News — Artists

Creating custom leather accessories is similar to painting custom shoes and its a great way to create truly one of a kind pieces.

To show you how to use your painting skills on leather bags, Eric from @servicedby_e came through to put together a tutorial on how to create a custom Louis Vuitton leather bag.

How to Paint a Leather Bag

Painting a leather bag is more or less the same as painting leather shoes. To get started, you only need a couple of materials:

• Tape
• Preparer & Deglazer
• Paint & Brushes
• Heat gun
• Finisher

Once you have materials together, just follow a few steps to paint your custom bag.

Step 1: Tape the Edges

Start by taping off the edges to protect the parts of the bag that you don't want to get any paint on.

You can remove the tape after painting the main portion of the bag to add extra details and line work.

Step 2: Apply Preparer & Deglazer

Angelus Preparer and Deglazer is essential for removing the bag's factory finish, which will make it easier for the paint to adhere to the bag.

Use a q-tip to carefully scrub off the paint and finish on the areas that you want to paint. If you're following along with this project, you only need to use it to wipe off the gold finish on the LV branding.

Step 3: Painting the Bag

For this project, Eric painted a gradient from brown to purple along the front of the bag, but you can use whatever colors you want.

Use a detail brush to carefully paint light, even layers. If the paint gets outside of the lines at all, you can use more Deglazer to clean it up.

Step 4: Drying

Once the first layer of paint is down, you can use a heat gun to speed up the drying process.

After the first layer is dry, add more layers as necessary, making sure to wait until each layer is completely dry before moving on to the next.

Step 5: Painting the Strap

After the front of the bag is finished, paint the same pattern on the shoulder strap using the same materials and techniques as before.

Step 5: Satin Finisher

After all of the paint is completely dry, you can finish off the bag with satin acrylic finisher to protect the paint from minor scratches and add a satin finish.

Use a paintbrush to apply a layer of the finisher over the bag, and once the finisher is completely dry, you can use the bag as normal.

Make sure to check out the full tutorial on YouTube for a more detailed walkthrough, and stop by our online store to grab the materials you need to recreate this custom bag.

With Halloween just a few weeks away, now is the perfect time to start putting your costume together, and one of the best additions to any costume is a pair of custom Halloween-themed sneakers.

If you're having trouble coming up with costume ideas, check out some of our favorite Halloween customs below.

@beargallery

If you need help getting started on your Halloween costume, we've got the perfect tutorial for you!

Tommy (@beargallery) stopped by to bring you some killer The Shining-themed custom Converse.

Check out the full tutorial for a detailed walkthrough on how to create these customs based on an iconic scene from one of the most acclaimed horror movies of all time.

(source: @solesbysir)

Daron Payne of the Washington Football Team is getting ready for Halloween with these custom Scream cleats, created by sponsored artist @solesbysir.

Featuring a detailed portrait of one of Hollywood's most recognizable villains over an all-black base, these cleats are the perfect way to bring Halloween festivities to the football field.

(source: @customsby_g)

"I used to think that my life was a tragedy. But now I realize, it’s a comedy." -- The Joker

Custom artist @customsby_g designed these custom Air Force 1s, featuring a clean green and white color scheme underneath to contrasting portraits of Batman's infamous nemesis, the Joker.

(source: @sab_one)

Freddy Krueger has been haunting dreams for decades, and as one of the scariest Halloween villains of all time, is always a good choice for a costume.

Sponsored artist @sab_one created these custom Freddy Krueger 1s. A red and black color scheme makes up the base of the shoe, the toe box features a design mimicking Krueger's disfigured face, and the Swoosh is turned into a bloodied razor blade.

Ready to get started on your Halloween customs?

Make sure to use code 'SPOOKY10' for 10% off your entire order at Angelus. Discount expires Sunday, October 18, 2020⁠ -- Don't miss out!

Air Jordan 1s are probably the single most iconic basketball shoe of all time, and while hundreds of Jordan 1 colorways already exist, creating your own custom color scheme is a great way to make your 1s match your style.

For our newest tutorial, we brought in Ike Okenwa from @thewizardofkickz to show us how to customize a pair of Jordan 'Gatorade' 1s, including how to easily create a custom weathered effect.

Make sure to check out the full tutorial on YouTube and grab the materials you need to create these customs from our online store.

How to Customize Air Jordan 1s

Before getting started, make sure you have the following materials on hand:

• Masking tape
• Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer
• Angelus paint
• Cotton pads/swabs
• A paintbrush set
• Acrylic finisher

Once you have your materials ready, it's time to get started.

Step 1: Tape

First, start by taping off the sections of the shoe where you don't want any paint or other products to get on.

Make sure to tape off the midsole and sock liner as we do not recommend using Angelus paint on these materials.

Step 2: Prep

Next, it's time to start the deglazing process. Simply dip a cotton pad into the deglazer and wipe down the shoe.

Leather Preparer and Deglazer removes the factory finish from the shoe to make it easier for the paint to adhere to the surface. You can also use it to create a weathered/vintage effect

Step 3: Sanding

To add to the vintage effect, you can use sandpaper to rough up the toe box and edges surrounding the toe box.

When sanding, just be careful not to put too much pressure in order to avoid changing the texture of the leather.

Step 4: Painting

Once everything is prepped, you can jump right into painting the shoe. For this project, Ike is using Angelus Cream paint for a simple color block design, but of course, you can use whatever colors you want.

