Meet The World’s Star Nail Artist shortlist: ERIN PASCHKE, USA

Erin Paschke is a nail stylist from Oregon, USA, and one of the 21 shortlisted applicants in The World’s Star Nail Artist competition 2023. Get to know her, below…

What’s your background in nails? When and why did you enter the nail industry?

I’ve been doing my own nails since I was in my teens. I decided I wanted to create a career of this but it took me until my 30s to accomplish that goal. I’ve been doing nails now for 7 years professionally. I started my career to stop being unhappy with what I was finding in the nail salons I was going too. It was so hard to find nail art! I would have my nails done plain and go home to do art.  And now that its my career I have loved every minute of it. I do mini art pieces every day and now my clientele are mostly all art or fancy nails.

What’s been the highlight of your career to date?

Opening my own salon space. Being able to create a safe and fun environment for other nail and Salon professionals who want to learn and push themselves past their limits. I’ve won some smaller local state nail art competitions and its a thrill every time to create a new piece. Being able to share the skills I’ve learned and have a fun time doing it, makes it rewarding to go to work every day.

What are your career goals and aspirations?

I’m currently in the process of opening a much larger salon space with private suites. This has been a goal of mine to be able to have the space to help coach others and lean more into that kind of roll in the industry. I’d love to teach and help lead with the skills I’ve learned along the way while helping others stay motivated to continue in our industry and build their own clients and future.

What kind of nail artist are you? What’s your signature style and favoured techniques?

I like to think I do it all… but I love hand painting. I’ve more recently fallen in love with 3d and 4d nail designs… I like to think I’m a forward thinking artist who gives their clients fun designs that bring them joy. I love when they get exactly what they’re wanting and haven’t been able to find elsewhere.

What do you love about working in the nail industry?

The constant ever changing motion. Its a new look every day. New designs and styles that come out all the time. I love not knowing what’s going to come next and then figuring out how to accomplish that look. I also love the comraderie and friendships you can create. Creating life long support and tribe with others in the industry. Learning from each other.

How did you feel to be shortlisted in The World’s Star Nail Artist competition?

I was shocked and blown away in addition to initially being very intimidated by the artists involved. The amount of talent in the competition is insane and I was excited and grateful and to be grouped with them. It was invigorating to feel like I am at a level to compete with talent like all of them. I’m so grateful and excited for the opportunity to be in the first competition and I find myself in awe. It has made me really want to push myself out of my boundaries and keep up with these top artists.

How did you find the preliminary challenge?

Wow… and a little dumbfounded truly. It was hard to solidify a direction I wanted when it was so specific yet so broad at the same time. I plan on getting out of my own mental way the next round. It’s hard to capture movement and fluid translucent looks. But I loved working through what I chose to do. There were a few moments I actually surprised myself a bit.

What is this competition doing for your profile and skillset?

It’s giving me more confidence in my ability to be a top nail artist. It’s helping me not question myself and my talent and really makes me mentally work through ideas and art and designs differently. I’m seeing things differently artistically. It’s very refreshing.

If you could create artistic nails for anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and what design would you create?

David bowie 100%. I absolutely loved him and grew up watching labyrinth and listening to his music and he was such a truly innovative, imaginative artist in every aspect. I’d love to create a set that encompasses his top accomplishments. He was dramatic in his music and in theatre and I would love to create nails that have personal flare from his music, Ziggy stardust, the labyrinth, 27 albums of vast variety… bright moving colours, pieces, elements along with dark broody look as well. I just love David bowie.

What would it mean to you to win this competition?

It would be a huge accomplishment. It would give me confidence in my direction as an artist as well as a salon owner and educator. It would mean a lot along the way for my skill and art, along with whatever is at the end of this journey to help provide for the new salon I’m currently working on.
It would give me pride in showing my 4yr old daughter that love for your work and hard work takes you to your dreams. She sees mom create. She sees mom put in long hours. Early and late. And it means the world to be to hear “Mommy, I’m proud of you,” in her tiny fairy voice. Xo

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