Thin Acrylic Paint Application on Leather

This is a tutorial for painting the floral tooling on any leathercraft project. The leather that this technique is designed for is vegetable tanned leather and should not be tried on any other types of leather.
I have another video on our channel showing how to paint on leather, but this is a new method. I have been working with thinning my acrylic paints down a bunch with water and seem to get a much better result. It may not be for everyone but give it a shot.
If you are interested in getting some Angelus brand paint to try this technique yourself, give our friends at Makers Leather Supply a call. They keep this brand of paint in stock. Here is their link:
makersleathers...
The leather that we use in our shop almost exclusively is Herman Oak Leather. Here is a link to their website:
www.hermannoakl...

[@scottstephenson9597]

Enjoyed, the guitar music in the background. I'm 67 and going to try tooling a journal cover for my wife, This has helped.

[@Chungustav]

That antiquing really pulled out the details I like the color to it reminds me of 1970s

[@Spectt84]

I watch every video... And after watching each video, I really re-evaluate my entire leather crafting hobby.

[@OMGWUNSIU]

You have the absolute best background music...love da blues! Good video too... a topless assistant serving you dark beer while you are working and you would have the number one you tube channel on the planet! 😹😹😹

[@liamryan3419]

Your eye for detail with tooling and painting is inspiring very good

[@mooutlaws32]

Mr. Gonzales with the EARLY upload. Always appreciate seeing your work

[@screamingeorge1]

You have the coolest job ever! Thank u❤️

[@CantrellLeatherGoods]

Thank you for showing us this method. I recently finished tooling and dyeing and painting a purse using this method. I’ve been doing it this way for a few years and, like you, really prefer it, basically for all the reasons you mentioned. Thank you again.

[@dpratte]

Another fine 20 minutes. Thanks a million, Don!

[@donpayne562]

I like that look way more than straight paint. It looks weathered in and more natural.thanks

[@izabelderonde3455]

Watching your videos en listen to your voice makes me feel ZENNNN ;-) :-P Thank you! And thank you for sharing your knowledge :-)

[@kastningcowgirl]

Thank you so much for sharing! As a beginner leather craftsman, this helped me so very much!!! Thank you!!

[@whisper575]

Try putting a BB in the bottle. That way it will help to mix it up when you shake the bottle. This helps a lot when the paint thickens and you have to add a little water to thin it.

[@jimandjeanboyer4526]

Dern fine lesson, Don. I got a project out there now I can try this on.

[@NITEGOD]

Loved this , I learned so much watching this , thank you. I’d like to see how you go over with the antique, you don’t have to protect the paint ??

[@christopherangel9869]

Beautiful background music ! This helped me a current Pattern project ,thinning does bring that detail .Thanks Don .

[@silvercrafted]

Really enjoy your videos. I've been using the same method of painting with acrylic for many years. I learned from Al Stohlmans 2 excellent books on coloring leather. Ton of information right there... wasn't no internet videos when I started working with leather. Just books. Keep up the good work. You're easy to listen to.

[@jameskleist9176]

I watched a few of your videos and enjoyed them all. I tried painting some leather last night and I do have to agree with you what you said about the paint and water. I just bought some of Angelus leather paint 1st went full strath and it buried the tooling. Then I added water about the same as you did in this video, and said to myself if I can use that much water to the paint this two ounces will paint a whole saddle! So I tried spritzing some water on the leather first then painted it and wow! it came out great all the tooling showed and the color was bright. give it a try and tell me about it, what you think.

[@wulfschlueter2112]

Love that subtle look I have seen awesome peices tooled and full strength paint take away all the detail of the peice

[@lukesteverything627]

I'm an artist and I'd say that the dilution you're using might well break down the acrylic film. You can buy clear acrylic flow medium that dilutes without compromising the acrylic film which will make the colour exactly the same but last longer. Also, you might want to try using alcohol as a diluting that will help the colour penetrate. Just saying.

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

Thanks for the info

[@lukesteverything627]

@@DonGonzalesMaker You Could try Acrylic dilutant for artists which is very similar but doesn't have quite the flow and self levelling properties. The alcohol I've use is Isobutyl but it needs mixing very well and it obviously can dry out the leather. If you go with the Artists options be sure to get a good brand. It lasts for ages and you don't need much. I won't recommend a brand because I don't know what you can get in the states but try one and see. Hope it helps.

[@fordfan3179]

Very cool. I like the way the tooling comes through. Thanks for the tip.

[@daverush2426]

Thank you for sharing that, I do things that are not the norm, but I don't think I would have thought of that, I really like the look and I think that would definitely last longer than the one coat of paint, and like you said it saves paint and most of all the tooling is the Beautiful part of the work.. Thank you..

[@richardabbott5601]

Great video, really helpful

[@MrKJDeSilva]

Beautiful Job! ... Thank you for sharing 🌺

[@davidgray4567]

Gorgeous work!

[@agustinsifuentes6211]

Good work thanks Don Gonzalez

[@tammymellertphoto]

Can this same technique be used on rawhide pieces like rattles and such? Love this

[@dmaciel2830]

You are amazing!

