DIY Abstract Paint Splatter Shoes

I’m back with a brand new #shoesizediy project, and this one may just be my favorite one yet in the series. Although the ice cream sprinkle shoes and popsicle shoes were a hit in our household (and beyond!), these DIY paint splatter shoes are wearable all year long, and—perhaps more importantly—are a nostalgic ode to my artistic side. There’s just something about random, chaotic color that makes my heart go pitter patter. In case you feel the same way, I documented the super easy steps below so that you can make your own.

• Canvas shoes (mine came from Walmart for just $5 and change!)
• DecoArt Americana Multi-Surface Satin Paint (in Soft Jade, Flamingo, Chick, and Lavender Fields)
• Plastic paint tray (not pictured)
• Painter’s tape
• Glass of tap water
• Thick bristle paint brush (mine is actually a stencil paint brush)
• Scrap poster board or cardboard

Start by unlacing your shoes and setting the laces aside so that they don’t get paint on them. Two other elements of the shoes that you’ll want to remain paint-free are the rubber soles and the insides of the shoes. To prevent them from getting messy, tear off multiple strips of painter’s tape, and stick them all the way around the edge of the soles and to the insides of the shoes—both the interior and the “tongue.”

Next, place the masked off shoes on a piece of scrap poster board or cardboard, and grab your bristle brush and glass of water. You won’t need to fill the entire water glass up, by the way—you’ll only need about an inch of water since you’ll be changing the water out between each color. Then, dip your paint brush into the first paint color, and quickly dunk it into the water glass. Hold the paint brush above the water in the glass to allow the excess water to drip off, and then bring it over to the masked off shoes.

Hold the drippy paint brush about 2-3 inches away from the shoes, and then bend the bristles away from the shoes and slowly ease your finger across the bristles so that they fling paint at the shoes. Repeat until you get the desired amount of paint splatters on the shoes, with different colors and new water in the water glass each time, and then clean your paint brush under tap water. You can learn a little bit more about my paint splatter technique by clicking through to the companion post to this feature over on the DecoArt blog.

Although I did this process rapid fire, you may want to let your paint dry between colors because mine ended up blending together a bit. I don’t mind the finished look, but you may want to allow the paint to dry for about 20 minutes between coats if you want the colors to be more distinct from one another.

To finish, carefully remove and discard the painter’s tape, and allow the painted shoes to dry for 2-3 hours. Re-lace the shoes, and then you’re done! I think the key to making these shoes look intentional is to make sure you carefully mask off the soles, interior of the shoes, and the tongue beneath the laces. Clean white laces also help to make them feel more finished and not just like you had a little too much fun with an art project nearby. Would you try this one at home? I’ll tell you one thing. It sure is cathartic to fling paint around! I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a creative release.