How To Paint Shoes

1
Outline your design in pencil on the shoe’s surface. If you keep your marks relatively light, then they won’t be noticeable even under the lightest of paint. Some people prefer to go over their pencil outline with a fine brush or fine tip marker as well.^[5]

Before you finalize your drawing with marker, make sure that the design is symmetrical, if that is what you are going for. Check that the toes, heels, and sides are mirror images.

2
Cover your workspace with paper. Before you start painting, find a flat, steady table and cover it entirely with craft paper or newspaper. This will keep you from ruining your work surface in the event that you have a few paint drips or spills.

You can also cut open brown paper grocery bags and secure them around the top and edges of the table.
Be careful using newspaper if you are working with white or light fabric shoes. The newsprint can leave black smudges on the fabric.

3
Practice painting on an old pair of shoes. This isn’t always an option, but if you have a cheap pair of shoes lying around then practice your technique on them. This gives you a chance to see if the paint is the right texture and color for what you want. You can even buy a pair of thrift store shoes to use as your practice pair.
4
Clean the surface of the shoes. For natural leather shoes, soak a cotton ball in rubbing alcohol and gently rub this over the surface of the shoes. For manmade leather shoes, soak a cotton ball in acetone and wipe the shoes down. If you are painting cloth shoes that are a bit dirty, wipe them down with a rag soaked in warm water and soap. This should remove any debris from the surface of the shoe and help the paint to adhere.^[6]

Let your shoes thoroughly dry after cleaning before attempting to paint.
Make sure that you use 100% acetone for cleaning, not a mixed nail polish remover.

5
Sand away the finish if your shoes are shiny leather. Patent leather shoes are known for their shiny appearance, but it’s difficult for paint to stick to this surface. Get a fine grade sandpaper and rub over the surface of the shoe, moving in small circles. Continue until the shoe takes on a dull appearance.

Look over your shoes and make sure that your sanding is even from all angles. Otherwise, you may get an uneven appearance after painting.

6
Cover the inside and sole with tape. Apply thin strips of painters’ tape to all of the shoe’s surfaces that you don’t want to paint. This means you’ll need to go around the soles of the shoes as well. Some people also stuff newspaper into the inside of the shoes to help them keep their shape while wet.