Painting Leather Sneakers With Angelus Acrylic Paints [Easy Step]

Customizing leather shoes and sneakers with acrylic paint is easy and achievable. In fact, Angelus is a widely popular acrylic paint brand specifically designed for leather materials.

Angelus paints are the ultimate choice for painting leather sneakers – their flexibility, durability, and vast range of colors and finishes make them perfect for adding intricate details and unique designs using stencils or freehand techniques.

This article is going to be too detailed and proper product recommendation. So hang tight 🙂

 I will explain:

1. Preparing shoes for painting
2. Apply paint
3. Sealing paint (with Angelus Acrylic Finisher, Resolene)

Leather Shoe and Sneakers Custom Painting with Acrylic Paints: Step by Step

https://twitter.com/AtelierHeidi/status/886987702180106240

Preparing shoes for painting

No acrylic paint can stick on wax and oily surface. So you have to take care this. 

Step 1: Prepare the Workspace

Prepare your workspace for painting by covering it with a protective plastic sheet or newspaper. Guard against spills and stains and ensure that you have all the necessary supplies, including paint brushes, trays, and masking tape.

Step 2: Clean the Surface

Clean surface is primary part of painting. Use high quality leather cleaner such as Deglazer to remove any dirt, dust, or oils from the surface. Put a small amount of Deglazer liquid in a soft clean cloth and rub on the leather. You can use Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer for cleaning shoes.

This is a helpful video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5qDjNMJVCg

Step 3: Light Sand (Optional)

For old shoes, after cleaning the surface, sand it gently using fine-grit sandpaper for better paint adhesion and prevention of chipping or flaking off. Ensure even sanding and avoid pressing too hard to prevent leather damage.

Step 4: Apply Leather Preparer

If sanding the surface is just the beginning; applying a leather preparer is essential for optimal adhesion and a best finish. It creates a protective barrier, preventing any potential damage or cracking. You can apply the Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer following same method. 

Step 5: Tape off Areas

Ensure a clean and even finish by taping off unwanted areas like the sole or tongue, using good quality painter’s tape, and firmly pressing it down to avoid paint seepage.

Apply paint

Step 1: Select Color

Angelus paints are specifically designed for leather and are available in a wide range of colors. Choose the best one depending on your preferred style

Here are the most popular types of Angelus paints:

Paint	Type	Note
Angelus Leather Paint Starter Kit Set	Standard paints	Most popular type of paint
Angelus Neon Leather Paint	Neon Paints	Bold and vibrant colors that create eye-catching designs on leather
Angelus Glitterlites Flexible Leather Paint	Glitter paints	Create a eye-catching sparkling effect when applied to leather
Angelus Pearlescent Leather Paint	Pearlescent Paints	It adds some shine to your leather shoes without being too flashy
Angelus Leather Paint Metallic Gold	Metallic Paints	Perfect for creating a metallic or chrome effect on your leather shoes.

 

You can check more about Angelus Paint on Wikipidea

Step 2: Small Test

To ensure your leather sneaker painting project is a success, it’s wise to start with a small test area before diving in. By doing this, you’ll be able to see firsthand how the paint interacts with the leather, giving you the confidence to move forward with the rest of the project. Don’t risk ruining your entire sneaker by skipping this crucial step. Take the time to test the paint.

Step 3: Apply paint

Apply thin an even layers. It will help to prevent cracking and peeling for a long time. Also it allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next one. 

After applying one layer, give time to dry the paint. Give between coat around 10-25 minutes to dry and final coat 24 hours. 

Apply multiple coat, it will make paint more vibrant and long lasting, but not apply a thick coat one time.

Pro tip: There can be little accidents or paint mistakes. Don’t panic, apply Deglazer liquid with a clean cloth, remove the paint and apply paint again.

Always use a good quality brush for applying paint. The good news is, Angelus also offers cool brush. Especially for leather shoe painting:

These is the brushes:

Brushes	Type
Angelus Flat Brush Set	Flat Brush
Angelus Micro Detail Paint Brush	Detail Brush

Step 4: Clean Up

After applying paint, clean all tools, such as paintbrush, plate, and more. 

Sealing Shoe paint

Sealer delivers a wide range of finishes, from glossy to matte, depending on the coats applied. It effectively resists water, scuffs, and scratches, and notably prolongs the lifespan of your painted leather sneakers. So sealing is very important part.

Step 1: Preparation

Ensure the paint on your sneakers is completely dry before applying the sealer. Properly clean the surface to remove any dirt or debris, using a clean cloth or soft brush. This is important part for proper adhesion of the sealer to the painted surface.

Step 2: Removing the Existing Sealer

If any sealer layer is previously applied and you want to add a new layer, you should remove the past sealer layer. You can do this using a leather deglazer. Put small amount deglazer on clean cloth and gently rub the shos. The old sealer easily come off. 

Step 3: Choosing the right sealer 

When it comes to sealing painted leather sneakers, it’s important to choose a sealer that is compatible with Angelus Paints. 

Here are some good options:

1. Using Angelus Acrylic Finisher (High-gloss sealer & water-based – compatible with Angelus paint)
2. Using Resolene (High-gloss sealer & water-based)

Here are the popular sealer

Sealer	Type
Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint High Gloss Finisher	Gloss Sealer
Angelus Matte Acrylic Finisher	Matte Sealer
Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint Satin Finisher	Satin Sealer
Fiebing’s Resolene Gloss Finish	Gloss Sealer

Step 4: Small Test

Test the sealer on a small area before starting the final project to prevent mishaps and ensure a perfect match. Once confirmed, proceed full speed ahead to the main project!

Step 5: Apply Sealer

Angelus Acrylic Finisher and Resolene is great water-based topcoat sealer that creates protection layer on leather surfaces, Thuse are crafted for use with Angelus paint and related paints. 

For applying the sealer use soft bristle brush or sponge. You can use above mentioned brush for best results. 

Remember, apply even and thin coat of sealer. Thick coat make a tacky or sticky finish and also can create uneven layers. Allow first coat dry properly then apply the second coat. Between coat takes 10-25 minutes to dry and the final coat should take around 24 hours.

Little accident or mistake is very common. Don’t worry, clean the mistake with damp cloth or sponge and mild soap. Avoid using harsh cleaners such as deglazer because it can damage the sealer and underlying paint.

Pro tips: If you apply a sealer to highly pigmented area, such as the toe or heel, the sealer may slightly darken the color. So before applying sealer, put a small amount of sealer there. And confirm before sealing. 

After 24 hours of sealing you can wear the shoes. You are ready to go outside!

Bottom line, that’s it 🙂