Art of Custom Sneakers: How to Create One-of-a-Kind Kicks; Paint, Splatter, Dip, Drip, and Color

by Xavier Kickz

Overview

Create your own one-of-a-kind kicks with painting, drawing, stenciling, and marbleizing techniques from celebrated sneaker customizer Xavier Kickz (aka Xavier Crews).

*Winner of the 2023 Silver Foreword INDIE Book Award*

In Art of Custom Sneakers, Xavier shares his innovative ideas and techniques for prepping, designing, and finishing custom sneakers for everyone.

The book begins with the basics—including tools and materials, workspace setup, prep, finishing, and design planning—then moves on to dozens of incredible customizing projects. Whatever your level of artistic experience, Xavier’s in-depth, step-by-step instructions ensure your success as you start making your own custom kicks. Twenty-eight QR codes to supplemental video instruction offer additional step-by-step guidance.

As you go, gather inspiration from amazing custom sneakers throughout history.

Start with any clean sneaker—whether leather Nike Air Force 1s, or canvas Vans or Converse, or bargain shoes similar to any of these—then add your own personal touches with techniques such as:
 

• Cartoon Style
• Paint Pen Camo
• Sharpie Tie-Dye
• Hydro-Dipped Marbleizing
• Galactic Splatter
• Bedazzled Flash

Stop admiring custom sneakers from afar, and start making your own!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780760381816
Publisher:	Rockport Publishers
Publication date:	09/12/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	23 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

By day, Xavier Kickz (aka Xavier Crews) is a software engineer. By night, he customizes kicks and films fun tutorial YouTube videos for his thousands of followers. Xavier has been customizing shoes for more than 10 years and has recorded more than 120 videos. A graduate of Virginia State University, Xavier often gives back to his community by giving away his customized shoes, basketballs, iPads, and more. His goal in creating his videos for beginners is to teach creative techniques so viewers can build their skills and enjoy making things by hand. He lives, works, and inspires from his home in Raleigh, NC.
By day, Xavier Kickz (aka Xavier Crews) is a software engineer. By night, he customizes kicks and films fun tutorial YouTube videos for his thousands of followers. Xavier has been customizing shoes for more than 10 years and has recorded more than 120 videos. A graduate of Virginia State University, Xavier often gives back to his community by giving away his customized shoes, basketballs, iPads, and more. His goal in creating his videos for beginners is to teach creative techniques so viewers can build their skills and enjoy making things by hand. He lives, works, and inspires from his home in Raleigh, NC.

Table of Contents

Introduction
How Your Kicks Got That Look
Xavier’s Frequently Answered Questions
Tools, Materials, and Workspace
Prep and Finishing Basics
Plan Your Design. Practice Your Brush and Pen Work
                       
1. Customizing With Paint   

            Sprinkle Drip Kicks
             Cartoon Kicks
            Tiger Stripes
            Dragon Kicks
            Painted Plaid
            Freestyle High Tops
            Toothpick Painting
 
2. Paint Pen Color

            Paint Pen Camo
Fine-Line Quickie
Paint Pen Doodling
Paint Pen on Dark Color
Sprinting Toward Custom

3. Crazy Color
            
Shaving Cream Color
Sharpie Tie-Dye
Cool Color Drip
Hydro-Dipped Marbelizing
Galactic Splatter
 
4. Airbrush and Stencil
            
            Airbrushing Basics
            Airbrushing Black Leather
             Mix it Up
            Handmade Stencil
             Hot Stuff
             Color Waves
            Team Spirit
 
5. Paper, Cloth, Glitter and Bling

            Fabrication Transformation
            Bedazzled Flash
            Brushed-on Glitter
            Comic Book Collage
                       
Red Carpet Moments
Acknowledgements
About Xavier
Index