Sole Scholars
The Project
CrossIron Mills shopping centre, PARK, and YYC Soldiers teamed up to launch "Sole Scholars," a back-to-school campaign celebrating sneaker enthusiasts. I was asked to paint a pair of Air Force 1s to demonstrate my skill and also capture a sense of back-to-school nostalgia. The custom-painted sneakers were on display throughout the event and attendees had the opportunity to enter a contest for a chance to win a pair of custom sneakers painted by me.
The installation focused on local artists and featured an amazing display, a massive sneaker sculpture, and presentations on sneaker culture, along with live painting sessions.
The Design
I chose to embrace my inner child with a colorful and playful design, incorporating "back to school" elements like scissors, headphones, and whimsical doodles, along with vibrant, solid colors. This design reflects my habit of doodling when I was in school, allowing me to connect with my audience on a personal level through the sneakers.
The lucky winner chose a Jujutsu Kaisen themed pair of sneakers and this was right up my alley. I love painting anime pairs, and Jujutsu Kaisen is my favourite anime at the moment. The top sneaker had a sketchy manga-look while the bottom was from of clip of the TV show. Written in Kanji on the heel is the main characters antagonist Ryomen Sukuna.