Okay, so I’ve been wanting to customize a pair of Dunks for a while, and I finally decided to do it. I’m no artist, but I figured, how hard could it be? I went with a “light blue and black” theme because those colors just pop.
First, I grabbed a pair of all-white Dunks. Finding them in my size was a bit of a mission, but I eventually scored a pair online. I had seen people doing many custom dunks, so I choose all-white dunks.
The Prep Work
- I cleaned the shoes with some rubbing alcohol. Need to get rid of any factory finish or dirt, you know?
- Then, I taped off the areas I wanted to stay white. This part was crucial, and took to much time. I used painter’s tape, the blue kind, and really pressed it down to get those lines crisp.
Painting Time!
I picked up some acrylic leather paint – light blue and black, obviously. I also got some different sized brushes, from super fine to a bit wider.
I started with the light blue. I applied thin coats, like everyone says to do. Seriously, thin coats are key. It took about three coats to get the color nice and solid. Patience is a virtue, my friends.
Once the blue was totally dry (I waited like a full day, just to be safe), I taped off the areas I wanted to keep blue, then went in with the black. Same deal – thin coats, lots of drying time.
The Finishing Touches
After all the painting was done and completely dry, I carefully peeled off the tape. There were a couple of tiny spots where the paint bled a little, but I fixed those with a tiny brush and some steady hands.
Finally, I sprayed the shoes with a matte acrylic finisher. This is supposed to protect the paint and make it more durable. I did a couple of coats of this, too.
And that’s it! I’m pretty stoked with how they turned out. They’re not perfect, but they’re mine, and I made them. It was a fun little project, and I might even do another pair sometime.
