I spent several weeks leading up to the in-store events playing around with the stain on scrap leather in my studio to get accustomed to the unique nature of the medium. It was similar to watercolor, which I’m familiar and comfortable with, but painting on 3D objects is quite different than paper so I had to account for that in my prep. I also prepared to be front facing in the retail space, interacting with customers, taking orders, and painting quickly so people could walk away with a fully customized boot. The choice of simple illustrations was based on the quick turnaround times expected of me and the event.