Acrylic Paint, the Savior of the Hand Pained Canvas Shoes

Nowadays, everyone loves making their common canvas shoes customized, but what disturb them most is the fear for the fading and the water. Yep, we fear the fading on the beautiful and vivid patterns, which is really awkward. Therefore, in the hand painted canvas shoes industry, here comes the Savior, the acrylic paint. These types of paint eliminate the need for turpentine and gesso, and can be applied directly onto canvas. Sure, it is unafraid of water.

Do you know why the acrylic paint can be the Svaior to the original designed Converse/Vans shoes? Let’s explore its unknown world. Between 1946 and 1949, it’s Leonard Bocour and Sam Golden who created one paint with the acrylic paint first. Then it led to the trend, in addition, paint companies made many combinations of them to match the market. In 1963, Rowney (now part of Daler-Rowney Ltd since 1983) was the first manufacturer to introduce an artist’s acrylic color in Europe, under the brand name Cryla.

How can the acrylic paint be waterproof? Acrylic paints with gloss or matte finishes are available, although a satin (semi-matte) sheen is most common. When dry, acrylic paint is generally non-removable from a solid surface. Water or mild solvents do not re-solubilize it, although isopropyl alcohol can lift some fresh paint films off. Toluene and acetone can remove paint films, but they do not lift paint stains very well and are not selective. And acrylic paint can be applied to raw canvas if so desired without any negative effect or chemical reaction as would be the case with oils.

In terms of the fading, the acrylic paint is proven to be in use for approximately fifty years. Meanwhile, acrylic paint is very elastic, which prevents cracking from occurring. Besides, it can also be applied onto different kinds bodies, such as, pastel (oil & chalk), charcoal, pen, etc. on top of the dried acrylic painted surface. Mixing other bodies into the acrylic is possible - sand, rice, even pasta may be incorporated in the artwork. 

With so many merits that really matters to the hand painted shoes, how couldn’t the acrylic paint be the Saviour?