Shades of Black & White NAILS of 2012

Where did all the time go ? Again 2012 is another eventful year full of goals, anticipation, reflection and success of sorts. I'm grateful for the wonderful people around me and all the ups and downs that makes me a stronger person and hopefully a better one.

2012 has been very good for our education team as I'm very proud of their achievements. They've really worked hard and I'm so pleased to see a lot of the new ones start coming out of their shell to develop their full potential. A team dedicated to the skill and development of nail artistry and good practices is what we want to build on.

2013 is going to be a new exciting chapter of our career as Viv and I have embarked on producing a new line for Odyssey. I also need to start working on a new book soon ~ so many ideas and so little time.

Happy New Year 2013 and stay tuned for many wonderful things to come !

 

 

Michelangelo Inspiration on Nails

The Pieta by Michelangelo

 (The Archangel Gabriel)

 

(L-R : Joseph, Mary, Baby Jesus, Lamb)

 

I have marvelled at the work of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel and all over the Vatican in Rome, no artist in our time can possibly create what he did without the divine gift from God. It is truly amazing that I had to express this inspiration in my "Nativity" - Christmas themed nails, the true Gift of Christmas.

 

 

My Team

 ONS South East Asia Team in Melbourne

 

I love our dynamic team of talent and dedicated educators. Such a beautiful group of people and a joy to be around with. Always inspiring and amazing that nail is a universal language that has no communication or cultural boundaries. We always seem to understand each other perfectly well once the file and brush starts making magic !

 

ONS South East Asian and Australian Team in Melbourne

Global Nail Design Awards (GNDA) Melbourne, Australia 2012

 

L-R : Viv Simmonds, Amanda Niarhos, Catherine Wong, Debra Purtell, Olga Menshikova

 

Another exciting instalment of the GNDA down under where the Australian and international competitors came together to pitch their skills and enhance their career.

More info at www.gnda.com.au

 

VIVCAT L.A

VivCat LA was like a reunion of nailtechs and good friends of the nail industry. While everyone had been busy with their respective schedule, classes, tradeshows and work, this was definitely a good break to be able to have some play time with nails and work with some cool designs.

 

 

Another Great Class in Korea

Spending 3 days with these lovely and talented students in Korea was amazing. They are selected from the best, to form the elite team and going to be future champions !

 

 

 

NAILED Exhibition

• FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE • SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS presents NAILED A Group Exhibition Curated By Pedro Alonzo Opening Reception: Friday, September 7th • 8PM – 11PM Exhibition Dates: September 8 – October 6, 2012 The people involved in this (Nail Art Culture) community have no formal art training, yet their passion to make beautiful, over-the-top ornamental objects is what truly struck me, hence the body of work. It has reminded me of why I am an artist and why I choose to create. - Carlos Dzine Rolon, 2011 (Author of Nailed: The History of Nail Culture and Dzine) SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS is pleased to announce Nailed, a group exhibition featuring artwork by Liz Baca, Gabriella Davi-Khorasanee, Dzine, Igor Jovic, Simone Lueck, Chris Mosier, Kai Regan, Dominique Renee, Jamel Shabazz, Mickalene Thomas,Catherine Wong and Monika Zbijowska. Nailed is inspired by the 2011 publication titled Nailed: The History of Nail Culture and Dzine. Photographers from around the world were commissioned to document nail artists, clientele, and salon owners in their respective cities. The photographs that best represent the diversity of this personal and customized form of expression are presented in the publication, along with a historical account of the history of nail art and adornment from the Ming Dynasty in China to the present. The project outlines the trends and techniques that have emerged with time and the relationships nail art culture fosters, both inside and outside salon walls. Nailed at Subliminal will focus on the presence of nail art, from the urban underground to high-end glamour and contemporary art. A selection of photographs from the publication, as well as unique sculptural hand jewelry and limited edition sneakers, will be on view. Subliminal has teamed up with ASPHALT to provide music for the opening reception. Closing weekend, the gallery will turn into an “Imperial Nail Salon” with music, drinks, and nail art. Madeline Poole from Nailing Hollywood will be setting up shop, providing an opportunity for viewers to both observe and participate in nail art culture. The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, September 7th followed by a book signing with several exhibited artists on Saturday, September 8th at The Standard, Downtown LA. Dzine will further explore the theme of Nailed and his studio practice of custom culture through a site-specific installation and intervention during the ASPHALT festival, taking place September of 2013 in Exposition Park, Los Angeles.

Aquarelle Water Painting

Watercolor painting is close to my heart as I used to teach it in enrichment class for the primary school kids in my neighbourhood when I was a teenager to earn extra pocket money. Never would I imagine that this painting technique would be catching on as a trend on nails later in life !
I guess art exists in all forms and can be displayed in many ways, even on a canvas as tiny as a nail.
It is quite exquisite to wear a watercolor design, being really soft and transluscent, projecting a fashionably feminine look. The execution is abstract and quick, definitely something worth doing in the salon, but one has to be cautious with the application to ensure that the product is well sealed into the nails for durability.

Some of the work this week by the talented artists in my class

What's New ?

Where did all the time go....this past couple of months have just been one project after another and eveything is finally going to be released under the VivCat label! We've been working on some cute nail accessories, nailart materials and work essentials that we would love to use for ourselves, so we think we should make it accessible to everyone.

First, there's the VivCat Nail Jewelry that is designed for the natural nails, and great on gel polished nails :

 

 

Then, there the VivCat NailSkins that is made from various types of materials, the first one launched being made from real snakeskin that is dyed and processed into snakeskin leather that takes your nail into high fashion :

Next up we will have all the cute and essential tools of the trade and VivCat GemBox that comes in pink and purple and plenty more !

I will post up a shopping link when it becomes available for purchase online.

Attendees to all NailQueen workshops and VivCat classes will be the first to experience these exciting products !

Mixed Media Nail Art for Salon

Aquarelle Art

Aquarelle Design Sculpture

Nails and Bling

Have Nails Will Travel....

What a treat ! We took a spin in a Lambo and the Maserati in Houston

And to top that off....real Texas handmade cowboy boots and stuff !

VIVCAT Orlando

Orlando, Florida always had a relaxing effect on me and so one of the best VivCat class this season was right here ! The girls were such fun to work with and there was good interaction and full of laughter in this laid back, creatively educational atmosphere.

The beautiful pool view from our classroom 

Amongst the designs that were covered in the class - the Cat embedded 3D by me and the Denim by Viv

All you gorgeous people that made our day !

NAILPRO USA End of Season 2012

We made it to the NAILPRO 2012 Team Cup again !

Great to catch up with all the nail greats and also competed with the best.

I feel that as age catches up, time seems to run out too fast, there's so much to do and so little time !

  

 

Jenna my fantasy model

Irene my Design Sculpt model

  

 

L-R : Marilyn Garcia (CND), Viv Simmonds (ONS-VivCat), Sam Biddle (Be Creative) and me

L-R : Viv Simmonds(ONS-VivCat), Gina Silvestro(Akzentz), me, Joseph Pham (OPI), Trang Nguyen (ONS) 

 

 

Gina Silvestro, me, Rachel Mouritsen & Anita Lime-Sims