[@mattbrown5511]

Beautiful as always. Now I just the belt I made 6 years ago to ear out so I can buy one of yours. My VA disability pension doesn't allow for too many extras.

[@martinstults9419]

Looks great. I like the subtle colors. I tried dilution with Angelus thinner and white. It didn't look like it was covering at all. I'll try it again.

[@stevencampbell13]

What did you do after you painted the belt? Did you tan kote ,oil , and antique it ?

[@mikemcknight2936]

I am working on a cell phone holster that my customer wants red white and blue on. I've done paint before but I'm just wondering what you think is the way to finish this so that the paint last as long as possible on the holster? Thanks again for the video. As usual your content is great!

[@stanmcconnell9474]

Thanks for a great video. I am thinking the paint, even thinned, will not fade like many dyes.

[@HikeColorado]

Excellent video Don, I really enjoyed it and had a quick question. Did you coat the belt with anything before applying the antique finish? The belt colors turned out awesome!

[@hollygaudet9107]

Thank you for sharing this technique, I will be applying it to my current project. Can you please tell us what dyes you used on the belt after the painting?

[@mariawinter2535]

My first try with same paint brand on leather. It's for a belt loops I ordered in white but arrived in natural/ tan. Some people use leather primer. I see you are watering paint down, & layering, but no primer. I even thought about spray painting the two loops in white. What's your take? Thanks, JUST BELT LOOPS

[@caitlinkurck6519]

After the painting, you did oil the whole belt, tan Kote, antiqued stained, and then tan kote again to seal right?

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

Correct

[@kimeoff3112]

Looks very nice. I did something similar on a belt I made for my sister-in-law a few years back.

[@maryboone3055]

Hi- great job! I recently bought a purse that has been finished with a gloss or protectant of some kind. Can I paint on top of that?

[@NITEGOD]

What kind of oil did you use to finish before the antique?

[@c7customleather]

I have also watch a video of a guy using colored sharpie s to dye and it turn out nice.

[@billbatch3699]

Hi I'm new to leather tooling and im doing a dog collar and I was wondering what you would recommend to seal it after coloring? Your work is amazing

[@CantrellLeatherGoods]

Bill Batch if you don’t mind, I will give you my opinion. I’ve been doing leatherwork for 12 years and I heard from an old timer that he used liquid floor wax! I thought he was pulling my leg but I bought some, I can’t remember the name ( I’m still using the original bottle but have put it in smaller containers) but it had a green label.... anyway I put a light coat on, wait a few minutes for it to dry and apply a second, then I antique, wait for that to dry really good ( 2-6 hours) and then apply a final coat of the wax. It is very cost effective and I have a coin purse that I made 10 years ago that still looks nice and shiny. Now, Mr. Don Gonzales swears by Tan Coat or Bag Coat, one of the two and he swears by it. Many people use Resolene..... basically you have to experiment and find what you like. Gosh I hope this helps... probably not... 🥴😬

[@billbatch3699]

@@CantrellLeatherGoods this is wicked helpful. Thank you

[@CantrellLeatherGoods]

Bill Batch ahh, good. I’m afraid I ramble on a bit, but I’m glad you found it helpful. Take care my friend!

[@MrFeathers7]

Don, did you oil the belt before you applied the paint ? I enjoy your videos, thanks.

[@doncarlsdare2454]

I've repainted my leather bag with a difference colour of brown leather paint. How can i remove it?

[@joegibson4946]

Don, good tutorial but I have a related question. I want to make a black belt and paint the tooling. Do I paint the tooling first and then dye the belt or dye the belt and then apply the acrylic paint?

[@foyforehand5057]

With the degree that you are thinning these, what are the advantages over just going ahead and using dye? Thanks!

[@TheTruckman17]

Another one of your amazing and informative videos THANK YOU. What would you seal with prior to applying antique?

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

I use tan kote

[@marcioalves-alves8461]

muito bom

[@doodlexp]

Looks fantastic Don. With dyes water based will rub off more than oil based, so the question is would the acrylic thin with oil?

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

They are water based so I wouldn’t recommend thinning with oil

[@robmorse3917]

Hello Don great video!! After you painted did you do standard antique method? TK first then paste then TK last?

[@boycottarmy8826]

I watched a video of a guy that makes acrylic paints and he says in you add more than 40% it disables the acrylic ability to bond with the material? Admittedly he was referring to painting on canvasses.

[@jamesherron9558]

Dus it work as well if the bel is sprayed with dye first

[@jmonty]

Mr. Gonzales you keep referring to watering down the paint to be more like dye. Why not just use dye?

[@Markus__B]

Looking great. I´d love to give that a try. You start painting right after tooling, right? No oiling, no resist, no nothing? And because Angelus Paints are quite hard to get and pretty expensive around here so do you think waterbased acrylic Model paints (Revell or Vallejo) would work just as good?

[@DonGonzalesMaker]

Yes I do all painting first... then oil etc. I think model paints are enamels so I’m not sure how they would work. Give it a whirl.

[@tinoyb9294]

I have seen Angelus paints at the Tandy Leather Factory stores in the Denver area.

[@foyforehand5057]

I use generic acrylic craft paints from Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Thin them with water and they work great.

[@bryanfranks6327]

Don, do you oil before you paint or after?