KUKUKU Portfolio 10: Freestyle Arts

Time for some exploding arts!!

Woohoo!!

Not saying these babies were the best of my freestyle nail art however there are some people that of course like these kind of "DOPE" style, although I can't say these are dope enough to be properly presented..

I've challenged myself to do these natural stone, boho, animated, abstract etc etc..

Disastrous enough? I think so. At that time I was kinda frustrated of how can't I made the lines as thin and as opaque as possible. And still am until now..

This one below is when I try to do some contrast design between normal color and glitters, emphasizing on clean lines between them. So casual yet so glam, combined together. Anyone would like to try? 

Some of other summer themed designs that were not too good but too spoiled to be deleted away..

And see those Mt Fuji below! Quite the impact, I can say. 

Middle design were copied from other artist though, and again, not as opaque as I wanted it to be.. Either I have to change my technique or try different kind of gel polish.

I realized that these several days and weeks, most of my customers always requested me for subtle, "safe" design or feminine ones and I have never had a customer that really open up for some crazy designs. Well, most of them were office ladies so maybe it was a little bit hard for them to try striking designs for their everyday work. And some of them usually requested the service for weddings and other formal events which obviously Mt. Fuji wont fit with the dress.

Maybe someone can be the first one? :)

Instagram : @__kukuku__

Please keep updated, see you on our next post and definitely will be waiting for your visit!

KUKUKU Portfolio 9: Subtle Style

Let us start through my subtle designs for this week.

Realizing that subtle work is so popular in Japan, almost all of my friends there requested to do some simple subtle design for their nails. While in Indonesia is much known that usually people choose the colorful and bling arts (which I kinda hate, if not designed properly), it was a whole different style and techniques for subtle designs there.

For example is this what they called "cheek nails", as it resembles how blush on were applied on your cheek. While usually people choose pink-ish or soft reddish color for this cheek nails, my friend choose the pastel blue and orange as she likes those 2 color the most.

Gave her a little bit of silver and gold foils on the pinky for a little surprising effect too!

I have to say it was the most unthinkable design ever but they can work it damn well. And it was so pretty indeed.

Same cheek nails technique that I use was on this one,

A very very subtle tone of blue and orange for several fingers while the main general designs were a very subtle and see-through beige. Have to admit I did this design copying other artists designs and improvising here an there but it worked quite well.

Have to say the reason why subtle designs work almost for everyone because it enhance your skin color by using it as a main base color for the whole transition form your skin color to the gel/polish color. It literally can't go wrong with subtles.

These 2 designs below is not a complete subtle, however it can be alternatives as it use your own (nail) skin tone too for the whole look.

For example was this one,

which the clear glitter and seashells gel completely brighten the owner's skin complex, and below;

which tone down the shocking pink color so it adapts to the skin very well and makes it more wearable for everyday wear. 

So, what's your idea on subtles? And which one is your favorite? Glad to hear from you all :)

Instagram : @__kukuku__

Please keep updated, see you on our next post and definitely will be waiting for your visit!

KUKUKU Portfolio 8: Splatter Flower

This is a first time for me trying to combine abstract art with matte finish.

This time's design is called “splatter flower”, as it was created by splattering the gel randomly to make slashes or dotted pattern into several random small flowers.

The matte finish is definitely something worth trying for if you are bored for a standard glossy and shiny finish.

Confuse which finish should you choose, why not combine both? The example is this one:

Striking shocking pink with both statement shiny and dove finishing on one nail. All the good stuff in one design, if you dare enough.

How’s your thought? :)

Instagram : @__kukuku__

Please keep updated, see you on our next post and definitely will be waiting for your visit!

KUKUKU Portfolio 6: Marbles Marbles Marbles

There will be not enough of marblesssss!!!

It was indeed an all time favorite for everyone and suitable for any occasion!

Several of marbles that I have done throughout was these babies:

Designs that I did for my bestie, which screams her favorite, soft marble pattern and red, red, red! The combination looks so luxurious on her. In Japan, this brownish colored marble nail is called “bekkou nails” or “tortoise shell nails” as if were your nails are tortoise shell patterned.

The second one is the one that I did following internet tutorials. Yes, it’s not my own design however it gaves me slaps that marble can be done with lots of techniques. 

That explains why every person’s marble pattern is very different and personalized with each technique they use.

So, I stick with my way! This one was the one that I did on my own nail for my korea trip:

Standard pastel color on my right hand (as I can’t do much designs with my left hand.. sucks),

and soft pastel gradation marbles on my leftie.

The technique is a little bit different as I dabbed the color softly on several area with different colors and make marble pattern using lining brush and improvise myself from there. And yes I’m so greedy with designs so I did my left and right hand differently...

Let me know how’s your thought on this! Or maybe you can share your own marble designs here as well!

Instagram : @__kukuku__

Please keep updated, see you on our next post and definitely will be waiting for your visit!

KUKUKU Portfolio 5: Old Timeless Stuff

There are several collections of designs on my practice chips that I haven’t posted here yet. It’s quite random but too good to be thrown away...

So allow me to post it here!

2 of the design below was the one that I practiced for my Japan Nailist Certification back 2 years ago. The theme was standard flower for the first level and Japanese New Year (I choose Japan flower pattern with a bit of gold lining as an accent) or music for the second level. All done with acrylic paints as the base was nail polish. 

Oh how I remember how I'm struggling to just draw 1 petal of the flowers at that time...

Anyway! Next one is the design that I did to practice my lines back then, referring from several designs that I found on the websites. Still practicing too right now as fine lines is the most difficult brush control technique ever in my opinion.

Then I apply this line practice to my own nail…not all of it as it will become too much for the eye.

