Alt Titles:
Get On The Sole Train!
Hey Sister, Sole Sister
Curse My White, White Sole
Get On The Sole Train!
Hey Sister, Sole Sister
Curse My White, White Sole
Before
I really don't like white soles on my sneakers. (Technically I am talking about the midsole here.) Since I've been wearing this pair of Asics for a few months I felt comfortable experimenting with painting over the white using latex and acrylic paint.
Step 1: Wash soles with some dish soap and a magic eraser
Step 2: Paint
Step 1: Wash soles with some dish soap and a magic eraser
Step 2: Paint
I chose to paint and blend directly on my shoes. The orange and green were mixed in place, and I worked quickly to fade each color into the next while the paint was still wet. Blue and purple took two coats before it was fully opaque. The midsole on this pair has an interesting design molded into it so I did my best to work with its design and enhance it with my colors. After totally free-handing one shoe I used it as the reference so my other sneaker would match. Easy!
In order to see how my paint-job would wear I decided against using any clear coat. I also couldn't decide which to use: clear acrylic paint, matte Mod Podge or original Mod Podge. I might test out all three on my shoes and see which works best.
One Week Later
Hey, my work is holding up surprisingly well! Important to know that it isn't holding up perfectly-- small areas closest to the ground have scraped away as well as in the creases where I have crushed the foam down. Still loving how they look.
I think if I had painted my sneakers when new the flaking would be more catastrophic. Remember, I've worn these most of the summer, you can see where the foam has creased in the heel area from my stomping around. Paint on new shoes before compressing the foam would probably have flaked away sooner and more visibly. Just a theory. Also I didn't use a primer, so I'm wondering if I had coated it with Gripper first my paint would stick better. Something to try next time!
I think if I had painted my sneakers when new the flaking would be more catastrophic. Remember, I've worn these most of the summer, you can see where the foam has creased in the heel area from my stomping around. Paint on new shoes before compressing the foam would probably have flaked away sooner and more visibly. Just a theory. Also I didn't use a primer, so I'm wondering if I had coated it with Gripper first my paint would stick better. Something to try next time!