Someone You Should Know: Shoe artist creates business

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – “It just lets you know, and should let other people know, it’s never too late. Find something that you’re passionate about,” said Mike Middlen.

Middlen found that passion about two years ago. He was led to shoe art and making designs after he couldn’t get the shoe he wanted at a store.

“So, I figured if I couldn’t buy the shoes, I would just start to make them,” said Middlen.

The Sioux Falls native is a lifelong artist, as anyone can see from the paintings in his apartment. That’s where his business, Kicks n Canvas, operates now. People bring Middlen a pair of shoes, and he turns them into something amazing.

“Some of the first pairs I did were for myself. And then, I did a pair for a co-worker. I just wanted to make sure how everything held up. I wanted to present a custom that’s 100% wearable. I want people to be able to wear them. The work done will last for the life of the shoe,” said Middlen.

Middlen said it takes about three to four weeks to finish a job.

“Very little time is spent painting. So, I spend a lot of time taking the factory finish off, so you’ve got to use acetone. It’s extremely important you wear gloves and a respirator for that. After the factory finish is off, then sanding the shoe with three different grits of sandpaper. I prefer to airbrush the paint because I feel the application is better,” said Middlen.

With advertising on social media, he’s gotten a lot of customers, mainly from local businesses or nonprofits. Brienne Maner is with Startup Sioux Falls.

“I happened to receive the shoes the day of one of our Startup Sioux Falls events. We had an alumni lunch planned, and I got to wear the shoes at the event. There were a ton of people there. I just kept showing them off all morning. I was like, ‘Hey, you guys, check these out!’ And I was just trying to do everything I could to let people know that this small business exists. It’s a really unique product. You can’t get anything like this in the area,” said Maner.

“So, when I first started doing this, I thought that I would be doing a lot of customs for young adults. I have been surprised that a lot of businesses are stepping in the space. I do a lot of business logos,” said Middlen.

Kicks N Canvas has given Middlen another purpose after some tough times.

“So, I was trapped in addiction for probably 20 years of my life. Here I am, could barely keep myself out of jail, and it was just at that time, that, there’s this guy who lived below me, came up, knocked on my door. I thought it was weird he was there. And he said, ‘You know brother, all you got to do is ask Jesus Christ sincerely and truthfully from the bottom of your heart and you’ll be forgiven,’” said Middlen.

He found faith and overcame addiction, and the future is much clearer now.

“I would like to be able to take what I’m doing and start to give back to the community once that starts to grow and become a little bigger. I would say my short-term goal is to be able to assemble a shoe from scratch. I also want to start getting into producing clothing. And then, taking all aspects of that, the shoes, the clothing and my artwork, and just combining that into one thing. If you keep showing up, you’re always putting yourself in that right place and you’re one job away from your big break,” said Middlen.

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