Fourth day nail art school

Today was a shorter day, and it went by quickly. I arrived later in the afternoon to homework prepared for me to do. I was sans teacher today. But I had my job to do: she wanted two full sets of nails and for me to practice dragonflies, hearts, lines and diamond shapes. And French tips. Well, that was not accomplished! By the time I had cleaned my station and done my warm up and some practice thirty minutes had zipped by.

My first full set was to be cherries - a totally fab for me to do with Central Otago cherry season and all that jazz. I used a lime green two toned background (first coat a full tone lime, second coat a light green shimmer). I mixed a deep red and drew cherries. Then, mixing black and brown, drew stems. 

The leaves were drawn in two-tone greens. I added highlights to the cherries and leaves and added random dots. Lastly, I dabbed on gold glitter. They look better in person (!), I am very happy with them and think they will be a real eye-catcher at the market and in the studio. I had zero concept for time so after drawing some practice dragonflies and flowers started my second set choosing an Orly (double yuck) MINI bottle of what turned out to be too old (= thick) yellow shimmer. Took forever to dry enough to work.

Severine wanted hearts so I did hearts. I draw hearts all the time so this was super fun using my new brilliant thin brush. I mixed dark pink and purple for the baby hearts. Then, all of a sudden, the Mr was there to pick me up. So I stopped and will continue tomorrow with lines and dots and don't know yets. Bye girls!

Third day nail art school

Hi girls! Today was a great day! Went almost four hours as I wanted to finish my exercise. As usual, I started with some warm up. I bought myself some more brushes at the local shop and cut them down to the thinness I needed. Right now I have four different widths of very skinny brushes. I practiced some quick petals as warm up then did some strokes.

Today I learned a new heart shaped flower and practiced first before drawing a set on my pad. I was very happy with them! And one of the Thai girls immediately wanted me to draw one on her mani. So I did - how exciting!

I know it's not perfect, but for a first time I am pretty happy! As usual, top coat brings it altogether. Then I worked on a set of display nails of my own design but using this flower. So Severine wanted the heart flower with accent lines, pistil, stamen, mid dot and leaves.

I applied a two coat base of Revlon silver to my five tips. Then drew away. (Please note my 9 day old vacation mani still going strong!). This was time-consuming, I will tell you. But practice will make it go faster. When all was done I top coated (with Seche Vite no less!) - and it all came together!

I know they are not perfect, but don't you think they look pretty impressive? And one of the girls went out and found a matching flower! So looking forward to tomorrow!! Thx for following x

Second day nail art school

Howdy rowdies! Today was day two and even though it looks like I didn't do much, I did. The work is very detailed and exhausting as you are concentrating. It is also great fun, but demanding. Normally you wouldn't do this much repetitive art at one time. My hand is tired after three hours straight.

I started with some warm up petals to get my hand flowing, then worked further in blue on my Doc Shaba flowers. I also learned a new hibiscus type flower and practiced that. It seems one of my petals (the last one in my flower) is always on a diet, says Severine! Too thin. So, this will be my trademark look! Ha! Known the world over!

Then I got out a nail tip and drew a bit on that. It is different than just drawing on a flat surface. Also, it is different drawing on polish vs. laminate. My job today was a new "set" of nails with two different flowers and tiny lines. Oh, those tiny lines!

First, I had to prepare (=make) my brush. Then it is practice to get the hand-brush-paint amount correct. The flower petals are tiny so the little petal lines are super tiny. I must continue practicing that tomorrow. And heaps more after that! My petals are pretty good, though. I have the feel for that. Slowly I am imagining all this new nail art - exciting new world!

First day nail art school

Hi girls! I am going to nail art and manicure tech school in Pai!! Renewing my basics for certification and more involved artwork using acrylics. Nothing spectacular but a good solid foundation. Like art school. Severine has a nail studio in Pai, originally from Montreux. Today we went through brushes, how to style a bad brush into a good one, some acrylic mix tricks and petal formation.

Severine is all about natural nails and natural art. She does offer gel and shellac but no tips. And..... no tape manis for her! That said, she doesn't do styles like that. But she has a point as in your studio/salon 1) the client doesn't want to sit forever for art to be done and 2) the client will never pay the price for involved artwork. I have witnessed that myself a bit. So today I drew a lot of petals with my newly formed brush. I kind of knew the concept but always had the wrong brush stroke. Making a row of perfect petals is not easy. Patience is key, work slow. Don't get all Robin Moses zippy! Keep the ball solid and then add the lower stroke. You want squat, not elongated.

After I did tons of petals then I formed flowers. I tried tiny flowers for short nails or toes and larger flowers for long nails. Then I started a mani on my sketch board using different colours. Then my hand got tired!

