Art of Custom Sneakers

by Xavier Crews

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Art of Custom Sneakers is a cool tutorial and technique guide for painting custom shoes/sneakers by Xavier Kickz. Released 12th Sept 2023 by Quarto on their Rockport imprint, it's 160 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. 

The author has a popular youtube channel and writes with a very easygoing and encouraging voice. The tutorials are fun, mostly easy to follow (some are more advanced), and full of bright catchy colors. The book, in its entirety is line drawn with color illustrations, but no photography. There are QR links throughout which lead readers to fully filmed tutorial and related technique videos. 

This would be an excellent choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or gift giving. For readers who also enjoy thrifting and upcycling, this book is a treasure chest *full* of excellent tutorials for upcycling and recycling otherwise unused shoes (and potentially other items like canvas or leather bags and backpacks).

Four and a half stars. Dinged a bit for not having any photos included, but thematically it works and the QR links are only slightly awkward (it was clearly an intentional editorial decision on the part of the author/publisher).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.