I wasn’t sure if I should put this in art or handbags, since I only painted a premade bag. But here it is.
For some reason in my thrifting adventures I come across a lot of vintage Coach glove-tanned leather bags. They are universally stylish and the leather is to die for, and I have gotten really into rehabbing them. But sometimes a bag just can’t be brought back from the brink. That was the case for this 1980s Coach Companion bag, which I paid $4 for:
The leather itself reconditioned beautifully, but the bone colored finish just could not be restored. I anticipated that when I bought it, but for the price I knew it would be good practice. In amy case, I decided to try my hand at leather painting, got myself a customized 12-color mix of Angelus paints, and this happened:
Yes, it protects the finish and helps preserve flexibility. The process also involves a preperation that removes the original leather finisher and cleans the surface.
Looks great! I am working on a purse project with my neighbor. I gave him faux leather to be his canvas. When he is finished I will turn them into purses.
Absolutely love you are saving useful items and giving them a second round. This really turned into a statement piece, and the colors are very on-trend! Great job!
