Porcelain nail art including delicate floral designs transfers seamlessly from teapot to nail plate. To mimic the look of gorgeous and traditional dinnerware, pair an opaque white tint with a deep and dark blue shade and paint away the details. Follow the steps below from New York-based nailpro Mei Kawajiri to learn three nail art techniques to recreate classic China-inspired designs. “When I designed these tips I was inspired by the blue and white flower patterns in classic fine China,” she says.
Porcelain Look 1
1. Apply two coats of white polish.
2. Paint three thin arches across the nail horizontally with a navy blue polish.
3. Fill in the tip of the nail with a striped design. Next, fill in the two spaces in the center of the nail with floral designs. Paint a second line along the first arc at the base of the nail. Finish with top coat.
Porcelain Look 2
1. Apply two coats of white polish.
2. Paint a large, vertical rectangle with blue polish.
3. Paint a floral design at the center of the rectangle. Then, fill the inside border of the rectangle with a thick blue frame, leaving the inside edges jagged. Finally, outline the frame with a thin blue line. Finish with top coat.
Porcelain Look 3
1. Apply two coats of dark blue polish.
2. Paint a wide horizontal stripe of white polish across the nail.
3. Paint a thin blue stripe along the top and bottom of the white stripe. Then, within in the white space, paint a flower and leaf designs with blue polish. Finish with top coat.
Mei Kawajiri is a New York City-based nail artist known for her hand-painted designs.
How are you painting porcelain? Let us know in the comments below!
[Images: Nail art by Mei Kawajiri, photography by Michael Chase Gordon]