Upholding Nail Art

I answered a few questions to help write a nail art article included in the April 2012 issue of Preview Magazine. I was excited to get a copy and proudly share with you the write up. But when I finally bought the magazine and read it, I felt disappointed.


Cover of the April 2012 Issue of Preview Magazine.

The 1st Invitation

It was the second time that Preview asked for my contribution as a nail artist. I declined the first invitation. They wanted me to come in and create nail art for a photo shoot. It would have been an amazing experience except that the pegs that they wanted can easily be done by almost any nail technician. They wanted a matte look, a reversed French manicure, a Louboutin nail art, and the like. Although the work would be compensated, I turned down the opportunity because I strongly felt that none of the pegs could represent my personal style. And honestly, I felt downgraded. It was like commissioning Picasso to paint a house wall. I am not saying that my skills are at par with the likes of Picasso, but if I don't believe in my own talent, who will?

In their defense, they asked me to create a nail art of my style for one of the pegs to still include me in the project. I still declined the offer because I knew they feel that my nail designs were inappropriate for the magazine's market.

The 2nd Invitation

The second invitation came last January 2012. My contact informed me that they wanted to further introduce nail art and I was up for it. The article focused on helping adult women to try nail art. Apparently, the younger generation is more adventurous into trying new trends like nail designing. As a nail art enthusiast, I believe that nail art is for everyone, young or old. If this article would help (in any way) for nail art to be accepted or to inspire people to try it, I would be delighted to take part on it. Sadly, I was appalled on how nail art was portrayed in this specific article.


The nail art article was printed on page 120 of Preview April 2012.

My Contributions

Before I accepted the invitation for the article, I asked them to view my nail art gallery first just to make sure that my nail designs are what they are looking for for the feature. They approved my floral nail designs and I recreated them on artificial nails, took photos of the designs, and emailed the files together with my answers to a few questions that tackled introducing nail art to women beyond their 30's and nail art trends.

The Article


Full article about nail art for adults.

Transcribed:

Q: I WANT TO TRY THE WHOLE NAIL ART TREND WITHOUT LOOKING JUVENILE OR "CUTESY". ARE THERE OPTIONS FOR MORE ADULT DESIGNS? WHAT DO I ASK FOR?

A: Although completely on the side of experimentation, we accept that the aesthetics of most nail art barely fit real life, real women, or simply, reality. Not to fret: There are ways to have fun with designs without seeming like a Harajuku Girl. Nail art enthusiast Rina Alcantara of Simply Rins (www.rina-alcantara.com) eases us in: "The most important thing is to be comfortable with the idea of wearing nail art. Wear other colors of nail polish aside from what you're accustomed to, or try layering your usual shade with polish effect," she says. She also suggests choosing a design that's subtler: "Go for classics like polka dots, patterns like stripes and plaids, and animal-prints, and if you're into French manicures try the reverse French mani (painting the half-moon) or painting your nail tips with white flowers to create something different with the same effect. SImple floral designs using roses and daisies are also classy. The ombre (gradient) manicure can also make a statement." And what of the sturdy acrylic nail? "No. Although acrylic nails have its advantages, it's still best to maintain your natural nails."

Note: Portions of my answers to their questions were enclosed in quotation marks.

My Thoughts

I think the short feature was good except for the first 2 lines of the answer portion.

Although completely on the side of experimentation, we accept that the aesthetics of most nail art barely fit real life, real women, or simply, reality. Not to fret: There are ways to have fun with designs without seeming like a Harajuku Girl.

What does that mean?

I initially had mixed feelings when I first read it. So I reread it over and over and even asked a few friends for their honest opinion. In the end, I was still disappointed. I wanted to let it go but I personally felt strongly about it and I'd really want to share this experience with the nail art community and perhaps you can enlighten me if I misunderstood this text.


Highlight on the first sentence of the answer portion was added by me for emphasis.

A lot of women today regularly visits a nail salon to have their nails cleaned and polished. Some knows how to do it themselves at home. Regardless of how and where, women have included nail maintenance and applying nail polish as part of their lives. Coloring your nails is nail art by itself and has been becoming a common practice among more and more women everyday. Professionals are now becoming more conscious on how they present themselves and they understand that how they wear their nails is important for a good impression. But according to the writer of the article, most nail art are inappropriate (?) or unacceptable (?) by real women.

How about this, I am almost 36 years old and I wore every single nail art design that I posted here in Simply Rins. My personal style have always been clean and defined lines and cartoony at most times as a reflection of my being a cartoonist. Based on the opening sentences, does that mean I'm being inappropriate with my nail designs because I am older? And what defines a real woman? What nail design should she wear?

Nail art is a personal preference. How you wear your nails, polished plain or with nail design is an expression of who you are. Perhaps there are designs more appropriate for a specific occasion. Just like it is inappropriate to wear revealing clothes inside a church. However, as far as I can see it, there are no rules to nail art. Should there be? Are we not taught to respect individual choices?

In essence, I think what the magazine article intended to say was that the most common nail art designs found here in the country are not yet widely accepted by older women and presented options. An option on how to become comfortable with nail art and an option of what nail designs to initially try. But I think that the first sentence to the answer part was a bit insulting to those who are already accustomed to wearing nail art designs across all ages, that includes myself.

I should have asked for a copy of the article before it came out but I didn't. My answers were meant to help and inspire people to get started with nail art. I now feel irresponsible that I allowed my name to be included in a nail art article that I feel stepped on the prospects of nail art and my passion.

I know that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and for that, I respect the author's points of view. However, I think the article should have been written without bias statements such the opening sentences of the answer portion since the feature included my contributions and I clearly do not believe in her opening statement.

Please share with me your honest thoughts about the magazine article and about this post. I would really appreciate knowing what fellow nail artists or enthusiasts feel about all these.









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