Get your shine on...

-
Get your shine on...

 

METALLIC PAINTS FROM IDENTITY LEATHERCRAFT.. 

In this article we take look at the different ways to achieve metallic finishes on your leather projects.

Whether you want to bling up a pair of boots or shoes, add a shimmer to your work, or create painted effects; knowing what the products can do for you will help you decide which will give you the best outcome.

Testing out the different metallic effects on leather

Identity Water based stains – these are in a liquid form and can be used in much the same way as the ordinary stains, perhaps with the exception of the Shimmering Pearl.

There are two ways these can be used:

1) to give an overall colour generally requiring 2 coats (dependent on the leather colour underneath – see our video on stains and dyes).

2) As a ‘wash’ over the top of coloured leathers. This can be very effective and the way I achieve this is to thin the stain down with around 50 percent water and mix well, then simply lightly sponge over areas.

With the Shimmering Pearl because it is pale and with a white medium, the translucent effect is magnified, so more of the underlying colour shows through. 

Make any colour metallic - use this under other water-based leather stains or over the top as a wash to give a pearl look

Shimmering Pearl - use over a white leather to get a true pearl.

Make any Stain Colour a Metallic

 When used under any of the other colour stains you can turn them into a brighter metallic finish – so if you wanted to get a metallic pink or turquoise use the Shimmering Pearl first then apply the chosen colour stain over the top.

The final effect you get with these products is a more subtle shimmering metallic rather than a glossy gilt.

 

Card case using the Shimmering Pearl Identity Leather Stain

LEATHER PAINTS.

We have two options from the Cadence paint range – the Hybrid Pearlised and the Dora Metallic.

1) The Pearlised metallic paints again give a more subtle effect – a shimmer and shine, and can work well to add highlights to artwork, for example if you were painting a wolf howling at the moon, adding some silver and the pearl can create some a play of light that will really add to the atmosphere of the piece.

2) The Dora paints have small metallic mica particles in that give texture and bright gilt effects when painted. To get the best results from this use the paint fairly thickly or layer up. To create a gilt texture area, you can dab on rather than paint or spread.

Metallic effects on leather to give bright shine or subtle shimmer

Summary:

      • Light wash shimmer - use Identity Store Water Based Leather Stain Metallics
      • Pearlised effect - for a softer satin look use the Cadence Hybrid Metallic Pearlised.
      • Bright Metallic - use the Dora paints, in two layers for a bright glittery metallic effect
      • Highlighting texture or tooling - use the Cadence Finger Waxes

Using Cadence finger highlighting wax on carved/tooled leather work

Watch our video to see the paints in action...

Shimmering Pearl - making any Identity Leather Stain colour metallic:

 

SHOP METALLIC PAINTS - click here


Leave a comment

Featured Articles

Celebrating World Leather Day 2025
Working With Leather Blog

Celebrating World Leather Day 2025

Celebrate World Leather Day with us and get a £10 voucher! Launched for the first time in 2022,...
Apr 11, 2025
Crossing the Atlantic in a Leather Boat
Working With Leather Blog

Crossing the Atlantic in a Leather Boat

Tim Severin was an explorer not just through his treks and voyages but also through time. In his...
Feb 14, 2025
Taking painting on leather to the next level...
Working With Leather Blog

Taking painting on leather to the next level...

Introducing Clair Letton - leather artist and maker Some of you will have seen Clair's work for her...
Nov 14, 2024
The benefits of leather for interior design
Working With Leather Blog

The benefits of leather for interior design

Leather tiles and wallpaper have a long history of use for upmarket interior design. The properties that make...
Sep 20, 2024
A Storytellers bag - inspired by Phil Okwedy
Working With Leather Blog

A Storytellers bag - inspired by Phil Okwedy

A bag that tells it's own story - Sarah recently went to see the wonderful storyteller, Phil Okwedy...
Apr 09, 2024
Why Leathercraft works for ASMR
Working With Leather Blog

Why Leathercraft works for ASMR

What exactly is ASMR and why the fuss? As part of our look at leathercraft and wellbeing this...
Feb 15, 2024