Tomorrow is another day! Can't wait to draw more. Practice, practice, practice! I am hoping to solidify my prior knowledge and learn new techniques to be able to offer the best possible affordable nail art at my studio.

Vibrant vacation mani!!

I have no idea what clothes I am taking but had my mani sorted for days! That said, I ended up changing it up a bit! Now we are getting down to the wire. The Mr is home, bubbles are flowing, housesitter over soon - paradise isn't far away (OK, we live in paradise, but this is the tropical kind). But first.....

I must pay homage to my last starburst mani. Eight (8) days!!!! The pics above are from this morning, eight days in! Still going exceptionally strong. Come on, you can't tell me this is because of the CG base coat.... Whatever it is, I'm hooked. And, am still totally in love with the starburst, so amended my holiday mani.

I have been wanting to wear OPI's Live. Love. Carnaval since I got it - burning a hole in my pocket! But I knew it would make a fav holiday mani so have waited. This is the most beautiful coral shade - truly truly pretty. I applied two coats over a CG Adhesive base. Then I topped with two coats of OPI Pirouette my Whistle (the faintest lightest glitter). And one top coat.

This was my first holiday mani idea. To take me through the first week. But I was so in love with my starbursts that I decided to acrylic in some new flowers. So, out came my paint tubes and brush and I drew more starbursts and dots all over. Randomly.

Then another coat of top coat. Done. Certainly looks like summer to me! This will see me through man first days. In fact, I have now decided to not even take a coloured polish as there are so many in Thailand to buy. I am only traveling with base and top coat, 1 glitter (Pirouette), acetone, alu foil pieces and cotton squares.

right hand

That said, I am also traveling with way more hair product. Since I have invested more time into my curls (Curly Girl method and all that), now I need to take "stuff" with me. So, minimal clothes but lots of girly products. I will be in touch as I go - those who followed me last year will know the drill. It has been a tough year, so looking forward to some relaxation, plain fun, and time together. Ciao girls! Will be in touch!

Starburst flowers on Essie Sable Collar

Hi girls! I had intended to do a last gel mani for the whole week but that did not want to do what I wanted. I need to tweak that polish and try again and then I will write about that experience. Do want to give the colour a second chance before I call up the relationship doctor! So, I decided to do an acrylic mani on a hardly used beautiful brown.

Now, I am also totally behind in posting this (waaaay too much jewellery to make this week - but I guess that's a good thing) and I had heaps of film marketing to do as well. I am right now on my fourth day with this and it still looks totally fab - NO chips! I just gave it a new top coat to be shiny for tomorrow and there are zero chippos. I wonder...... I decided to use my old tried and true China Glaze Strong Adhesive base coat this time. Over the past months I have been using Seche Clear, mainly because I bought a jumbo refill size. It never as felt as good as the CG. And here is the proof as this mani is still rockin'! That usually doesn't happen with SC.

I started with two coats of Essie Sable Collar, a warm rich chocolate brown with a shimmer. A velvety brown. I think this is a beautiful winter tone and it covers very well in two coats. Then I got out the acrylics and a small flat brush. I wanted to create overlapping starbursts.

First, I mixed yellow and white (and water) and applied all the yellow flowers. Such a simple design, just dip the end of the flat brush in the colour and then apply in a wheel spoke type pattern. I keep cleaning off the brush by wiping and squeezing it together with my fingers to keep the tip thin and tight. Then, using orange and white and water, I did the same with the next colour. And again with a very very peachy light. I added some white dots in the middle of the flower and wherever else I thought they should be!

right hand

Top coat really brought it all together and smoothed out the acrylics. I waited a bit before applying so that I wouldn't smear any of the paint. Acrylics dry fairly quickly, though. and if you hover over the nail with the top coat (vs really applying it with force) you usually don't touch the art.

So.... like I said, have been a busy bee. I thought of this new pendant design, called Cosmic Dandelion. I haven't put it on etsy or anything. Well, I just finished it and tomorrow is the market. Maybe I'll sell it. And if not, we are away soon on holiday so why bother with etsy for the time being. I really like it (duh...) and think it would be a great larger painting.

cosmic dandelion

I don't know how everyone artsy is out there but not everything I make I like super duper 100%. I like everything, but see room for improvement, or not even - just didn't jell. Then there are objects I really really like, it all came together and just pops. I usually price these higher so that I can stare at them longer. And if someone buys it, then at least I got a good price for it. Then there is all the bread-and-butter stuff that always sells and I keep making. My wee bracelets for instance. I don't even put those on etsy; just little hand drawn hearts in a delicate charm. Wish me luck for tomorrow - last market for a bit. Really going to miss it!