If you live near a coast, you know that people love the beach come summer. And with the beach and summer vibes are always going to be associated with waves. Even if you’re not a surfer, or Kanye, you’ve gotta appreciate the aesthetic of waves.

Artistically speaking, waves have been a fairly well-used motif for centuries. One of the most recognizable paintings that tries, and does a pretty good job, capturing the power of the ocean is ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’ by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.

So it’s no surprise that the piece has found itself replicated on everything from shirts to custom sneakers. Since it’s summer, what’s more fitting than a wavy motif inspired by the ‘The Great Wave,’ like customizer@199xcustomize did with these adidas NMDs.

(Source: @199xcustomize)

In the painting, a rogue wave (possibly from a tsunami) is overtaking some boats. This might not be the most ideal thing to happen if you happen to find yourself out on the ocean, but there’s something calming about the way the giant wave looks in the piece. It’s probably the serene blue.

The original woodblock print is considered one of the most recognizable pieces of Japanese art. While there are older paintings in this style, Hokusai’s piece is a longstanding classic in both the serious art world and more pop culture endeavors. These Jordans, also done by @199xcustomize, have the motif going on!

With summer slowly coming to an end pay homage to “vast blue ocean” with your own wavy customs!

(Source: @xshortytheartistx)

Never one to slow down, Angelus-sponsored custom sneaker artist and all around talented dude Jake Danklefsis doing a collaboration with Texas-based Whataburger. The cool thing here is that Jake did three different sneakers (for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd), that include a nice homage to his OG Whataburger Dunks.

The #WhataThoseContest is all about customs, and if you’ve been following Jake over the years, you know he’s used the Whataburger motif on his customs before, so it’s a natural pairing. Jake’s Dunk Highs go to first, and they’re are reminiscent of the Whataburger custom he did back in 2012, a Dunk Low that uses the famous orange and white color way that customers know.

Basically, diners can customize their burger, snap a pic, and use the hastag to enter for the chance to win one of three custom sneakers. So, if you live in of the states lucky enough to have Whataburger (and coming from the home of In N’ Out, we’ll admit they’re pretty good burgers), why not enter to win a one-of-one piece of wearable art?

In the meanwhile, follow Jake at @jwdanklefs for inspiration. He’s one of the most sought after customizers out there, so there’s always something cool to see on his page.

Customizing sneakers can become a serious business if done right. While right looks different from one person to the next, there are some standard practices that most customizers follow. Generally, those who want to commodify their hobby and turn it into a full-fledged money making endeavor tend to have a workshop.

The beauty of a workshop is that no two are going to look alike. The name itself, “workshop,” might imply something old fashioned, but really all you need is a table, a chair (or you could stand if you felt inclined) and your supplies. A roof might be optional, depending on where you live.

As far as supplies go, having a rotating collection of Angelus Paint is always a good idea. It’s interesting to see what colors different people have the most of. Between the Standard Paint, Collectors Edition, Pearlescent,Glitterlites, and Metallic Paints, there are plenty options.

Another must is going to Paint Brushes. While you could use a random paint brush from the store, Angelus Paint Brushes were created exclusively for our paint. Since we make the paint, you can trust that we know what the best features a brush would need.

Outside of paints and brushes, the rest is really up to you. Whatever your workshop set up looks like, we want to see it. Tag us at #angelusdirect and show us where you create your own sneakers.

(Source: @Feelgoodthreads)

Now that it’s summer, you’re best option for catching a major league sports game in the U.S. really comes down to baseball. Sure there’s summer league NBA, MLS, and golf, but baseball really is one of the big four. While baseball hasn’t really been considered one of the more sartorial sports (that typically goes to basketball), these days you might find a little bit of flair out on the mound if you look hard enough.

The trend toward custom baseball cleats has really taken off over the past few years, in no small thanks to custom artists like SolesbySir and True Blue Customs. But more and more, players are able to break the monotony of an official uniform with a pair of custom cleats.

It seems like this trend has caught on outside of custom cleats though. Recently, adidas dropped its Icons 3 Legends pack just in time for summer. Coming out with a cleat that’s just a tad more inspired that the usual fare is a step in the right direction when you compare it to the likes of what basketball players are coming out in.

These cleats highlight some of America’s great baseball cities— New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta, with a color motif relative to each cities dynamic culture and aesthetic. It’s interesting though, when you look at these cleats something familiar comes to mind: they look like customs, and customs that have already been done. That’s not a knock on adidas by any means, but more a testament to customizers leading the way. So if you have a pair of custom cleats, tag us at #RDboutique.com!