The technique of Chinese nail painting, also known as the double stroke technique, is astonishing in its beauty and depth. It represents not just characters, but a variety of images: flowers, natural landscapes, animals, birds and even entire compositions. In this article, we will dive into the world of Chinese nail art, review its technique, the materials used, trace its history and discuss some unique features of this art.

The technique itself is quite old, and originated in China under the name "gohua". Its distinctive feature was that the drawing was made on silk, rice paper or fans with the help of ink. A similar technique was used in the Urals in Tagil painting 250 years ago. Here drawings were applied to caskets and other objects for their decoration.


Chinese nail painting is a technique where the drawing is embodied with a flat brush dipped in several shades of paint, then the mastery of movements to create spectacular transitions between colours. Thanks to this technique, harmonious and realistic patterns emerge, which perfectly complement and decorate the nails.


In modern nail design is in demand the technique of "one stroke", in which the drawing on the nails is created with the help of special strokes. This practice has its roots in the philosophy of Chinese painting, where each technique is considered committed to a particular element. For example, there are strokes that symbolise water or fire. For example, to depict bamboo, strokes are used that mimic the movements of the tree - confident, quick and jerky brush strokes.

A list of tools and materials for making a Chinese or "double stroke" design:

- Narrow flat bevelled brush with artificial nap;


- Palette for a set of colours;



- Wide set of acrylic nail painting colours or gel paints, Painting+Stamping.




If you first decided to try painting in this technique, purchased all the above materials, then it is worth starting with drawings of the basic elements on paper.

1. Do a classic manicure: shape your nails by removing imperfections, then buff the nails to smooth them. Don't overdo it to avoid damaging the nail plate. Then gently soften the cuticle with a cuticle remover and push it back with an orange stick.



2. Cover your nails with a base coat.

3. Choose the main colour for the nail background. The background colour for the nails can be done using gel polish or gel paint.


4. Apply two coats of the base colour to your nails to achieve a more even coverage without transparent areas or streaks.

5. Next, the pattern is directly applied using a flat brush and the selected paint colours.

Colours are worth mentioning separately. It is in their proper selection that the beauty of the pattern lies. It is recommended to take colours of similar tones: red and pink, blue and blue, green and salad. White is well combined with all colours. Colours are usually taken no more than three pieces. They are applied to the palette, then on the brush: on one side - one colour, on the second - another. Then in the place of their contact it is necessary to spread the colours for a smooth transition. The most important thing in Chinese painting is to learn the correct brush technique to give the right shape to the colours.

6. Once the paint has dried, a thick setting finish coat is applied to create a glossy, long-wearing finish.

Acrylic painting

Masters use water-soluble acrylic paints to create patterns when they need to make a clear drawing. They are ideal both for creating drawings and for aquarium design, they are simple, with glitter, pearlescent and luminous (fluorescent). If you decide to make a manicure yourself, and know how to draw, it is better to choose quick-drying acrylic paints saturated deep colours, which can be applied to ordinary varnishes. The most optimal at home are considered pearlescent, they lie down perfectly and do not crack.

Watercolour painting

The same paints are used that artists use to create watercolours. The drawing turns out a little blurred and resembles the paintings of impressionists. Watercolour painting, unlike many nail art techniques, requires artistic skills from the master, as each element of the picture is created manually with a brush, but at the same time gives almost unlimited possibilities for original design.

Painting with gel colours
 
Gel paint is a high-quality, widely used option for the design of artificial and natural nail plates. Do not confuse this preparation with gel, which is designed for nail extensions. Gel colours are used in order to paint nails. The sphere of their application is exclusively decoration. At the same time, they do not just allow you to decorate your nails with a pattern, but also guarantee the drawing of the smallest details.

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