Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/190368
The STUFF of ARTISTS Have you ever come across a tech whose nail art belongs in galleries? Do you ever wonder how they came to possess such skill? Or what else they're capable of creating? We talked to six techs with a passion for art so fiery, it transcends the nail industry. From tattooing to oil painting, these artists-turned-manicurists (and vice versa!) have done it all. BY BRITTNI RUBIN From the canvas Yire CASTILLO San Bernardino, Calif. While 21-year-old Yire Castillo has only been doing nails for two years, he's already landed a full-time position as a star educator with Kupa. Art is his specialty and biggest passion. Ever since Castillo was a child, he'd find self-expression through painting and clothing, and he was fascinated with surrealist artwork. A self-proclaimed fashionista, Castillo thought he wanted to become a clothing designer. He learned how to sew by working for his family in the garment industry and eventually made his own articles of clothing. But in high school, his focus shifted to visual arts as he learned water colors, sketching, cartooning, color theory, design, and photography. Castillo picked up what he could in school, but the rest of his knowledge is self-taught. He relied on books and how-to videos and has always been pretty handy with creative projects. Determined to become a professional painter, Castillo went on to study art in college. But to pay his way, he worked as a cashier at his aunt's salon, which led him down an unanticipated path. His aunt would practice nail art techniques when business was slow. This piqued Castillo's interest; he eventually went on to shadow his aunt in a few of her classes. "All the other students were always like 'whoa, you've done this before,'" he says. "I hadn't, but it came really easily to me and I enjoyed doing it." Soon after, he got his nail license and believes it's his background in fine arts that led to his swift success. "I've only been doing nails for two years, but I'm able to compete alongside veterans," he says. "Because of art school, I feel like I have a different view on nails. I'm a perfectionist. I like to give something my all and if it doesn't look good, I re-do it until I figure out what was wrong." Although art comes naturally to him, he says he will never stop taking classes. "At the beginning of my career I took so many nail classes and sometimes right after the class, I kept practicing what I learned for hours because I didn't want to forget," he says. The first time Castillo ever competed professionally, he won third place. His specialty is hand-painted 3-D nail art. "Practice makes perfect," says Castillo. "Whether it's nail art or fine art, that mentality doesn't change. Even though my oil painting and surrealist art are hobbies now, I still practice all the time." to the fingertips >>> 158 | NAILS MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2013 CREDIT - PHOTO/ILLO/NAILS BY SO AND SO