When you first buy a pair of shoes, the images that come to mind are of a plain, simple silhouette: black, white, or brown. While this may be appropriate for some shoes, it’s not always the case with shoes. If you look close, you’ll often find subtle details in shoe designs that set them apart from their rivals. It could be a unique accent color, a clever detail such as an internal vamp, or an alternative material like suede or rubber. However subtle the styling may seem, sometimes subtle works just as well and these are the times when acrylic shoe painting comes into play. What is Acrylic Paint? In its simplest terms, acrylic paint is simply a type of paint that is made from acrylic resin rather than pigments and other natural materials. As such it is heat transferable and will not discolor when exposed to heat and moisture. Because of this, they can also be referred to as heat-resistant paints although they are not quite as heat resistant as oil-based paints – so use them with caution outside if possible.
How To Remove Acrylic Paint From Leather Shoes
Prepare Your Shoes
Most “leather shoe” colorants are solvents, so before you begin, you’ll want to make sure your shoes are clean, dry, and free of dirt. If you’re using an old shoe that has been painted over, make sure to thoroughly scrub the painted areas with a clean scrubbing brush to remove any traces of the old paint from the shoes. If you’re painting the backs of your shoes, make sure to use a clean, soft cloth to remove any excess dirt and excess oil from the shoes. This will help prevent any issues with staining and also allow you to easily remove the paint later on. If your shoes are painted with acrylic paint, you can either spray or sponge them to remove the paint. Many people use an Arlington Anionics cleaner to remove the paint, but a small, soft brush works just as well.
Use a Clean Scrubbing Brush
Next, use a clean scrubbing brush to scrub the entire area where your shoe will be painted. This includes both the sides and the sole, as well as the inside of the arch. The scrubbing brush should be soft and scrubbing in a circular motion to help loosen up any remaining dirt and oil. You can also use a soft, damp washcloth to scrub the shoes if you’re not feeling clean and scrubbing brushes aren’t an option for you. You should scrub the shoes with the brush for up to 10 minutes, depending on the type of paint you’re using. Once the shoes are clean, allow them to dry for about 30 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Spritz Anionics And Let It Dry
After you’ve scrubbed and dried the shoes, you’ll need to use anionics and diacetone alcohol to “dry” or “spray” the shoes. This process will help remove any excess oil and dirt from the shoes, as well as help speed up the drying process. To dry the shoes, line them up so the entire front is facing you, and line them up flexed with their backs against a wall or a piece of furniture. Set the timer for 90 minutes and simply spritz the shoes with anionics and diacetone alcohol while they’re still flexed against the wall. Once the shoes are dry, Loop the Arcane and Diacetone Alcohol Around Your Finger, and Voila! – Your Leather Shoes Are New Again.
Use A Soft, Smooth Eraser
After the shoes are dry, it’s time to “erase” the paint from the shoes with a soft, smooth eraser. The key here is to use a soft, smooth eraser so you don’t end up scratching the shoes’ finish, or worse – sanding off the shoes’ finish! To remove the masking tape from the bottom of your shoes, first use a clean, soft cloth to remove the old tape, and then use a soft, smooth eraser to remove all traces of the masking tape. Next, use a piece of smooth, absorbent paper to remove the remaining traces of the masking tape and diacetone alcohol. Once the paper has absorbed the diacetone alcohol, you can toss it in the garbage, and you’ll be left with your clean, smooth shoes.
High-quality Leather Shoe Polish
If you’re really having trouble removing the paint from your shoes, you can always purchase a shoe polish that is specifically designed to remove acrylic paint. There are many good shoe polishes available, and your local shoe store may carry some good brands. If you’d like to try out some shoe polishes before you tackle removing the paint, arch supports, and other accessories are often included with good shoe polishes. To remove the paint from your shoes, apply a small amount of shoe polish to gently rub the paint away from the shoe while it’s still flexed against the wall or furniture. You can also use a soft, damp rag to gently clean off the excess polish and enable you to remove the paint more quickly.
What Can You Paint With Acrylic Paint?
- Acrylic Paint can be used to paint on almost any surface. You can paint wood, metal, glass, plastic, and even fabric!
- Acrylic Paint dries quickly and is waterproof when dry.
- Acrylic Paint comes in a wide variety of colors and finishes that can be mixed together to create new colors.
- Acrylic Paint is very easy to clean up when you are finished painting with it – simply wipe it off with a damp rag or paper towel and your work area will look as good as new!
How To Apply Acrylic Paint
- First, you will need to find a good paintbrush that can hold a lot of paint at once. This will help you to minimize how much time you spend reloading your brush between coats.
- Next, dip your paintbrush into the container of Acrylic Paint that you are using and then apply it to your project in long strokes or short staccato strokes as needed (see below).
- Allow the first coat of Acrylic Paint to dry before applying another coat.
- Continue applying Acrylic Paint until your project is finished!
The Big Difference Between Oil-Based And Acrylic Paint
- You can paint with Acrylic Paint on almost any surface that can withstand water (even fabric!) as long as it is dry first!
- You can paint with Oil-based Paints directly on almost any surface that can withstand paint (even fabric!) as long as it is dry first!
- The resulting finish from painting with Oil-based Paints is glossy and smooth when dried while the resulting finish from painting with Acrylic Paints is matte and slightly textured when dried
- The drying time for Oil-based Paints is longer than that of Acrylic Paints – usually 24 hours or more depending on the thickness of the coat applied to your project! The drying time for Acrylic Paints is faster than that of Oil-based Paints – usually minutes or hours depending on the thickness of the coat applied to your project!
Conclusion
There are many different types of paint available and it can be hard to know which one to use for certain types of projects. Acrylic paint is one of the easiest paints to use and comes in a variety of colors and patterns. To make the most of your painted shoes, take care when applying the paint and use a paint thinner to thin the paint if needed. Be sure to clean the shoe after each use too! If you’re looking for a quick, easy and cheap way to add a little character to your shoes, acrylic paint is for you.
FAQ’s
Q: What type of paint should I use?
A: It is important to choose the right kind of paint for the surface you are painting. Acrylic paints are easy to clean up and dry quickly, so they are a good choice for shoes. Oil-based paints can be used on almost all surfaces, but they take longer to dry and clean up.
Q: What do I need to paint with acrylic paints?
A: You will need acrylic paints, a brush, some water, and a container that can hold water or thinner. You may also want some paper towels or a rag to wipe your brush off between coats.
Q: How do I apply acrylic paint?
A: Acrylic paint should be applied in smooth strokes from top to bottom, rather than in circular motions like oil-based paints. Also, make sure the surface is even and smooth before applying the first coat of paint.
