Looking for a way to give your old shoes a fresh new look? Why not try painting them with one of the best paints to use on shoes? There are many different types of paint available, so it can be tricky to know which will be the most durable on shoes.
What are the best paints to use on shoes? The most durable option is to use acrylic paint, which works well for both canvas sneakers and leather shoes. In addition, you can also use fabric paint to paint canvas shoes.
In this article, let’s take a look at the best paints to use on shoes and some great options on the market. So, let’s get started!
Type Of Paint To Use On Shoes
When it comes to painting shoes, there are a variety of different paint options to choose from. Let’s take a look at a few types of paint that you can use to create a high-quality and durable result.
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is widely considered to be the safest option to paint shoes, regardless of the material.
Acrylic paint is non-toxic and easy to clean up, making it a good choice for beginners. In addition, the paint dries quickly and becomes water resistant, making it durable enough to withstand everyday use.
A good thing about acrylic paint is that there’s a wide range of colors, and the colors are easily mixed to create new shades. Once dry, the colors are lightfast and resistant to fading, meaning that your newly painted shoes will retain their look over time.
Leather shoes can be particularly difficult to paint, but acrylic paint is an ideal option for this purpose. It adheres well to leather and produces a smooth, professional-looking finish.
You can use regular acrylics to work with leather shoes, or you can purchase acrylic leather paint, which is specially formulated to work well with both real leather and faux leather.
Acrylic paint will need to be applied with a brush, which will take some practice to master. Since acrylic paint has a thick viscosity, you will risk applying too much paint and creating a rough texture on the painted surface.
Fabric Paint
When painting canvas shoes, you should use fabric paint, which is formulated to be flexible enough for fabric.
The paint is thin enough to be absorbed into the porous surface of the canvas fabric, and it will dry to become very durable while still remaining flexible enough to withstand the movements of your feet as you walk, so the paint can resist fading and cracking.
If you don’t have fabric paint, you can also make your own fabric paint by adding a fabric medium to your acrylic paint.
The fabric medium will add viscosity to the paint and allow it to remain flexible when dry. It also means you can wash your shoes without having to worry about the paint fading or cracking.
Fabric paint needs to be applied to the shoes using a brush, so it does take some artistic skills to create interesting designs.
Acrylic Paint Pens
If you want to customize your shoes but don’t want to invest in a set of paint and brushes, you can use paint pens.
Paint pens are a versatile and easy-to-use tool that can add a touch of personalization to your shoes. They are similar to markers, but they are filled with acrylic paint instead of ink.
This is a simple way to create doodles and drawings on your canvas shoes without having to learn how to use paintbrushes!
Because paint pens are filled with acrylic paint, you’ll enjoy all the benefits that acrylic paint has to offer, including the paint’s durability, lightfastness, and water resistance.
Paint pens are great for creating small lines and intricate details, but they are often too small to cover a large area with colors.
Other Materials Needed To Paint Shoes
Paint is not the only thing required to ensure success when it comes to painting shoes. While both acrylic paint and fabric paint are quite durable, there are still a few steps you need to take to prevent the paint from cracking, especially after a few wears.
Sanding
New shoes, whether they are canvas or leather, usually come with a protective coating on the surface that helps repel stains and dirt. Unfortunately, this protective coating will also prevent any kind of paint from sticking to the shoes.
That’s why removing this coating from the surface is a necessary first step before painting. You can do so by lightly sanding the surface of the shoes using medium grit sandpaper. After sanding, you’ll find that it’s much easier to paint the shoes.
Sealant
Although both acrylic paint and fabric paint can become quite durable when dry, sealing the paint is still a necessary last step.
Since your shoes need to withstand a lot of pressure, sealing the paint with a clear acrylic coat will help the paint job resist fading and cracking and even protect the paint against stains and water.
