Angelus Sneaker Art(1)

Buy Shoe Paint for Sneaker Art in Australia

A rapidly growing trend in Australia, customised shoes allow you to show off your own unique style every time you step outside the door. Now you can paint up your own shoes and demonstrate your incredible artistic abilities with Angelus Shoe Paint and Sneaker Art Supplies.

Offering an extensive range of high-quality supplies, Angelus Shoe Paint is ultra-durable and designed not to crack or peel, meaning that, with the right care, your shoes will be looking their fabulous best for years to come.

Here’s some things you should know about Angelus leather dye and shoe paint to get you started on your first pair of custom painted shoes.

What Materials Can Angelus Shoe Paint Be Used On?

Specifically designed for leather, Angelus Shoe Paint is a highly versatile paint that can also be used on a variety of other surfaces, including canvas, fabrics, and mesh, as long as they’ve been properly primed prior to painting.

What is the Difference Between Angelus Shoe Paint and Angelus Leather Dye?

Leather Paint and Leather Dye are both colouring agents that can be used to customise your shoes. However, the way that these two agents work and the results they can achieve are different. Here are some of the ways that Angelus leather dye varies from shoe paint:

Leather dye penetrates the pores of the leather, creating a chemical bond, while leather paint coats the top of the leather, creating a physical bond.

  • Angelus dyes are alcohol-based, while Angelus acrylic shoe paint is water-based,
  • Leather dyes cannot give leather a lighter colour, whereas paints can be used to create lighter colours on the shoe surface.
  • Shoe dyes allow leather to retain their natural breathability, whereas paints can make leather slightly less breathable
  • Dyes do not cover up the natural grain or texture of the leather, while paints will
  • Dyed leather can develop a gorgeous patina over time. Painted surfaces cannot
  • Dyes mix with whatever colour is underneath them, so if you dye a white surface with red dye, it will look pink. Paint, on the other hand, can cover up pretty much any colour.

How to Prepare Shoes for Painting or Dyeing

How you prepare your shoes for painting or dyeing will depend on the material you’re working with. The first step is to tape off the areas you don’t wish to paint (including the soles) and remove the shoelaces from the shoe.

If you’re working on leather shoes, you’ll want to start by preparing the surface with Leather Preparer and Deglazer. This all-purpose cleaner and stripper can be used to deglaze factory finishes on leather items to aid with adhesion.

If you’re working with dark leathers and wish to apply colour, it’s best to apply a white base coat to show up your colours at their vibrant best. Be sure to wait for the base coat to dry completely before applying other colours.

For fabric or mesh shoes, you’ll also want to stuff your shoes with plastic or something sturdy to ensure that they hold their shape during the painting process. Next, you’ll need to mix your Angelus leather paints with Angelus 2 - Soft in a 50/50 ratio. This will give the paint a sturdy surface to cling to without leaving the material feeling stiff and uncomfortable.

Shoe Painting Materials

To get started with your DIY custom sneakers, there are a few supplies you’ll need to buy. Here’s a list of shoe painting materials we recommend:

  • Brushes: we recommend a quality paintbrush set to ensure that your paint goes on smoothly and cleanly. Be sure to also pick up some small, detail brushes for precise and fine line-work.
  • Paint: Angelus acrylic paint is specifically designed not to chip or peel, and is also waterproof, scratch-proof, and much longer lasting than lower quality paints.
  • Leather Dye: If you’re looking to give faded shoes a new lease on life or would like to retain the natural grain of the leather, leather dye is a great alternative to paint.
  • 2 - Soft: If you’re working with soft materials such as mesh or canvas, you’ll need to use Angelus 2 - Soft to give your paint something to adhere to without going stiff.
  • Leather Preparer and Deglazer: this is essential to giving your paint something to adhere to on leather by stripping away the factory finish prior to painting.
  • Masking tape: use this to mask off areas, preventing paint from getting onto the wrong spots and ruining your design.
  • Acrylic Finisher: Once you’ve completed your custom shoe paint job, you’ll want to protect it with an acrylic finisher. We offer Angelus acrylic finishers in satin, flexible clear, and high gloss.
  • Shoe art kit: the easiest to get started with DIY custom shoe painting is with a shoe art kit! Kits such as the Angelus Leather Paint Basics Kit are designed to give you most of the materials you need to create your first customised shoe, including paints, brushes, and Leather Preparer and Deglazer.

How to Clean Your Custom Shoes to Keep Them Looking Their Best

Angelus paints and dyes are high-quality, long-lasting, and designed to be scratch and water-resistant, but only when properly cared for! Here’s how you can protect your DIY custom shoes to keep them looking fabulous for years to come.

  • Clean them: an accumulation of dirt and grime can lead to shoe paint chipping and peeling. To prevent this, you’ll need to keep them clean. You’ll need a brush and shoe cleaner to get rid of any dust and protect your shoe art.
  • Fight the stink: no one’s going to be able to admire your gorgeous custom painted shoes if the smell of them keeps knocking them out! Don’t let bad odours detract from your incredible work. Eliminate stinky shoe smells with a specially designed deodoriser.
  • Protect your soles: over time, you may notice the soles of your shoes beginning to yellow. You can restore the rubber back to its original colour with a formula such as Sole Bright Restorer!

Share Your Custom Painted Shoes on Instagram!

We can’t wait to see your amazing DIY custom shoes! Don’t forget to share your fabulous creations with us by tagging @riotartandcraft on Instagram.