She’s been living in my head rent-free for weeks. It was time. ❤️
Day 9 and I’m going full Betty Boop, and I mean full. This set has so much going on that I had to split it into two videos: Part 1 is the concept sketch and the first nail (Betty herself, full body, hand-painted), and Part 2 is finishing out the rest of the set. Because yes, she deserves that kind of attention.
If you’ve been here for a minute you know I always start every set with a sketch, I map out each nail, decide the elements, figure out what story the hand is telling before I ever pick up a brush. Today I’m pulling the curtain back on that process too. Let’s get into it.
THE SKETCH | HOW I PLAN EVERY SET
Before any polish touches any tip, I sketch. It sounds extra but it saves so much time, and honestly, the planning is half the fun for me. I map out each nail individually, decide which element lives where, and figure out the color story before I commit to anything.
For this Betty Boop set I’m working with a red and pink palette and chose to go with polka dots, 3D cherries, a full Betty portrait, and snakeskin texture. I’m still deciding on a few elements, that’s actually part of what Part 2 will settle. The sketch is a plan, not a contract.
The nails in this set: a pink nail with a polka dot French tip with cherries, a snakeskin nail with “Betty Boop” hand-lettered on it, the Betty portrait nail (which you can see in Part 1), and a snakeskin accent nail with hearts, lips and cherries. The remaining nails get decided as the set develops, that’s just how I work.
About This Look
This. Nail. Full-body Betty Boop, freehand painted on a single press-on tip. The polka dot dress, the red lips, the little wrist bangles, all of it. Character art at this level of detail is one of my favorite things to do and also one of the most technically demanding. You’re essentially doing a miniature illustration with gel paint and a detail brush.
The key to a full-body character on a single nail is starting with the face; if the face reads correctly, the rest of the body follows. Betty’s look is so iconic that even at this scale, the big eyes and curly hair tell you immediately who she is before you even process the dress. I painted her in skin tones first, then the dress, then outlining, then details, using my 5mm brush from Amazon and my thicker brush (as seen in the video).
This is Part 1, meaning the full set reveal is coming in Part 2. But I couldn’t wait to show you this nail first. 💅
Products Used
- Detail Gel Paint From Amazon: Miss Pink Nail Gel Palette
- Filling Brush from this brush set from Amazon: 18 PCS Nail Art Brushes Set
- 5mm Brush from this Brush set from Amazon: Artdone Metallic Nail Art Pens, Liner Brushes Set
Continue Reading!
Tam, Where Have You Been? | Nails by Tam Update + What’s Next
