Step Into Art: How Sneaker Artist, Dom Paints Life-Like Faces on Custo

Introduction

Discover how Dom, the visionary artist behind "Shawty Who Do The Shoes" transforms everyday sneakers into wearable works of art. Specializing in hyper-realistic portrait painting on shoes, Dom merges fine art and streetwear in a way that’s captivating and refreshing.

Creator Spotlight

Dom

I’m Dom and I’m a full-time designer working in Tech, based out of Atlanta. I started drawing and painting when I was teenager and designed my first custom at 14 (I’ll be 37 this month). I got my start out of shear curiosity. I always felt the natural urge to create so I started doing just that. I went to college for illustration and animation and not long after leaving grad school the pandemic started. I hadn’t done a custom in years and decided to start painting again. I love doing customs because most of my daily work is digital and they allow me to do hand-crafted art again. Since I started painting at such a young age, doing customs feels very nostalgic for me. I feel like my most authentic self when I’m painting on leather.

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Creator Spotlight

How to Paint Portraits on Leather Sneakers in 4 Steps

Step 1: Prep the Leather for Paint

Before any art goes down, your shoes need a blank, smooth canvas.

Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer to remove the factory finish, dirt, and oils. This helps the paint stick and stay vibrant.
Work in a well-ventilated area and use Angelus Applicator Pads to apply the deglazer.

Before any art goes down, your shoes need a blank, smooth canvas.

Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer to remove the factory finish, dirt, and oils. This helps the paint stick and stay vibrant.
Work in a well-ventilated area and use Angelus Applicator Pads to apply the deglazer.

Step 2: Sketch Your Portrait Design

Once your surface is ready, start sketching your design directly onto the sneaker.

A pencil or fine-tip pen to lightly outline key facial features.
Pro tip: Focus on the figure outline and especially the eyes first. Nailing the expression helps anchor the whole portrait.

Step 3: Layer With Angelus Paints for Skin Tones & Shadows

Painting a face requires nuance—and layering colors is key.

Use: Angelus Acrylic Leather Paints in shades like:

Capezio Tan, Light Brown, Georgia Peach, Brown, and Beige, for base skin tones.
Dark Brown or Rich Brown for shadows and contours.
Flat White and Black for highlights and definition.

Pro Tip: Mix custom tones on a palette. Dom often blends multiple shades for depth and realism. Dom used our Empty Paint Cups to mix multiple shades.

Step 4: Seal It In & Protect Your Art

Once dry, you’ll want your masterpiece to last...especially on wearable art.

Use: Angelus Acrylic Finisher or any of the Angelus 4-Coat either Matte, Satin, or High Gloss, depending on your desired finish.

Pro Tip: Apply two light coats with a soft brush or airbrush. Don’t rush—let it cure for at least 24 hours before wear.

Creator Questions

I'm based in Atlanta, GA.

When I was a teenager (early 2000’s) I didn’t realize you needed to use a specific type of paint to keep the art from creasing and cracking on the sneaker. Back then I used regular hobby/craft acrylics. So when I started painting again during the pandemic I did a Google search for “the highest quality leather paints” and that’s how I found out about Angelus.

I love using Angelus products to customize sneakers.

My top 5 Angelus products are:

Pale Yellow Paint (Brings skin tones to LIFE)
Leather Preparer and Deglazer (Leaves nothings behind)
Acrylic Finisher 600-Normal (Not too shiny, not too dry; just right)
Angelus #0 Filbert Micro Detail Brush (There’s nothing this brush can’t do)
Complete Standard Color Kit-84 (less mixing; more painting)

Embrace every project as a learning experience! I have yet to work on a project where I didn’t mess up at some point. We don’t typically see that part of the process on social media, but I promise everyone around you is making mistakes behind the scenes. Keep saying yes to things, learn as you go, and reach out to your creative community for help or advice when you need it! Many artists share their process and learning experiences for free, so that is a great place to look for inspiration and guidance.

🛒 Dom's Top 5 Angelus Products

Angelus Pale Yellow Paint

$3.95

Leather Preparer and Deglazer

$5.95

$3.67

Acrylic Finisher 600 - Normal

$8.95

Angelus Micro Detail Paint Brush - #0 Filbert

$6.95

$6.95

Complete Standard Color Kit - 84 colors

$298.95

$331.80

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.

Creator Spotlights

Paint

4-Coat

Low VOC Leather Dye

Suede Dye

Clean & Condition

Instant Shine

Shoe Cream

Prep

Customize

Jordan 1 Replacement Laces

Paint Brushes

Where is My Order

Real Reviews

Step Into Art: How Sneaker Artist, Dom Paints Life-Like Faces on Custom Shoes

Creator Questions