Make sure to paint in light, even layers to avoid clumping and cracking. Each layer should be completely dry before moving onto the next one. Ike painted a total of six layers to achieve a solid, factory finish.

You can also use a detail brush to paint the Jordan wings logo and tongue tag.

Step 5: Finisher

After everything is dry, you can apply some Matte Acrylic Finisher to help protect the paint from minor scrapes and to get rid of the glossy finish.

Apply the finisher the same way you would apply paint, and make sure to let it completely dry before wearing the shoes.

Once the finisher is dry, you can take off the tape, lace up the shoes, and wear them without worrying about damaging the paint job.

Make sure to follow Angelus on Instagram to see more great customs like these and check out some of our other tutorials on YouTube.

Schools around the country are starting to transition from online learning back to in-person classes, making now the perfect time to get your custom back to school gear ready.

To show you how you can use Angelus paints to create a custom backpack, Suheel from @feelgoodthreads stopped by to create an easy-to-follow tutorial for painting a clean desert camo design.

Check out the tutorial below, and don't forget to watch the full video tutorial for a more detailed look into the design process.

Materials

Before getting started, you'll need to have the following materials on hand:

• Angelus Chocolate Paint
• Angelus Bone Paint
• Angelus Flat Black Paint
• Angelus 2-Soft
• Angelus Paint Brush Set
• Mixing Jars
• Water & Stain Repellent

Of course, you can change up the colors to fit your preferences. Once you have all your materials ready to go, it's time to get started.

Using 2-Soft

2-Soft is an absolute must when working with any canvas or soft fabric materials. When applied properly, it will help keep the fabric soft and flexible.

All you have to do is mix your paint and 2-Soft in a 1:1 ratio and shake well before using. After doing this, you can use the mixture the same way you would use regular paint.

Painting the Backpack

Once your 2-Soft mixture is ready, you can put down the first coat of your design.

Important Note: Heat-set the paint/2-Soft mixture using a heat gun at 300º F for 3 - 5 minutes to make sure it sets properly.

When painting your camo pattern, you might notice a faint outline around your paint -- this is the 2-Soft spreading and soaking into the fabric.

To cover this up and create a cleaner pattern, you can use your paint (without 2-Soft) to outline the camo design.

Make sure to let your base coat dry completely before applying any extra paint to prevent clumping and ensure the coat is even.

After finishing the main camo pattern, it's time to finish the design by painting the pebbles surrounding the camo.

For this design, Suheel is using Bone paint for the pebbles and Flat Black paint to outline them. To make sure the pebbles are clearly defined, you can leave out the 2-Soft in this step.

Finishing Touches

Once your paint is set and dry, it's important to apply some finishing touches to keep the paint clean and protected.

While Angelus paints are already water-proof, we recommend adding a layer of Water & Stain Repellent to provide an invisible protective coating that repels water and stains to keep shoes clean and dry. 

Make sure to check out our online store to grab the materials you need to recreate this backpack, and follow Angelus on Instagram to see more customs like this.

Creating your own custom projects is the best way to get your hands on the sneakers and accessories that match your personal style. Whether you're after an AF1 colorway that doesn't exist, or you have a dream designer collab in mind, making it yourself is often the only way to get it done.

With that in mind, check out some of our favorite customs from this month below to get some inspiration for your next big project.

While a lot of artists stick to sneakers, you can customize almost anything as long as it's made up of the right materials.

Sponsored artist @swellguycustoms stopped by earlier this month to create a tutorial showcasing how you can use Angelus paints to customize a faux leather barstool, and you can apply these techniques to pretty much any faux leather product.

Check out the full tutorial to see the tools and techniques you can use to recreate this unique project.

(source: @truebluecustoms)

Miss out on the Jordan 1 x Dior collaboration that dropped earlier this year?

This was one of the biggest collabs in recent history, but it was almost impossible to get your hands on. Fortunately, though, you can always recreate it for yourself.

Sponsored artist @truebluecustoms designed these custom cleats, featuring many of the same details from the original Jordan x Dior collab, including Dior-branded Swooshes, Air Dior branding, and a clean grey and white colorway.

(source: @danielcordas)

With roles like the Black Panther and Jackie Robinson, Chadwick Boseman was a brilliant artist who inspired millions of people around the world.

To pay tribute to the late actor, sponsored artist @danielcordas designed these custom Balenciaga Runners, featuring an incredible illustration of one Chadwick Boseman's most iconic characters -- the Black Panther.

(source: @lucha_loafers)

October is right around the corner, meaning now is a great time to start getting your Halloween customs ready.

Sponsored artist @lucha_loafers painted these custom Vans Slip-Ons, featuring some of the most recognizable villains of all time, from Hannibal Lecter to Freddy Krueger.

(source: @jaygotkustoms)

The Cactus Jack x McDonald's crossover is one of the weirder collabs we've seen yet, but that didn't stop the hype beasts from swarming McDonald's for a regular cheeseburger.

One good thing to come from this collab is this pair of custom Air Force 1s designed by @jaygotkustoms. These customs feature McDonald's x Travis Scott branding and a clean yellow, white, and brown color scheme to match the theme.

To see more great customs like this, make sure to follow Angelus on Instagram, and grab the materials you need for your next project from our online store.