The formula that I usually use is 2:3; 2 for pattern design and 3 for simple design in one hand. Although most of the times I break my own rule if I wanted a more lavish or crowded design at one time.

Still so many random designs that I did in the past so will post them again on several next posts!

For further information, kindly check this posts:

Instagram : @__kukuku__

KUKUKU Portfolio 4: Sailor Moon Hype

Remember there’s this one time where this anime called Sailor Moon was such a hype everywhere (well, at least in Indonesia at around 1990ish?), ‘90s kids must know about this.

And as an adrenaline rush reaction for my private Sailormoon Exhibition visit last time in Japan (the blog can be read here) I went home and practice Sailor Moon freehand nail art back home on my own.

Some of the result is not satisfying enough for myself though. Gotta make those lines as killer as possible.

 And one last repeat post, since I’ve posted this photo on my previous blog.

I’m quite satisfied with the last one although I still have no confidence on doing it on real customer nails...

However please do inquire if you would like to have these kind of design on your appointment :) 

See you on the next one!

KUKUKU Portfolio 3: Beige Lovers

Beige is the most charming color yet so intricate. In my opinion beige is the most natural color that can be found, however it can be a true nuisance to match it perfectly to your skin. 100 skin tones, 100 different beiges, that is.

That's why I always feel like I will never have enough beige in my nail color collection!! The only way to satisfy my little OCD is to try as much beige colors to several different skin tones as much as possible! So here's some of my beige colored practices that I've done with several different nuance :)

The first one is a very simple yet edgy style of beige nails. That one simple white line just makes everything different. 

The second one is the one that I tried to combine with some seashells and holograms. I knew got glitches here and there but this one have more impact under the lighting as it blings everywhere! 

Doing some experiments with different materials is so much fun too!! And not to mention the beige tone match her skin flawlessly..

And the third one is the one that I did to myself times ago. I still think that the beige didn't match my skin as well as I expected it to be, I wanted it to be more transparent however it was more opaque from what I thought it will be. But that's okay. The one-point flower on the ring finger just fix everything!

I realize that after several practices on beiges or nudes, I have mostly of the yellowish beige color, I rarely experimenting on brownish or reddish beige as I know asian skin don't quite match that kind of tone, but I always wanted to try it (even if it for myself first). Will try to buy several new nudes color in the future.

In the meanwhile let me continue my search of the ultimate beige color for me (and for my customers too!) and I hope I will find it soon!

So, how's your thought on those beiges?? Lemme know yours on the comment box below!

For further information, kindly check this posts:

Please keep updated, see you on our next post and definitely always waiting for your visit!

KUKUKU Portfolio 2: Viva Character Nails

I love love love character nails! However it was not a secret that I kinda hate to make them as it usually requires detail and comparability to what kind of character are you drawing. One slight miss (eyes too big, nose too small, et cetera) will ruin the whole balance and you're done for.

I've tried to practice my character nail art several times, some turn out quite good, some were ok.. some were a total mess hahaha. Well, I guess practice makes perfect?

So here I am showing you guys several of the characters that I've been trying to make (and worth to be posted) in the span of 3 years. Most of them were gel polish however I've tried to experiment with acrylic paint too in some of the designs. 

Nightmare before Christmas Series, and Sasaki from Tokyo Ghoul which once I'm obsessed with. On the very right was the super failure Daenerys from Game of Thrones. I think I should try to make it once again in the near time, see how much I have improved in drawing still life...

Lilo 3 years ago, Lilo 2 years ago, Lilo 1 year ago. Not so much improvement.. But glad I can make the line thinner in the Tinkerbell one!

Just some random character.. Moomin, the once-hyped Minions (I don't quite like them though).

 

Sailormoon nails!!! I've made this recently when I'm in a full nostalgic mode back from my visit to Sailormoon Exhibition which you can see the post here (on my private blog though). Quite proud of these pieces :)

 

And this one is a very random character nails that I've tried to create myself as a requirement for a small nail design challenge online. Didn't win though.. Oh well just keep swimming!

And I think that's all with my character nail journey which definitely were not finished yet.

I realize that character nails is one of the nail art type which everybody likes for sure, and I believe everyone wanted to do even just once in their whole lifetime. So will definitely practice harder to make it perfect so that I can bring an ear-to-ear smile for my future customers later!

See you on my next post!

Instagram : @__kukuku__

KUKUKU Portfolio 1: My Early Practices

Recently I've been digging through lots of my nail photo portfolio and I'm thinking of posting it here little by little. For the sake to file all my messy portfolio documents too :) So firstly here's 3 of them for today's post!

The first one was the showcase of my 2 years plus of practice result in nail chips.. Some messed up, some were quite (accidentally) nice, some were made with tears (literally!).  I guess this will be my first little step from what I will be doing from here and on.

The second one was this! Practicing my basic skills such as gradation glitter art, half-french art and sugar-coated style art. Playing with gradation sucks as it was very hard but playing with giltters will be always forever fun! It sticks a lot on my brush though..

The third one is below, which I'm trying to showcase how my works on textured art progressed. Some need more works, definitely. Marble will always be everybody's favorite, but have to admit creating marble effects were quite difficult as I realize every individual have their own "perfect marble" image on their own.

So far my favorite was the white marble, second favorite was that knitted matte design! Perfect for winter.

By the way, please note that not every design posted here were originally mine; I mostly see other artist's design first and I imitate to practice. I have (and hate) to admit that my original designs is not so much at this point as I still need to learn a lot more. That's why I kindly need your support here.

I will try to catch up on my instagram posts and definitely will  post the other soon so please stay tuned!

See you on the next one!

Instagram : @__kukuku__