Best Paints To Use On Shoes
Let’s take a look at some great paints that you can use on shoes.
| Rank | Product | Paint Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Aen Art Acrylic Paint | Acrylic Paint |
| 2. | Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set | Acrylic Paint |
| 3. | Angelus Leather Paint Starter Kit Set | Acrylic Leather Paint |
| 4. | Smalltongue 14 Colors Acrylic Leather Paint Kit | Acrylic Leather Paint |
| 5. | FolkArt Brush on Fabric Paint | Fabric Paint |
| 6. | Tulip Soft Brush On Fabric Paint | Fabric Paint |
| 7. | 24 Colors Acrylic Paint Marker Pens | Acrylic Paint Markers |
1. Aen Art Acrylic Paint
If you want a dependable result, you cannot go wrong with acrylic paint. Aen Art Acrylic Paint is a set of 24 colors of artist-quality acrylic paint.
Thanks to the artist-grade quality, the colors are perfect for painting shoes because they are highly pigmented and have good color saturation.
They also have excellent coverage and adhesion to all kinds of materials, including canvas and leather.
The paints have a thick, spreadable texture that is easy to work with and provides good control. They dry quickly to a soft, semi-gloss finish that is resistant to chipping and fading.
The set includes a variety of colors, and you can also mix the colors to create new shades for a one-of-a-kind look.
2. Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set
The Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint Set is a great choice for crafters, hobbyists, and painters of all levels of experience.
The set includes 18 colors that dry to a matte finish, making it perfect for use on both canvas and leather shoes. The paints are made from high-quality pigments, so they’re rich and vibrant. They’re also easy to work with, thanks to their creamy consistency.
The paints are also easy to clean up with water. Once dry, the acrylic paint will become durable and water-resistant, which means your artwork will stay put even after wearing your painted shoes for a while.
3. Angelus Leather Paint Starter Kit Set
If you want to use high-quality paint for your leather shoes, then this set of Angelus Leather Paints is highly recommended.
The set includes 12 different colors, which you can also experiment with to expand the shade range.
The paints are also made from high-quality pigments and binders that are specially formulated to adhere to leather and will remain flexible when the paint is dry.
This means your artwork will stay lightfast without cracking and peeling even after some wear and tear.
The paints are easy to use and have a durable finish, so your shoes will look great for years to come.
4. Smalltongue 14 Colors Acrylic Leather Paint Kit
Smalltongue 14 Colors Acrylic Leather Paint Kits are ideal for painting high-quality designs on leather shoes.
The set includes fourteen colors of paint, which can be mixed together to create an endless variety of hues, and the paint is durable enough to withstand wear and tear.
Because this is a complete set, you will also get a deglazer, which you can use to remove the glaze on the surface of the leather before painting
. After you’re done painting, you can also use the included acrylic topcoat to seal the paint and create a durable finish.
If you are looking for a complete solution for painting leather shoes, then this set is definitely a great option!
5. FolkArt Brush on Fabric Paint
When painting fabric and canvas shoes, then using fabric paint is definitely a great choice. This set of FolkArt fabric paint comes in eight colors, which you can also mix to create different shades.
The paints are easy to apply to fabric surfaces and once dry, the colors will be highly durable while still remaining flexible enough to accommodate your movements while wearing.
The paint is liquid enough to be absorbed into the fabric without creating a raised texture on the surface.
Once dry, the paint can even be washed, so you don’t have to worry about the design fading after washing your shoes!
6. Tulip Soft Brush On Fabric Paint
This set of fabric paints from Tulip is designed for ease of use. The paint comes in ten vibrant colors, perfect for painting and customizing your canvas shoes.
Each color comes with an easy-squeeze tube, and you can also mix new colors from the 10 basic colors to create different shades for your design.
Once dry, the paint is permanent and machine washable, so you can enjoy your custom creation without fear of fading and cracking.
7. 24 Colors Acrylic Paint Marker Pens
Acrylic paint markers are perfect for personalizing your shoes, especially if you are a beginner who finds it difficult to use a paintbrush.
This set comes with 24 colors that can be used to create fine details and doodles. Although you won’t be able to mix new paint colors, this range is enough to let your creativity shine.
The best part about acrylic paint markers is that they’re permanent, so your design will last. You can use them on any type of shoe, including canvas shoes and leather shoes.
With this set of acrylic paint markers, you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits that acrylic paint has to offer without knowing how to mix new paint colors or work with a paintbrush!
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