial – I'll be on the lookout for shoes to play with!

  • Reply
    Claudine Intner
    June 17, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    Oh, I love the shoes!!! Great idea!

  • Reply
    Kathleen McKenna Murphy
    June 17, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    I have wanted painted shoes forever and now I will have them! Thanks a million for taking the time to put this tutorial together!

  • Reply
    The Demanding Doll
    June 17, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    I totally love these and think they will be a great project to do with my daughter. Excellent tutorial. Thank you for sharing it.


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