Favorite Holiday: Oktoberfest
"This set depicts the traditional Bavarian breakfast of a pretzel, weisswurst, and Munich’s famous beers."
Photo courtesy of
Britt Higgins
"The background is the blue and white diamond checkered pattern of the Bavarian flag featuring blue matte and glossy white chrome. The mustard packet is actually squeezable!"
Photo courtesy of
Britt Higgins
Favorite Holiday: Halloween
"(I) love the whole aesthetic of this season, the weather is still warm, and gorgeous colors are in nature."
Photo courtesy of
Brigitta Fajt
"Also I'm obsessed with black cats (any colour really) but around this time they are more in the spotlight. I made this challenge to match the vibe of the season."
Photo courtesy of
Brigitta Fajt
Favorite Holiday: Lunar New Year
"I hardly get to create nail art for Lunar New Year and wanted to pay homage to my culture."
Photo courtesy of
Chau
"I incorporated traditional concepts that would be seen around this holiday: the head of a lion dancer, lucky cat, ornate fans, lanterns, and this year’s zodiac—the rabbit, all created in the traditional lunar new year colors—red and gold.
Photo courtesy of
Chau
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
"My forever Christmas present, my Daughter is the light of my life and the joy of every day. She loves Christmas lights and snow globes, spirit, and all things winter. She will always be the snowflake on my lashes, and the warmth in my soul."
Photo courtesy of
Erin Paschke
"In these nails you will see the tree, sparkles in the branches, snow globes with moving confetti, Christmas plaid, a warm fire, milk and cookies for Santa, and finishing it off with a love letter and diamond ring in front of the fire."
Photo courtesy of
Erin Paschke
Favorite Season: Summer
"After a long Saskatchewan winter, summer is definitely a much anticipated season! Playing at the pool or the beach and enjoying the hot summer days is one of the highlights of my year!"
Photo courtesy of
Jacqueline McClement
"I started by painting underwater details on the back of long clear tips then using a layer of gel with plastic wrap to create the waves. The faces are hand painted using gel paints. The large bubbles are made using layers of top coat with pieces of Mylar encased. The 3D waves are created using moulding gel. Crystal bubbles and pearls are added on top for added dimension."
Photo courtesy of
Jacqueline McClement
Favorite Season: Spring
"Every early Spring there are cherry blossom flowers blooming in my city center and they just give me the most romantic and uplifting vibes."
Photo courtesy of
Jenna Lupin
"I made the artwork as five tips fused together to make a canvas painting with gel paint and caviar beads, blended with no-wipe topcoat. This artwork look detailed from a distance, but messy when close up - the opposite of expected."
Photo courtesy of
Jenna Lupin
Favorite Holiday: Black History Month
"With me being a woman of color, and it also being the month of February how could I not chose black history month? Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States."
Photo courtesy of
Jessica Hood
"This month is very meaningful and personal for me. It represents who I am, and what I stand for, as in love, strength, power, peace, integrity, and so much more."
Photo courtesy of
Jessica Hood
Favorite Season: Spring
"The world comes to life in the Spring. The sound of the birds chirping, the buzz of the bees, and the colorful blooms that start to open."
Photo courtesy of
Josette Hambleton
"I wanted to create a set that reflects the colorfulness this season gives to us. I chose a blue tit as the main focus as I love the vibrancy of their feathers and no Spring design is complete without a fuzzy bumblebee buzzing around the flowers."
Photo courtesy of
Josette Hambleton
Favorite Season: Summer
"Summer gets me excited, I just feel like I can move mountains in summer time."
Photo courtesy of
Kamila
"My absolute favorite thing to do is go on Holiday and visit tropical islands were I can go snorkeling and stay all day on the beach watching sunset and enjoying incredible views."
Photo courtesy of
Kamila
Favorite Season: Fall
"The colors of Fall are just so beautiful and unique and also you can get all cozy and dress up with so many styles!"
Photo courtesy of
Marie Henchoz
"For me (Fall) represents the 'end' of the year and will close a chapter that will never be the same!"
Photo courtesy of
Marie Henchoz
Favorite holiday: Christmas
"I love my Christmas Nutcracker collection so I decided to include that in my design. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is my favorite Christmas movie and is also included in my design."
Photo courtesy of
Miriam Brittenham
"I used a combination of Tammy Taylor and Glam and Glitz Acrylic to add 3-dimension to my Christmas tree on the truck and the deer antlers. All of my work is freehand using Gelish, Candy Coat, and OPI gel polish.
Photo courtesy of
Miriam Brittenham
Favorite Season: Easter
“In Poland we attach great importance to Easter. After a long winter everything comes to life, the meadows are full of daffodils, tulips and new beginnings.”
Photo courtesy of
Monika Kupien
Favorite Season: Easter
“My work is mostly sculpted using acrylic. The girl is wearing a traditional Polish Regional outfit.To imitate chickens seeds I used Swarovski crystal pixie.”
Photo courtesy of
Monika Kupien
For me (Fall) represents the “end” of the year and will close a chapter that will never be the same!
Photo courtesy of
Marie Henchoz
Favorite Holiday: Halloween
"My birthday is Oct 30th, so I've always celebrated it the spooky way! I wanted to make the design unique, so I made my witch a bobble head!"
Photo courtesy of
Sarah Petersen
"Three years ago my salon started a non-for-profit charity event for my town called Rolla Witches Night. This year our event was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce, and we were honored to receive the Annual Achievement Award."
Photo courtesy of
Sarah Petersen
Favorite Holiday: Oktoberfest
"This set depicts the traditional Bavarian breakfast of a pretzel, weisswurst, and Munich’s famous beers."
Photo courtesy of
Britt Higgins
"The background is the blue and white diamond checkered pattern of the Bavarian flag featuring blue matte and glossy white chrome. The mustard packet is actually squeezable!"
