By Elizabeth Sims
Staff Writer
Drawing, painting and writing are just a few ways students show off their creativity and individuality. While most think a canvas or piece of paper is needed to engage in these activities, a new medium has emerged.
A simple pair of shoes has become a popular canvas for students who want to express themselves. Art teacher Elsa Reynolds views the shoes as works of art that do not have to hang on a wall.
“It is really original,” Reynolds said. “Usually we think of art as something that has to be on a wall, canvas or paper, but it does not have to be something that stays in a room. By decorating their shoes it is like making a statement they can take with them.”
Reynolds values the shoes as a medium for self-expression. She sees an importance in students having a creative outlet.
“It is important for students to express themselves so they are able to show their individuality and points of view. They do not need to feel like they are just one more student in the big mass,” Reynolds said. “It is cool that it can be something wearable that they can go out in every day.”
The shoes are decorated using a variety of tools ranging from Sharpies to paint, each pair as unique as the student wearing them. Junior Christian Reyna chose to use a straight edge, Sharpies and the album art for a band called Skrillex to decorate his pair of gray TOMS.
“I felt like they were missing something,” Reyna said. “I decided to put the logo from one of my favorite artists on them to make them look cooler.”
Reyna uses his Skrillex themed TOMS to make a statement about his personality and his interests.
“My shoes show that I am different,” Reyna said. “I wear a brand of shoes that most guys in Coppell will not wear, and I listen to music that not many people enjoy.”
Sophomore Emily Shultz uses acrylic paint rather than Sharpies to decorate her shoes, but they still show her individuality.
“My shoe designs show that I am creative,” Shultz said. “I can make a simple design into something a little more.”
While Shultz enjoys creating her shoes in her free time, she does not keep her designs to herself. She actually sells custom painted shoes to anyone who asks for a pair and decorates them based on the customer’s individual requests.
“I just like making things for my friends,” Shultz said. “I find original ideas to put on the shoes so I can make sure that no two pairs are the same.”
With more and more specially decorated shoes popping up around school, it seems the trend is catching on among students. Reynolds believes this is a result of the students’ drive to be unique, and the fact that these shoes are cheaper than those purchased at exclusive stores.
“Nowadays, people do not like to wear the same shoes or shirts as other people. They want to be an individual,” Reynolds said. “By being able to decorate shoes, which are accessible and inexpensive to students, they can have something original without investing a lot of money in it.”
Regardless of the reasons, decorated shoes have been gaining popularity. Students have found another way to turn a simple medium of self-expression into an art form. Instead of hanging this art on a wall or taking a picture, all they have to do is slide the shoes on their feet and go.
