Monday, September 24, 2012

Showcase: Miniature Nail Artworks


Hello old friends and new!! Today's post is a showcase of my latest nail-art, featuring a hand-painted collection of 10 distinctive designs for each fingernail. I created this nail art with no theme in mind -- I was just practicing my micro-doodling -- the result: a melting pot of swirls, scribbles, tribals, abstract & realism. This creative chaos combines some of my favorite elements in art (which is so very me) and is pretty cohesive overall. What do you think?



Read more!



To create this nail art, I used my sister's kiddie nail art polishes, which, to my surprise, are a lot more professional than I expected. These polishes include a brush and a micro-pen (a needle-like pen with a hole) that releases a tiny amount of polish to create intricate designs. The polish also has a gel-like consistency and dries much faster than regular nail enamel. Lastly, because they are formulated specifically for children, these polishes are non-toxic and totally safe to use. 


I'm talking about NailsChic 8 polishes nail art set -- purchased at FAO Schwarz in NYC
QUALITY: Although I like the innovation and technology of these polish pens, I'm not quite sold on the actual product. Out of the 8 colors in the set, only 5 are nicely pigmented and completely opaque. These colors are: Black, White, Orange, Blue, and Pink. On the other hand, the purple is a throw away, the green is only visible when used over white (see "The Tree of Life" nail art) and the yellow needs several coats to be opaque -- which is OK, if used as a base. Note: designs using yellow as decoration are more textured than others.
Counter-clockwise from top left:
  • Abstract Tiger -- orange base; white & black designs
  • Black Tribal -- black base; white, yellow & orange designs
  • Tree of Life -- white base; black, green, orange & yellow illustration
  • Stairway to Heaven -- blue base; white, orange, yellow & black designs
  • Pink Tribal -- pink base; black, white & blue designs
Clock-wise from bottom left:
  • Graffiti Scribbles -- white base; black, green & blue designs
  • Blue Bug -- blue base; pink, white, black & orange designs
  • Creepy Swirls -- pink base; white & black designs
  • Tribal Mask -- black base; yellow, blue & white designs
  • Eye C U -- yellow base; black, white & blue designs

Because I'm right-handed, my natural instinct is to overcompensate for my left hand by controlling it and creating extra detailed designs. It takes me longer to do my right hand with my left, but I end up with crispier lines and a more intricate outcome. The drawings on my left hand, however, feel freer because the lines aren't as precise. I'm not quite ambidextrous just yet, but I'm working on it!
This nail design collection isn't for the faint at heart and took about an hour to complete, not counting drying time. The "EYE C U" thumb nail art took the longest: at least 10 minutes, while the "Abstract Tiger" and "Graffiti Scribbles" pinky nail designs took about a minute each. 

I've always had a fascination with miniatures. As a kid, I drew and cut out tiny paper dolls, making sure I cut out each finger and hair strand perfectly. I've drawn and cut out thousands of these dolls, given them names, and knew them all by heart. I even lined them up in height order, taking up all the floor space in my room. I may have been a weird kid with a wild imagination, but as an only child, I had to keep myself busy. I no longer draw paper dolls, I'm no longer an only child haha, and my imagination is nowhere near as vivid; however, the one thing I carried away from my childhood is my passion for details. Today, I feel the most at ease when I'm creating something miniscule like nail art or eye makeup and I get a total kick out of detangling micro chains. Heck, I sometimes still get carried away... :))


Do you have a child-like passion?


bisous,


Maryam Maquillage




Join me on FACEBOOK / TWITTER / BLOGLOVIN



Maryam Maquillage © 2012. www.maryammaquillage.com

66 comments:

  1. Wow, i love the detailing in each nail
    can i just have your nails for a day?

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  2. Beautiful and unique nail art!!!

    <3 from: www.thedocndiva.com

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  3. Wow!! You totally blew me away!! Those are absolutely stunning!! The only thing I know I love and lived with from young till now and never changed is ART. :)

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  4. Amazing, such detailed work i love it

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  5. wow i can't believe you can do that on yourself!

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  6. omg, you are so patient. The outcome looks amazing. I thought they were those nail stickers at first.

    Xo

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    Replies
    1. thanks darling :)) for me, doing nails doesn't require patience... cooking, on the other hand, that takes A LOT OF PATIENCE... lol

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  7. Wow..I'm stunned..You have just raised the nail art bar several notches..brilliant!

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  8. whoa! that's amazing! I wish I could do that with my right hand too. LOL!

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  9. That looks absolutely amazing! Whenever I try to do nail art it just doesn't work out... Even a basic french is a struggle! Eye C U is my fave of the designs. Reminds me of the evil eye!

