From Carnelian to Chrome: Finding Nail Inspiration Beyond Nails
Nail inspiration doesn’t always have to start with another set of nails. For this manicure, my client brought a piece of polished carnelian to her appointment as her colour inspiration. Its mix of warm orange, gold and deeper earthy tones became the starting point for the finished set.
We chose a warm orange base topped with Sunset chrome, which gave us that glowing orange-to-gold shift. Depending on the light, it can read almost like a summer sunset or equally like autumn leaves, firelight and all those rich colours that start appearing at this time of year.
It’s one of the things I love about approaching nails creatively. Inspiration can come from a stone, a piece of jewellery, fabric, nature, an artwork or simply an interesting combination of colours and textures. You don’t always need another nail design to tell you where to begin.
About the Author
Kirsty Brown is the founder of Paintbrush Nails, an independent nail artist and educator based in Scotland. A Glasgow School of Art graduate and qualified Art & Design teacher, she combines professional nail education with a creative approach to nail art and design.