The TEN FINGER GALLERY

(This is not a profession, only an obsession...i.e. it makes me happy.
New Nail Design: 2/14/06:

sparkly silver polish with a deep lavender heart shape

A continuous personal guided tour
recounting the discovery of nail art

Because of an overwhelming desire to have tiny paintings on every toe and finger, I decided:
1. I am an artist, and there is no reason why I can't learn to paint my nails myself.
2. The fact that every time I have tried I have made an awful mess is no reason to give up.
3. If I trick myself into thinking I know what I'm doing (when I don't) it almost always works.
4. The cultivation of patient confidence, and acceptance of imperfection leads to a wonderful state of mind.
5. The cost of each flower if someone else did it, added to the sense of achievement if I did it.
6. I did not like waiting or even being in the atmosphere of the salons I knew.
7. I could be at home, listen to my own music, learn how to paint with my left hand, save money, be more independant, and get my nails done at a moment's notice!

These flowers were made with a regular nailpolish brush and a toothpick scratched away the center of each petal.

October 12, 2004
The next important step was that my daughter who loved the little flowers I painted, gave me a set of colors, with lots of sparkles, that had tinier brushes, for more detailed work! .

See the lovely yellow rose, one of my favorite first nail paintings.

Many friends liked this one best, like tiny jewels, set on golden petals.
Appropriately, since I am a jeweler!

You might have noted pretty rings in the first picture. I made these especially for myself. The one with the pretty stones is my engagement ring, the pink and blue represent camellias, and the diamond represents the clover flower Rick put on my finger when he asked me to marry him. The rose is a seperate wedding ring...3 dimensional with petals folded and swirling,

See Kathy's jewelry page

A butterfly.

A wildflower.

10/15/04 After a couple of weeks, Kathy decided on an abstract design.

All of her watercolor paintings are abstract, so why not her nails?

She used the same colors, but each nail had a different design.

On Kathy's Birthday, 2005. Kathy painted her best flowers (according to her daughter Colleen) a five (or six) petaled flower celebration on each finger!

Click here to email Kathy's Nails