August 2020 ⋆ Leather Hero

Leather jackets come in many styles; from high fashion to seasonal fashion, motorcycle to op-shop and custom made specials. But if you want one that really stands out from the crowd, why not embellish yours with personalised hand-painted or commissioned artworks?

Here’s one of our commissioned jackets. Step by step, we transformed a smart ladies motorbike jacket into a very beautiful, one of a kind functional artwork. We used just 6 colours (ochre, magenta, blue, scarlet, rust and yellow) plus black and white to create it.

STEP 1:
Consider your canvas. How much space do you have? What composition will works well? Where are the stitching lines and how can you make them work with your design?

STEP 2:
Use Leather Hero Spot & Prep (No.4) to clean the artwork area. A soft scrubbing brush can be used to agitate the prep solution into the grain. Wipe with a lint free cloth

STEP 3:
Etch the surface of the leather using fine sandpaper (800 grit)

STEP 4:
Apply Prime (No.5) with a paintbrush or sponge to the area you intend to paint

STEP 6:
If your jacket is a dark colour, paint a white foundation for your artwork. One to two coats should do it

STEP 7:
Paint in the main shapes and colours

STEP 8:
Use black or another dark colour to begin defining the design

STEP 9:
Add details and refine shapes. Make adjustments, corrections and changes as needed

STEP 10:
Redefine any lines that have been over painted. Balance the colours and refine shapes

STEP 11:
Add detailing. When you are done, use Spot & Prep (No.4) to clean up any little dots of colour that may have splashed onto the leather. Alternatively, use black paint to paint over them!

STEP 12:
When you artwork is finished and dry, give it 2 coats of clear topcoat to seal and protect your masterpiece

And you are done!

The job of a topcoat is to ‘seal’ and protect the colour coatings. Topcoats act as a physical barrier between the leather and damaging factors such as body oil, perspiration, soiling and abrasion. They have additional physical properties that lend rub resistance and thereby help to slow colour wear. They also provide a degree of water resistance.

Professional grade topcoats are beautiful to touch, soft and flexible. They deliver a desirable ‘finished’ look that resembles a tannery finish.

A satin topcoat was used to protect this soft, quilted aniline leather jacket

Topcoat Basics

PURPOSE	COMPOSITION	CHARACTERISTICS	USABILITY
Seal & protect the colour Protect the leather	Resins	Soft to touch Flexible Durable Abrasion resistant Transparent	Water-based Sponge or spray on Non-toxic Fast drying Self leveling Variable gloss levels Low to no odour Can be tinted Can be dulled

As wear and tear take their toll over time, the manufacturer’s original topcoat can wear thin or become compromised. Refreshing the colour coatings and replacing the worn topcoat can go a long way to extending the life of your leather whilst also making it look much, much better.

Leather Hero Topcoat (No.7) in Matte, Satin, Gloss and High Gloss finish

Level of Sheen

Topcoats can increase or decrease the level of gloss you see. It is best to match the sheen of your colourant to the sheen of your topcoat ( or vice versa). Leather Hero pigments (paints) can be ‘flattened’ using Dulling Agent (No.30).

Getting the right colour is important. Equally important is getting the right level of sheen for your topcoat. Here is an overview of Leather Hero’s 4 Topcoats

	MATTE	SATIN	GLOSS	HIGH GLOSS
SHEEN	Extra flat	Soft & subtle	Moderate gloss	Very shiny
APPLY	Best by spray. Can also use sponge or brush	Sponge, brush or spray	Sponge, brush or spray	Sponge, brush or spray
USES	Modern cars, some sofas	Most common for all applications	Not often used on cars or sofas (except some Chesterfields)	Some handbags & shoes. Rarely used on furnishings
OPTICS	Can make colours seem lighter	Balanced	Can highlight textural features & imperfections	Can highlight textural features & imperfections