Photo courtesy of
Britt Higgins
Favorite Holiday: Halloween
"(I) love the whole aesthetic of this season, the weather is still warm, and gorgeous colors are in nature."
Photo courtesy of
Brigitta Fajt
"Also I'm obsessed with black cats (any colour really) but around this time they are more in the spotlight. I made this challenge to match the vibe of the season."
Photo courtesy of
Brigitta Fajt
Favorite Holiday: Lunar New Year
"I hardly get to create nail art for Lunar New Year and wanted to pay homage to my culture."
Photo courtesy of
Chau
"I incorporated traditional concepts that would be seen around this holiday: the head of a lion dancer, lucky cat, ornate fans, lanterns, and this year’s zodiac—the rabbit, all created in the traditional lunar new year colors—red and gold.
Photo courtesy of
Chau
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
"My forever Christmas present, my Daughter is the light of my life and the joy of every day. She loves Christmas lights and snow globes, spirit, and all things winter. She will always be the snowflake on my lashes, and the warmth in my soul."
Photo courtesy of
Erin Paschke
"In these nails you will see the tree, sparkles in the branches, snow globes with moving confetti, Christmas plaid, a warm fire, milk and cookies for Santa, and finishing it off with a love letter and diamond ring in front of the fire."
Photo courtesy of
Erin Paschke
Favorite Season: Summer
"After a long Saskatchewan winter, summer is definitely a much anticipated season! Playing at the pool or the beach and enjoying the hot summer days is one of the highlights of my year!"
Photo courtesy of
Jacqueline McClement
"I started by painting underwater details on the back of long clear tips then using a layer of gel with plastic wrap to create the waves. The faces are hand painted using gel paints. The large bubbles are made using layers of top coat with pieces of Mylar encased. The 3D waves are created using moulding gel. Crystal bubbles and pearls are added on top for added dimension."
Photo courtesy of
Jacqueline McClement
Favorite Season: Spring
"Every early Spring there are cherry blossom flowers blooming in my city center and they just give me the most romantic and uplifting vibes."
Photo courtesy of
Jenna Lupin
"I made the artwork as five tips fused together to make a canvas painting with gel paint and caviar beads, blended with no-wipe topcoat. This artwork look detailed from a distance, but messy when close up - the opposite of expected."
Photo courtesy of
Jenna Lupin
Favorite Holiday: Black History Month
"With me being a woman of color, and it also being the month of February how could I not chose black history month? Black History Month was created to focus attention on the contributions of African Americans to the United States."
Photo courtesy of
Jessica Hood
"This month is very meaningful and personal for me. It represents who I am, and what I stand for, as in love, strength, power, peace, integrity, and so much more."
Photo courtesy of
Jessica Hood
Favorite Season: Spring
"The world comes to life in the Spring. The sound of the birds chirping, the buzz of the bees, and the colorful blooms that start to open."
Photo courtesy of
Josette Hambleton
"I wanted to create a set that reflects the colorfulness this season gives to us. I chose a blue tit as the main focus as I love the vibrancy of their feathers and no Spring design is complete without a fuzzy bumblebee buzzing around the flowers."
Photo courtesy of
Josette Hambleton
Favorite Season: Summer
"Summer gets me excited, I just feel like I can move mountains in summer time."
Photo courtesy of
Kamila
"My absolute favorite thing to do is go on Holiday and visit tropical islands were I can go snorkeling and stay all day on the beach watching sunset and enjoying incredible views."
Photo courtesy of
Kamila
Favorite Season: Fall
"The colors of Fall are just so beautiful and unique and also you can get all cozy and dress up with so many styles!"
Photo courtesy of
Marie Henchoz
"For me (Fall) represents the 'end' of the year and will close a chapter that will never be the same!"
Photo courtesy of
Marie Henchoz
Favorite holiday: Christmas
"I love my Christmas Nutcracker collection so I decided to include that in my design. “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” is my favorite Christmas movie and is also included in my design."
Photo courtesy of
Miriam Brittenham
"I used a combination of Tammy Taylor and Glam and Glitz Acrylic to add 3-dimension to my Christmas tree on the truck and the deer antlers. All of my work is freehand using Gelish, Candy Coat, and OPI gel polish.
Photo courtesy of
Miriam Brittenham
Favorite Season: Easter
“In Poland we attach great importance to Easter. After a long winter everything comes to life, the meadows are full of daffodils, tulips and new beginnings.”
Photo courtesy of
Monika Kupien
Favorite Season: Easter
“My work is mostly sculpted using acrylic. The girl is wearing a traditional Polish Regional outfit.To imitate chickens seeds I used Swarovski crystal pixie.”
Photo courtesy of
Monika Kupien
For me (Fall) represents the “end” of the year and will close a chapter that will never be the same!
Photo courtesy of
Marie Henchoz
Favorite Holiday: Halloween
"My birthday is Oct 30th, so I've always celebrated it the spooky way! I wanted to make the design unique, so I made my witch a bobble head!"
Photo courtesy of
Sarah Petersen
"Three years ago my salon started a non-for-profit charity event for my town called Rolla Witches Night. This year our event was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce, and we were honored to receive the Annual Achievement Award."
Photo courtesy of
Sarah Petersen
Welcome to NAILS Next Top Nail Artist (NTNA), a virtual nail art challenge that calls out the best in every competitor. This yearly challenge is in its 10th year.
From a wide field of submissions, NAILS editors and guest judges narrowed things down to just 13 Finalists. They come from all around the world, and each nail artist has tremendous talent and creativity.
Here is a peek at what they submitted for Challenge #1, for which they were to submit a design that celebrated their favorite holiday or season.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.
Originally posted on NAILS Magazine
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