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    Replies
    1. thanks babe :)) you just gotta keep practicing and confidence is key. you have to believe that whatever you create will come out just the way you like it!!

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  10. I've already raved about this post on twitter and now I've come here to rave some more LOL
    Maryam, darling, you just keep blowing my mind with such wonderful and incredibly skilled nail art. You're going places love, seriously. xx

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    Replies
    1. You are so sweet I swear!!! Thank you so much, your words mean a lot to me :)))

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  11. Wow thats fantastic n you are too good :)

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  12. My goodness these are so chic, so artistic, and so very very Maryam! I'm in LOOOOVVE! The eye nail and the tree are my absolute favorite. So inspired to fet insome nail art goodness!
    xx
    -Imani Love

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    Replies
    1. thank you my darling :))) I bet you'd create insane designs -- I've seen what you can do!!!

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  13. This must be the most creative nailart ive seen! Amazing work Maryam!


    -True

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  14. This is amaaaazing!!! You're so talented and so very creative! I wish I could be as creative as you are for just one day! I love all te designs!! The eye c u is so unique and reminds me of the Moroccan and Turkish "Evil eye" I'm in love with your nails, sigh.. <3!!

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    1. Thanks honey bunny and you are creative -- just look at that avatar :D

      Yup, the "evil eye" was the inspiration :)) I kind of combined it with a pharaonic Egyptian theme :))

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  15. wow! That is so beautifully made on both hands! So detailed! Great job!

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  16. U r absolutely amazing&u have so much talent...!

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  17. stupendo!
    se ti a passa da me, ultimo post sulla clinique!

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  18. I'm very impressed! :) As a child I was obsessed about nail art but I lost my interest since there weren't so many good, inexpensive products at the market back then. I'm getting my interest back though and seeing this definitely inspires me. :) And I am amazed that you have managed to get such perfect manicure on both of your hands. :O I'm right-handed so the nails on my left hand usually come out ok, but the ones on my right hand always become a mess. XD

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    1. Thank so much!! It takes me A LOT longer to do my right hand... I'd say, my entire left hand took about 15 minutes to do, and just the EYE C U design on my right hand took 15 min, so equal time hahaha

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  19. wow Maryam! Perfect on both hands!! lovely nail art !


    prettymenawan.blogspot.com

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  20. This really is art!! I'd never have the patience for this. Or if i'd try, babygirl would come up with something that would make me mess up my creation anyway :D
    It's funny how different the quality of the polishes in the same set can be..I have many child like passions, i am a big child that likes makeup, clothes and beer lol

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    Replies
    1. I hear ya!! BTW, I did this design at 2 AM while everyone was asleep!!! lol Thanks love :)) P. S. I love Beer too, I'm super excited for OKTOBERFEST!!!

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  21. Great post dear!!Thanks so much for comment and visit my blog! :D
    kises!!

    www.marilynsclosetblog.com

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  22. Wow! Those look gorgeous!! You are very talented. I do not have a steady hand so I don't think I'd be able to do designs like that, lol. Good job! :)

    Rosie xo

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  23. OMG !!! Amazing Nails !!!

    http://www.mademoisellemode.com/
    New post - Kisses from Paris ♥

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  24. OMG!!! Your so very talented!! I wish that I could do this!

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  25. Maryam!!! What can I say - LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! I can't believe the progress you've made with nail art and how bold of a design (designs!) you've tried here - these look awesome woman!!

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    1. Thanks Kayleigh, what can I say, I'm slowly revealing my artistic skills haha... though, with these polishes, anyone who can draw on a small scale can probably do this :))

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  26. Omg these are soo cool. Love the Aztec prints! :)

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  27. it's unbelieveable how much patience and love you put in your nail designs!

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    1. Thanks DD, when you LOVE to do something, patience isn't required :))

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  28. wow wow wow wow!! I am impressed!

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  29. awesome nails you are very talented :-)

    xoxo Pakize


    http://madamekeke.blogspot.com

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  30. As always, these are beautiful!!!

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  31. wooow!!!!! u are so talented!!!!!

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  32. ONLY AN HOUR!??? Damn if that isn't blowing my mind right now.

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  33. Thank you all sooooo much for your amaaaazing comments and compliments :)) I appreciate you guys soooo much <3 <3 <3

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  34. omg this mani is to die for!! love! xxx

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  35. wow what a wonderful Nail art are designed. i love to see girls nail when it designed with nail-polish. it's looking very attractive and beautiful.

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  36. You're very talented. Keep up the good work. Could you please do a face of the day based on the nails since Halloween is around the corner? Thanks :)

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  37. Beautifully done! You've had it in you since you were little. :)

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  38. Keep working and great job on the posts, I will come back again and check your feed out soon.

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