Introduction
In this Creator Spotlight, watch as Joel takes a sleek silver suitcase and transforms it into a dark streetwear inspired clown portrait using Angelus Acrylic Leather Paints and an airbrush. Using the Angelus "Prep, Paint, Finish" he ensures this piece can handle baggage claim, airport travel, and a long road trip without chipping.
Joel @809_customs
My name is Joel Martinez, a Dominican artist and the founder of 809 Custom. My journey into the art world began with a passion for transforming everyday objects into one-of-a-kind pieces and expressing my creativity through painting and customization. Over time, that passion has pushed me to explore different surfaces, take on new challenges, and continue developing my own artistic style. I especially enjoy creating pieces that reflect each client’s personality and vision while turning their ideas into something truly unique. To me, art is a constant journey of learning, experimenting, and evolving.
InstagramCreator Questions
How did you hear about Angelus?
I first discovered Angelus Paint through YouTube videos while watching content about art and customization. I was immediately drawn to the products and the possibilities they offered for working on different surfaces, so I decided to order some and start experimenting with them myself. Since then, Angelus products have become an important part of many of my custom projects.
What do you use our products for?
I use Angelus products for a wide variety of custom projects, including canvases, sneakers, phone cases, PlayStation 5 cases, suitcases, football cleats, baseball cleats, and basketball jerseys. I love experimenting with different surfaces and materials, adapting my techniques to each project to create something truly unique.
What are your top 5 Angelus products?
1. Angelus Acrylic Leather Paint – Standard, Neon & Collector Edition Colors
2. Angelus 2-Soft Fabric Medium
3. Angelus 2-Thin
4. Angelus Acrylic Finisher 600
5. Angelus Matte Acrylic Finisher
If you could give one piece of advice to aspiring artists, what would it be?
My advice to any aspiring artist is to never wait until you feel completely ready to start creating. Practice, experiment, make mistakes, and learn from every piece, because sometimes those mistakes end up teaching you the most valuable lessons. Don’t constantly compare yourself to other artists; let their work inspire you, but focus on developing your own identity and style. Perfection shouldn’t be the goal; the real goal is to make each new piece better than the last. Stay disciplined, be patient, and keep creating with passion. Eventually, your work will speak for itself.
How to Airbrush and Paint a Suitcase:
A Step-By-Step Guide
1Clean and Prep the Surface
Joel starts by lightly sanding the smooth metallic outer shell of the hard side of the luggage with a fine grit sandpaper for the paint to grip. After sanding, he thoroughly wipes down the entire working surface with Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer to strip away factory coatings, oils, and leftover dust.
2Airbrush the Background
For the paint spraying through his airbrush, he thins that mixture using Angelus 2-Thin so it flows smoothly through the nozzle without clogging. Joel airbrushes the luggage to lay down smooth background gradients, and soft drop shadows around his main composition. This step establishes depth and creates a seamless foundation across the suitcase.
3Paint the Detail Work
Once the airbrushed background is set, Joel switches to fine detail paintbrushes to hand paint the main subject. Layering thin coats of paint to build up sharp line work, crisp details, and high contrast highlights. Applying multiple thin layers rather than one thick coat prevents brush marks and guarantees a durable bond to the suitcase.
4Apply the Protective Finish
After the artwork is completely dry, Joel seals the entire suitcase by applying 2 to 3 thin coats of Angelus 4-Coat Finisher. He applies each coat within 10 to 15 minutes while the previous layer is still tacky, creating a water resistant barrier that will protect his custom artwork from the rough handling of airport baggage claim.
Unlock More Inspiration
Dive deeper into our Creator Spotlight series and discover new tutorials from top artists in the community. Whether you're looking to master advanced techniques or spark fresh ideas, these step-by-step guides will take your custom game to the next level.
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