Last Update: June 19, '02

Sumone on NT once said that sneakers are life...the rest are just details.

Why do you paint your kicks?

Same as KvN's. I want to wear something that's different from everybody else. I want people to say 'damn, that's a hot colorway. I wish Nike came out with those'. Another reason why I paint my sneakers is to bring back the 'un-retroed' OG colors. Basically, I just take the retro model and try to bring it as close to the OG as possible.

(left)People who recognize this shoe may think these are the OG Pippen Dynamic Flight Huaraches. These are really my White/Red Dynamic Flights (above)(*notice there is no '33' on the ankle area). I painted them into the Pippens since the plastic 'wing' is turning yellow.

Are you a spoiled 'lil brat that gets all his sneakers through mom and pops' money?

Hell no! Mom and pops don't care about my kicks. I work my end off to get my money. No income = no sneakers.

Do you spend all your money on sneakers?

No. I buy hot sneakers only once in a while (like 4 times/year) but I do buy cheap AF1's every so often for the sake of painting. If there is no money coming through then all buying comes to a halt, until the money comes flowing in again. The rest pretty much go into clothes and for 'fun time'.

What do you look for when painting sneakers.

The first thing that I probably look at is the soles. Do I have to paint the soles or not? I generally try to buy kicks with the desired colored soles. I try to avoid painting the soles as possible. You can paint them, but it's a bizatch trying to touch up on them all the time. The next thing that I look for is the pattern on the upper.Is is too complicated for painting or not?

What are you planning for your next project?

I really want to paint some black/cement Jordan III's into the OG white/red colorway. The details of the two (elephant print, sole color, etc.) are almost identical, making the black/cement perfect for this project.Imagine having a DS pair of these on your feet. "Crack, crack!" You'd break necks all over.
OG Jordan III picture can be found on CrookedTongues.com along with other old-school Jordans and rare Nikes.

How do you paint suede?

I have never done this myself. If I remember correctly in Meth's old painting guide, he said to soak the suede in acetone before painting. Again, I have not done this myself so I don't know if this is really effective.

Have you tried painting plastic/vinyl/foamposite?

Yes, I have tried painting on plastic and foamposite however I do not recommend doing it. I tried using the thick mixture as mentioned in my guide but the result doesn't have that pearly finish that makes foamposite so appealing. All you pretty much get is a plain dull color on the surface (unless you use gloss). I've never tried using a fine spray to create a smooth finish, so maybe this can work. I've also thought about using metallic car paint. This paint has a glittery finish that is close to the foamposite's pearly finish but I think the paint will crack.

What is your favorite shoe to paint?

I like painting Nike Air Force 1's just because it is cheap ($60 for the low-tops, I think) and simple. Also it comes in a wide variety of colors and is particularly helpful in avoiding painting the soles. For example, if I want to paint the upper black/red then a shoe with red soles is appropriate.