How to paint the Euro 2024 mascot, Albärt, on nails
Seasonal & Occasions, Step by Step
Essex-based Gemma Dawson is an English competition and social media nail artist, specialising in character, micro and 3D designs. She came fourth in Scratch’s World’s Star Nail Artist competition in 2023. To mark Euro 2024, Gemma reveals how to create a portrait of the tournament’s mascot: teddy bear, Albärt, on a nail.
Did you know? The Euro 2024 mascot was named Albärt following a vote among UEFA.com users and European schoolchildren. It is hoped the character will inspire children across Europe to enjoy playing football.
Step 1
Prep the nail, then apply white gel polish and cure. Using a medium to light brown gel polish, paint a flattened oval shape, with two smaller circles at the top, on the right and left. This forms Albärt’s head and ears. Use your brush to create the effect of tufts of fur either side of the head. Cure.
Step 2
Using a lighter brown gel polish shade, paint a small circle on the bottom half of Albärt’s face and two semicircles inside the ears. Cure.
Step 3
Near the top of the light brown circle at the bottom of the head, paint a softened diamond shape using black gel polish and cure. In line with this shape on the right, paint a semicircle using white gel polish. Cure.
Step 4
On the opposite side of the face, paint a curved, black gel polish line and directly above that, a black crescent moon shape lying on its side, to create an eyebrow. Cure.
Step 5
Add a second black crescent moon shape on the opposite side of the face to create the other eyebrow, and outline the entire face in black gel polish, including the open eye, before curing. Paint the eye’s iris using green gel polish and cure. Next, create Albärt’s mouth in black gel polish, painting a U-shape then a curved line across the top of the U. Cure, then paint the teeth using white gel polish and cure.
Step 6
Using a slightly darker brown gel polish shade than Albärt’s face, add some shading to the head in areas that would have a natural shadow. With white gel polish, add a highlight to the open eye and cure.
Step 7
Paint the background using a dark blue gel polish hue in keeping with the Euro 2024 colour scheme and cure. Apply top coat and cure to finish.
