CHAMPIONING PROFESSIONAL ARTISTRY & CREATIVITY
CHALLENGE 4 - February 2025
NASNA Challenge 4: Now & Zen sponsored by Gelish
February 1 @ 09.00 PST: Challenge 4 revealed.
February 14 @ 17.00 PST: Challenge 4 due.
February 21 @ 09.00 PST: Techs through to Challenge 5, and techs competing in Wild Card announced.
February 25 @ 09.00 PST: Wild Card Challenge 4 due.
February 28 @ 12.00 PST: Wild Card winner and eliminated contestants announced.
For this challenge, you get to use your own gel polishes and/or gel and acrylic paints to create a design that welcomes a colorful spring!
THE TASK:
This challenge is designed to test your hand-painting skills. Using Gelish's spring 2025 nail colour collection, Now & Zen, as inspiration, create a 2D (flat) nail art design based on the collection theme (detailed below). ONLY gel polishes, gel paints and acrylic paints are to be used within this challenge (alongside nail art tools such as brushes, sponges or dotting tools).
"Now & Zen is inspired by the whimsical tones pulled straight from nature’s most stunning everyday landscapes.
"From sea to sky and everything in between, the Now & Zen collection draws playful pops of creativity from the colors that seem to bloom from the atmosphere around us when we slow down long enough to take in its effortless beauty."
Contestants are free to interpret the collection however they see fit, as long as they are demonstrating creativity and attention to detail. Designs can be individual to each nail, or flow across the five nails.
To get in the spirit even more, contestants must also reveal their inspiration in the video. The story doesn’t have to relate to the nail creation and will not be judged, it’s just a fun way for the judges to get to know each contestant.
At the end of this challenge, Gelish will gift you the complete Now & Zen gel polish collection (plus base & top coat), to congratulate you on your creation. You may use this within the challenge if you receive it in time, but there will be no extra marks for doing so.
COLOR INSPIRATION:
MOOD BOARD:
PARTICULARS:
Nails for this challenge should be shown on a single hand (five nails). Nails must feature freestyle painting and placed on a model (you can be your own model).
The design can be on a base of: natural nails, soft gel tips, PolyGel or L&P acrylic enhancements. No embellishments, 3D work, textured finishes, stickers, decals or encapsulation of products. Scores will be weighted on hand-painting skills over structure for this challenge, and points will be deducted if products are used outside of those specified (gel polishes, gel paints and acrylic paints) for the hand-painting element.
Gelish is looking for a creative, trendy, original and fashion-forward design. Have fun with this challenge by showing us your creativity and hand-painting skills with your trusted painting products!
DELIVERABLES:
- High-quality images of your final nail design from the top, side and front angles, and a close-up of each nail.
- A 5-7 minute video diary (max 40MB) demonstrating your creative process, including how you work with your chosen products and your inspiration. Show as much technique as you can with your gel polishes and paints. Show the creation of each nail, and the overall look together, and share pro tips and techniques.
- Write-up: Share a short explanation or story behind your nail art in your video. What inspired your design? (500 words max.)
DEADLINE:
Images, write-up and video link all must be submitted by 17.00 PST on February 14.
If you have issues with the entry form, please submit the required content via WeTransfer to competitions@scratchmagazine.co.uk.
NORTH AMERICA'S STAR NAIL ARTIST IS SPONSORED BY
