Welcome to NAILPRO’s NAILED DOWN where we “nail down” the details of selected nail design artists from our User Galleries.
This week we visit Naperville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.
Meet Lynda B. Selvig-Ferguson:
How would you describe yourself?
I’m your basic “more is more” kind of gal. Never a “less is more” gal. My one goal when I wake up everyday, is to discover or create things that make me happy. I seriously wake up every morning and go, “What can I make? What can I make?” Yes, I am that seriously addicted to the make it, paint it, glue it, and create it way of life.
I have severe physical disabilities that hinder my mobility, so keeping positive and busy is so important to me. All things shiny, colorful and quirky make me happy, as do the cool crafters and nail artists who create them.
My friends would describe me as being manic-creative. I’d agree with that. I’m happiest when I’m busy making stuff or learning how to make stuff. I pretty much dabble in a little bit of every craft and art imaginable, but nothing fascinates me like the tiny platform of a fingernail which, in my opinion, is a form of art you can take with you anywhere, and it improves your mood all day long because your fingernails and toes never leave you.
Tell us about how you got started in the nail industry.
I am a retired manicurist, and haven’t worked in the nail industry since the mid-90’s due to physical disabilities related to a degenerative bone disease. However, back in the day when I was looking for direction to fulfill my creative drive, it was my mother who actually asked me one day if I’d like to go to cosmetology school. I said, nah, I didn’t want to cut stuff off of people, (i.e. hair, not like a plastic surgeon, ha ha), but what I’d really love to do is to stick stuff ON people. And so that’s what I did. Sadly, it was only for a few short years, but it was a very happy time for me. So now I only do my own nails for fun. I came across NAILPRO, and now I’ve renewed my passion for nail art. I’d love to start a blog or column with easy step-by-step diagrams for things I create so others can try them too.
What/Who inspires your work?
Trees, flowers, nature, cute things, kooky things, and all types of pop-culture inspire me to create my projects. But now with NAILPRO, my eyes are opened to a whole new generation of super talented and super inspired artists. I feel so old! Ah, but you’ve gotta love the new nail trailblazers. Basically NAILPRO has launched me back into what I used to love to do… to make nails rock and shock!
Are there any tools you can’t live without?
Always at the end of my hand is my ever handy spotter brush, my long liner brush, my stylus, my acrylic craft paints and a bowl of water. That’s what I call my “got ’em and I’m good-to-go” set-up.
Do you have a favorite technique or style?
Hands down, no doubt about it, my favorite technique is freehand painting with acrylic craft paints. I love to preach the gospel of craft paints to anyone who would listen to me sing its praises. I just adore the good old fashioned low cost, low mess freedom of freehand painting because I’m an old school gal who enjoys old school stuff, and you can paint just about anything with good ole’ paint and bowl of water!
What is your craziest/funniest nail story?
Right out of school is where I had my most embarrassing nail moment, and it occurred when my mother was my model for my practical state exam. It started out with me applying a hideous fresh set of 3 inch thick acrylic nails with tips. Again, it was old school style with just a basic nail file and buffer as my only nail shapers. As I proceeded to plop giant gorilla-sized claws on Mom’s fingers that, honestly, a gorilla would have flunked me on, I was shocked to find out I had passed the exam! But my poor mom drove us home all the way from L.A. to San Diego with 10 pound gorilla nails on each hand which I had to soak off the next day. My poor mom.
What tip can you offer to other nail technicians?
A tip I’d give to any nail tech, novice, veteran or even a crafter looking to get involved in nail artistry, is to just keep sticking with nails and you’ll never be blue. Unless you like blue nails that is, and you can always stick them on and off. This is why I’m so glad I found my way back to nail art. Thank you NAILPRO!
What other hobbies do you enjoy?
Besides nail art, my only other creative vice is singing online karaoke on a website where I can really ham it up at. https://www.singsnap.com/ Maybe I’ll flash my crazy nails on my videos sometime. I’ve been known to do all sorts of crazy embarrassing things for attention.
You can find Lynda B. Selvig-Ferguson on the web:
In the NAILPRO User Gallery: bipolarbettie
Pinterest: Lynda B. Selvig-Ferguson
Click here for more Nailed Down! interviews »
Would you like to be featured in NAILED DOWN? Post images of your nail art to our User Gallery. We’ll be highlighting outstanding artists based on those submissions! (minimum six pictures to qualify for consideration) NAILPRO reserves the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and clarity.
