Why I'm an Artist: Part 3

Women have been using nails as a canvas for self-expression as early as 5,000 B.C. Far from a passing trend, manicures are here to stay and will always give women an accessible way to enhance their style. Our artists are truly paving the way and setting the trends in the nail space. Hear from them about what makes Paintbox so special and how they cultivate confidence-building conversations via connections with clients. 

What was your journey to becoming an artist?

"I've tried all different jobs before, such as marketing, insurance, hospitality, but being an artist was one of my dreams that I had when I was little that I even told my dad about. So being at Paintbox and knowing all about nails and art really makes me happy! And our team loves to laugh, share stories, share food, and help each other out." -Diana

"I believe it was my calling. There's a saying that if you let something go, and it comes back then it's meant to be. And that's exactly what happend with my nail career. As a teenager I was always into beauty, but my parents would not allow me to go get my nails done at a salon. So I started teaching/experimenting on myself buying press-on kits from CVS. My best friend's mother, a salon owner, recognized my talent and helped me get formal training at 17. I continued to work as a nail tech until 25. I've always had two loves, beauty and science. I was raised to believe that beauty or anything creative was not a real career, therefore I pursued a career in mortuary science/funeral directing. Fast forward to 2015, I took a chance with Paintbox to test out a career change or in my case revival. It has been one of the best decisions I've made. As Chief Educator not only do I get to create art on my clients, but I get to approach my work scientifically when it comes to education, creating processes, and training. What also mends my two passions and careers is working with people, helping individuals whether it's during the hardest time of their lives losing a loved one or just for an hour from service to service: it's at the core of what I do." -Evelyn 

"I was a stay-at-home mom for a while, and I was doing hair. I had a few of my clients mention makeup and nails for a full service. I didn't excel at makeup, but I really enjoyed doing nails. So I decided to switch. It became more creative and fun to me to draw little characters and things on nails. So when my boys went back to school, that's all I did." -Chrissy 

"My mother has always kept her nails on point. She rocks naturally long, oval-shaped red nails. I remember as a kid just watching her take good care of her nails and just wishing to be like her. She would always say to me and my sister that you could tell a lot about a person by looking at their nails. I started doing nails 10 years ago. It started out as a hobby, and at the time, I was still in high school. I belonged to a program where you could earn college credit, and I was in the visual arts group. I had a teacher that would joke, saying that I paid too much attention to my nails and that maybe my nails should be my canvasses. If only he could see me now!" -Arelis

What brings you the most fulfillment?

"One client came early in the morning, and I had a feeling her significant other was about to propose. She said she wanted me to choose the design and color, and she ended up loving her nails. We spoke for the whole hour she was in our studio, and I told her if she does get engaged to please contact Paintbox. Turns out, she emailed us and she got engaged! This moment was so special to me." -Cindy 

"Last year, I had the opportunity to do a set of nails with nail art (all different looks!) at Paintbox for a young lady as a part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She had a special interest in nails, and it was a beautiful moment to spend those hours not only pampering her, but chatting about our love of nails together." -Julie

"I once had a bride come in the day before her wedding, and up to that point nothing was going as planned. She was having such a horrible day. After I helped her choose a design and color for her big day, she was so happy with her experience that she completely forgot about the bumps in the road before she came to Paintbox." -Michelle N

"I am most fulfilled when someone comes into Paintbox and walks out with nails exactly as or better than they imagined." -Lorryn 

"Nature - it has all of the colors and shapes, and the limit is our imagination." -Elena 

In one word, how does a mani make you feel?

"Artistic." -Chasity 

"Happy." -Coco

"Fierce." -Evelyn

"Fabulous." -Arelis

Where do you get your inspiration from?

"I get my inspiration from my clients and the smiles they give me every time I do their nails. I love how just one mani can change someone's mood. That makes me feel so good, and it's so inspiring!" -Nichole

"Museums, social media, magazines, people-watching. Basically everywhere!" -Coco

"When I was younger, I would get my inspo from nature. I loved to paint sunsets mostly, as I love how colors blend together. Now, I get my inspo from the Paintbox lookbook." -Anna