Water Marbelling

Hey Friends!
A Belated Happy New Year and Merry Christmas!
I had been away for quite sometimes on vacation then my computer itself decided to take a break and so much more!Sadly my blog went backstage in all these chaos but now I am back with a tutorial.It's nothing new-I am sure all of you guys know this technique by heart from the numerous step by step break downs and videos but I just thought I'll add to that number.Today's post is about water marbling nail art technique.I am not very fond of nail arts as such but I really love playing with colours and creating them though I don't wear them through the day even.I just create a new design,remove it off after sometime and again try a different design-be it colour blocking,french manicure,gradient or water marbling.But if I wear something the whole day it is almost always either a single colour or classic french manicure.
Anyways,now let's get straight into the tutorial:
First,the things you will need:

• a small bowl-use a old one or one that you can easily dicard(not one out of your mom's favorite dinner set!) because after using it for this technique you surely won't be able to eat out of it.
• The nail colours-use new bottles as the laquer will still be quite runny.If the colour thicken it won't spread easily in the water.
• q-tips-to absorb excess colours
• a sharp tipped object(needle,pencil,compass etc)-to create the design
• water(obviously)
• A container-this is optional-read on to know why this is required

Now,the procedure:

Paint your nails with a base colour-here,I used Maybelline color show-Porcelain Party-A matte white.After the laquer dries carefully wrap your fingers with cellotape.You can also use a thick layer of olive oil or vaseline-this is to ensure that the nail polish don't smear your fingers.Trust me,it is a real pain afterwards to remove the stray marks specially it's winter now and I simply run away at the sight of soap and water during these months(but I do use them even though I hate to,during winter).I used cellotapes for this reason because this is my first venture at water marbling and I did not want to take the risk of using lubricants in case they didn't work and my fingers get smeared.Here's how you wrap it:

Next fill your bowl with water to the brim.For the particular design I used Maybelline Color Show Sweet Sunshine-a bright,almost neon-like yellow and Street Wear-Magic Brick-a peachy orange.I started with dropping a drop of yellow first,it will completely diffuse and form a film on the water surface.Next at the center of the film a drop of orange-this one will spread but notice not as easily as the yellow one.Continue the procedd layering one colour over another depending on the density of the film you want.More the no.of drop,less will it spread.After that with a sharp tip object(I used a thick needle) spread or concentrate the colour and create your desired design.As a beginner I opted for abstract texture.I simply swirled the colours and broke the film.This caused the colours to spread further and form a thin film with its own texture.I just mix them a bit more and achieved the following texture.Looks fiery isn't it?:

The last part is the trickiest of all and after the attempt I had to admit it will take quite a few go(s) till I get it right.Select the part of the pattern that you want imprinted on your nails and hold your nail parallel to that.Next slowly lower your nail in the same position till it touches the pattern.Flick your finger as fast as you can inside the water so that air bubbles don't get trapped inside your manicure.This is the main issue-often air bubble gets trapped resulting in bumpy surface on the manicure.A perfect water marbled nail will have no such bumps even without a base coat.While holding your fingers within water quickly using a q-tip absorb the rest of the pattern tearing them away from your finger or else it might mess up your just imprinted water marble.I dipped one finger at a time but you can do up-to 4 fingers together depending on your expertise and confidence.Peel off the cellotapes and see the perfection of the manicure.Finish it off with a top coat.In case bubbles show up in the nail art,the base coat to some extent can reduce them.

This is the finished look.Pardon the mess,some bits of the patterns got stuck in my palm when I tried to peel the cellotape.Since I did one finger at a time I had to create the pattern repeatedly and so required to change the water and going to and fro from basin to balcony where I was doing the work  was unpracticle.So I kept a seperate bowl to change the water because parts of the film remained in the water so the next pattern didn't spread up as easily so freash water was required.

It's really easy and beautiful if you can do it correctly.Do try it!

My paintings(2)

Oil painting -"Sakuntala"
Dimensions-30"x30"
(This is only a part of the original picture and not the whole)

Watercolour on 1/4th handmade paper
an imitation from an acrylic painting

Colour pencil sketch on cartridge paper

Oil painting-Tomatoes
Still lif dimensions-20"x16"
(An imitation from a similar painting I came across through google images)

My paintings

Ink and water colour on cartridge paper

Ink and water colour on cartridge paper

the busy city road-ink and watercolour on cartridge paper

kitchen-still life in watercolour on handmade

watercolour on handmade

watercolour on handmade

portrait of rabindranath tagore in handmade paper with water colour

oil painting on self made oil sketch paper

Body Art-Permanent Tattoos(contd.)

