Tennis shoes don’t have to be drab and boring – with a bit of inborn creativeness, you can make them truly unique. Drawing your own shoes from scratch can give you an incomparable feeling of pride and accomplishment. The art of shoe design can be learned by anyone who is determined and has a bit of an artistic touch. It all starts with a few basic principles and soon enough, you will be designing like a pro. Here are some tips on how to draw tennis shoes from scratch:
1. Drafting your sketch: This is the first and most important step when it comes to drawing anything. Take a wide sheet of paper and divide it into two halves. On the left side, draw a rough sketch of the shape of the shoe and the design you are looking to achieve. The right side should be the revised version of the sketch with the lines being straighter, the details being more precise and neat. Remember to take your time while sketching. Don’t be in a hurry and make sure your sketch looks neat and perfect before moving on to the next step.
2. Copying and tracing: This step requires a bit more patience, as you need to draw the exact same design multiple times. Using a thick tracing paper, transfer the sketch from the original paper onto the tracing paper. Make sure not to miss any details and check if decent pressure was applied while tracing the design. Here, marks from the pencil should not be able to pass through the tracing paper. Once you’re done, stick it on a light cardboard and outline the design with a black marker or pen. You can now transfer the design multiple times on the cardboard to create a template.
3. Cutting and pasting: The next step is creating the template for the shoe. Take the cardboard and using a sharp blade, carefully cut the design out of the cardboard. This is where all your hard work, time, and patience is paying off. Once you are done creating the template, take a piece of light brown paper and start pasting it with white glue onto the template. Once you’re done with the pasting, leave it to dry for a few hours.
4. Finishing touches: Once the structure of the shoe is ready and it is completely dry and sturdy, it is time to add the finishing touches. Take a few bright coloured markers and add a personal touch of detailing. Here, you can be as creative as you want to be. You can add stripes, polka dots or even create a contrast between two different colours. Once this is done, add a few fashion related touches like laces, buckles, and patches. You can even make the words ‘Tennis’ or a personalised message on the top. Now your shoe is ready!
5. Painting the shoe: To give your creation a very unique look, you can use fabric paints and colour it as you like. You can make use of stencils or even use a brush and your creativity to design something truly unique. Let your wildest ideas come to life and don’t be afraid to experiment. After you’ve given your shoe the perfect colour combination, let it dry for a few hours.
6. Ribbon and laces: For the laces, you can use coloured threads in many different thicknesses to give your shoe your own personal touch. After you’ve finished lacing the shoe, make sure to use ribbons to give it a neat and finished look. Pick different patterns and colours to give your shoe a colourful and fashionable look.
7. Finishing the shoe off: Once you’ve completed everything, it’s time to take a few steps back and admire your masterpiece. Try on your shoes and show it off to your friends and family. That’s the most rewarding experience you can get from designing your own shoes.
So, if you’re up to it, try designing your own shoes. You don’t need expensive equipment or materials – all you need is the right attitude and some creative ideas to put into practice. With these basics of how to draw tennis shoes, dream up an amazing design and take the plunge.
Add extra details: To make your tennis shoes truly unique and eye-catching, you can add little details like sequins or glitter. These will make your shoes look even more glamorous. You can also add emblems and logos to show off your creative skills to your friends.
Creating the soles: To create the soles for the tennis shoes, you can either use foam sheets or you could draw it from scratch. Make sure to use light-weight material so you get the flexibility you need for outdoor activities.
Leather lining: Using leather for the lining will make the tennis shoes even more comfortable to wear. Change the colour of the lining to create a contrasting effect with the upper part of the shoe.
Accenting your shoe: After you’ve completed the design, use jewel adornments and glitter to give your shoes a special touch. Let your creativity and imagination take over and incorporate lots of exciting ideas.
