Hand-painted Converse shoes

Hi there! Here are my finished hand-painted Converse. I had the blank shoes for a full year before I gathered up the inspiration (and courage) to actually paint them. Seems silly, but I’m glad I waited for the right idea to strike.

I chose a simple red, gray and black color scheme to complement the white rubber and laces. My mantra lately has been “keep moving” so I included those words on the inner sides of the shoe. On the outside I painted one of my signature cellular-style patterns.

If you’re thinking about painting your own Converse – go for it! You can find blank white canvas Converse here. I know they sell all kinds of fabric paint, but as someone who has gotten acrylic paint on their clothes regularly, I can attest – it doesn’t come out! So I just used regular acrylic paint. I also used some black prismacolor marker. To protect the finished product, I applied matte varnish and then sprayed a shoe waterproofing spray over the top. I’m not sure that they are truly waterproof, as I haven’t put them to the test. After spending so much time on them, I’d rather not!

Perception vs Reality – 24″ x 24″ acrylic on canvas

Back in January of this year, I finished this earth-tone, surrealism-inspired canvas. The idea behind the piece is our perception of the world around us versus other people’s perceptions and the way our environment and other people influence our view.

Perception vs. Reality – 24″ x 24″

I primarily used acrylics, but also used fine-art markers and spray paint.

Perception vs. Reality – close up shot featuring acrylic texturing, spray paint and marker detail

This piece is currently available for sale. Professional-grade 1-1/2″ deep canvas is signed and dated on the back. Protective coating ensures your art will last for lifetimes. $250 plus shipping to your location.