In my last post I mentioned some of the common problems one might experience while or before getting inked.In my following post I am going to mention some of the common do's and don't regarding the procedure.
Some of the issues you need to be aware of before getting your tattoo done:

• The artist breaks the seal of the needles before you i.e. the needle is a fresh one.
• He/she wears a pair of clean surgery gloves.
• In case of a colour tattoo where you the artist will require to work with multiple colours,he/she must use seperate needles for different colours or at the least thoroughly clean the needle before dipping it in another shade.This is because if there remains any residue of the previous shade used it will tend to get mixed with the next colour and the result might be a shade altogether different from what expected. Eg. If the first shade used is black,and the next to be used is crimson,then the resultant if the colour mix will be a brownish shade.
• There are two types of needles-A liner(an linear arrangement of 5 extremely fine needles) and a shader(a octagonal arrangement of 8 needles with one in center that is a total of 9 needles).As the name suggests the liner's main function is drawing of line tatoos and borders and fine line.Working with liner is a slow process.While the shader's main purpose is blending colours and works that require filling colours.Working with a shader is a faster process and it can also serve the purpose of a liner.But shaders are costlier compared to liners.

Your tattoo will look like any other normal wound except that it is colourful.It won't look fabulous(in fact it might even appear hideous)from the very first day.It might pain,throb like any other wound but remember this will last only for a week at most if you take proper care of the tattoo.Here are some aftercare you need to keep in mind:

• After getting inked,don't touch a drop of water to it at least for the first three days.
• Let the wound breath.It will heal up faster.But make sure the open wound is always clean enough and don't attract dirt.You will notice a trasperant liquid secreting as it does in any other wound-use a soft clean piece of cotton to dab it dry.
• Next step is the tricky part as it contradicts with my second point-use petroleum based balms(I used vaseline) to keep the area "wet".Apply it twice a day especially before bedtime.As any wounds dry up flakes develop which peels off when skin regeneration is complete.The purpose of using this balms is to keep this flakes wet.The longer the flakes remain the richer will be the hue of colour.This step can be quite messy as I observed using a balm healed my wound faster but there was much liquid secretion and I had to always keep an eye on the tattoo making sure that only the tattoo remains wet and not my entire hand.but then the mess is totally worthwhile as I have very bright colouring of my tattoo.
• Don't pull off the flakes.Let them shade on their own.Pulling them off not only will create a discolouration but also the skin might break,bleed and once the area is healed you will see that that portion doesn't have any colour at all.
• You will of course need to bathe and that would mean wetting your tattoo for sure.To avoid this problem you can apply a considerable amount of olive oil or baby oil on the tattoo before bath as this will make a slippery layer between your skin and the water molecules making it difficult for the water to get absorbed.But note that,this point refferes to after the first three days when you can allow little water to come in touch but not abundant.
• It might pain or swell,as the skin generates it will also feel taut but don't even think of using pain killer balms,or any medicines.The colour won't be rich enough.
• Try and avoid any type of friction as much as possible like rubbing hard with a towel,or while sleeping,the flakes will tear away and the open wounds always are at risk of infections.
• Drink at least more than 2lts of water daily.This will make your skin healthier and hence the tattoo as well.
• Last but not the least,massage a body oil(please take care that it is 'oil' and NOT 'lotion')daily for the next couple of weeks till it heals completely to keep the area moisturized.

Follow this few basic hygiene factors and your tattoo will glow for you to flaunt it befor the world.Do please leave suggestions and ideas you have on the topic.Have you ever been inked before?Share your experience here with me.For now,good night and sweet dreams! :)

Body Art

Hi!
Happy Independence Day!
I hope all are enjoying their holiday.Today's post is about a thriving new art which is also a favourite of mine-permanent tattoos.Among the latest trends 'getting inked' is among the top three.But this art however beautiful it might look has several health hazards if not executed perfectly and also require some maintenance.Having first hand experience of the procedure I can tell you that this art is not for the whimsical.I mean is it really a feasible idea that you get inked today and within a fortnight opt for laser treatment because you no longer like your tattoo or came across some even more attractive designs?? There are few things you should know before getting inked and today I am going to provide a easy summary of every facts,do's and don't regarding this art.
Lets start with a brief history.Do you know that tattooing is practiced since the Neolithic age?The modern technologies today have enabled impossible designs to be engraved in the skin.The procedure is only as deep as your dermis layer of the flesh.deeper penetration can be extremely harmful and undoubtedly painful.Now,some of the things you should be aware of before opting for the procedure:

• Be sure of what you want.Remember this is a permanent process and alteration is neither easy nor pocket friendly.So first make up your mind.Though the art is permanent but trends in the art are not.What is 'in' fashion today is bound to go out of fashion a couple of years later like 3d tattoos,large tattoos have outshined small tattoos today.
• Do a bit of research for your own knowledge before getting ink specially about best available tattoo inks,the needles and hygeine factors.Also as a extra precaution consult a doctor about your skin.
• Tattooing is a painful procedure especially if you have stiff muscles.We tend to stiffen more when we are afraid so relax,don't be scared.Believe me the pain is nothing more than ant's sting at some places. However places that are bony like your shoulder blades,knee cap,beneath or over the ankles,collarbone and behind the ears tend to hurt the most.But then again it depends on your ability to endure pain.
• Always opt for established professional parlours.You can go for the local ones only if you are sure enough about the quality promised.
  

  

  
  
  

  A 3d tattoo( image courtesy:google images)

  This is all for today.Coming up are the hygiene factor you should observe while getting inked and the do's and don't about tattooing.Have a nice day!