Hi, friends! I hope that you’re all doing well as we try to navigate this new normal! I wanted to pop on the blog today to explain how I drew on a pair of my Vans. I shared this on my Instagram Stories a couple weeks back, but I wanted to make sure the project had a more permanent spot on the blog!
This isn’t so much a DIY, rather me telling you how I did something, which I know might not be the easiest for everyone to do. But, if you follow my tips, I think you can make a super cool pair of your own doodled Vans!
Let’s get started!

First off, I love Vans. They’re the only sneakers I wear because they’re comfortable and coordinate with just about anything in my closet. But, when I was searching for a new pair, I wanted them to be different from what anyone else was buying. That’s what sparked the idea!
So, I ordered a pair of all white Vans and patiently waited for them to arrive in the mail. While I waited, I decided I was going to roughly plan out what I wanted to doodle on them. I’ll be honest with you—most of the time with my art projects, I don’t plan ahead. I just go for it. But, with these Vans, I didn’t want there to be any chance I could ruin them by working too impulsively.
To get started, I grabbed one of my doodle pads and started to draw an outline of the top of each shoe. I was inspired to doodle things that bring me joy, and I hope that if you decide to do this project, you would do the same!

When the Vans finally arrived in the mail, it was time to get to work! I grabbed my Pigma® Micron 03 pen and gave myself a little pep talk. LOL! FIRST and foremost, you need to grab a lint roller and run it up and down your Vans. This ensures there are no fuzzies or dust particles that could mess you up while doodling.
Now, if you want to transfer your sketch onto your sneakers, you could. I just free-handed it because my sketch was VERY ROUGH to begin with.
I started drawing on the Vans with a pencil to give me an outline, but that was annoying, so I decided to take a chance and go in with the pen instead. Do what you’re most comfortable with! Once I got started with the bigger designs, the smaller ones came a bit easier. Just take your time and don’t rush!

After I posted these on my Instagram Stories, I got a lot of questions asking if I sprayed them with any kind of finishing spray. I bought high-quality pens that are waterproof and fade proof, so I didn’t see a need for spraying them with anything. You could always spray them with something like this, but I don’t think it’s necessary if you’re using the right pen. Plus, you shouldn’t be wearing your Vans in the rain anyways!
Well, there you have it! That’s how my plain white Vans turned into a cool, customized pair!
Stay well, friends, and see you next time!
Alicia
One Comment