Thursday, May 8, 2014

Tutorial: Underwater City Nail Art - Inspired by the Novel DEEP BLUE

As an avid reader, I always love seeing a new fantasy novel make its way to the shelves. One of my favorite authors, Jennifer Donnelly, has recently come out with a new novel in a genre that has yet to be tapped...and I'm pretty excited about it!

DEEP BLUE is the first novel in a series of epic tales set in the depths of the ocean, where six mermaids seek to protect and save their hidden world. Yes, mermaids! I love it! While reading the book, I became enthralled by the world that was being woven and couldn't resist creating my own "under the sea" look (and tutorial!) inspired by the mermaid city created in DEEP BLUE. Read on to see my how-to for creating your own underwater world!
1. Paint your nails a light blue shade and let dry completely.
2. Select 3 shades of blues (dark to light) and paint them in a gradient on a damp makeup sponge.
3a. 3b. 3c. Apply the painted makeup sponge to your nail to create a gradient up and down each nail (darkest color near the tips of your nails). You will have to apply several coats to build up the opacity of the color.
4. Use a q-tip/cotton ball and some acetone to carefully clean up the skin around your nails. Apply a top coat.
5. Using a light grey/blue, paint the outlines of a cityscape along your nails. Vary the size and shapes - use squares for simple buildings, or half circles for fancy duomos!
6. With a bright teal polish, roughly paint one side of the building outlines (painting one side will give the illusion of light hitting the buildings at an angle).
7. Use a dark blue/black polish to outline the shapes of the buildings.
8. Paint small squares and lines to add detail to each building. Add as much or as little as you'd like.
9. Add small oblong dots above the city to create schools of fish swimming by.
10. Finally, add some green kelp swaying in the foreground of your cityscape to give your nails more dimension.

Finish off your look with your favorite top coat, and enjoy :)




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOBEH192zcE

I've always loved the concept and mystique behind mermaids, so personally, I think it's quite refreshing that young adult books are exploring this realm of fantasy. 

You can find out more about the book (and places to purchase it) on the official DEEP BLUE website, and be sure to follow along with Hyperion Teens' Twitter and Tumblr pages for the latest book releases! 
Happy Polishing!