The Artist Within: The Top 3 and the Bottom 3

Challenge 6, sponsored by Artistic, asked our Top 7 to make mini nail masterpieces that unleash their inner artist. Contestants were allowed to use any mediums necessary on five nail tips so long as they showed us what it meant to be an artist. A 5-7 minute video diary was also requested. This week’s guest judge was Alisha Rimando Botero of Artistic Nail Design.

In alphabetical order, the Top 3 are:

Deanna White: Deanna, your pop-up book was a smash hit! This week you pushed the envelope and impressed the judges all while making them smile. You’re going to have to continue to push the boundaries and perfect your video-making to stay in the Top.

Tracey Lee: At first glance your nail tips don’t appear to be cohesive. Luckily, your incredibly imaginative and fun video brings it all together. We know you are an artist who thinks outside the box and we loved your words of encouragement to other artists. Well done!

Tracy Vinson: Tracy, we welcome you back on Top! Your piano, your car, your frame, all were beloved by the judges. You shared great techniques and tips that we believe will help other artists as well. There’s no question you have a signature style, just remember to keep showing the judges you can do something new.

The following tech can breathe again. He is in the middle of this week’s pack and is safe. Congratulations to:

Jonny Diep Pham: The judges know when it comes to detail work you can make anything look realistic. The door, palette, and eyeball were all fantastic examples of that. You took the theme literally and while it was beautiful as always, we want you to step outside of your comfort zone a bit with the gradient base.

Unfortunately, there always has to be a bottom group. The bottom 3, in alphabetical order, are:

Cate Widemire: The judges find it hard to believe you have never sculpted before! You’re a natural. The play on construction and destruction wowed the judges. We also liked that you went to a museum for inspiration. Refinement is key when it comes to creating faces. Remember to keep the angle of your video consistently from the tech’s perspective.

Dana Cecil: Your feathers were on-point, but the dream catcher isn’t sculpted to perfection. At this point in the competition you need to bring absolute precision to every detail. As always, your video was nicely done.

Liina Leino: The judges loved the movement in your piece. The colors of your cranes and the origami style captivated the judges, as did your always awesome video. It’s clear editing is one of your strengths, however, this week there was too much editing at the base of the nails. Perhaps a separate design in place of the wood would have added more to this already beautiful piece.