<p>2008 1ST PLACE WINNER:&nbsp;&nbsp;Robert Nguyen,&nbsp;an OPI guest artist and A-Team member, happens to be brother of Vu Nguyen,&nbsp;winner of&nbsp;the Self-Portrait competition in 2006. Is sibling rivalry at play? &ldquo;Well yeah!&rdquo; says Nguyen. &ldquo;When you see your brother&rsquo;s portrait in NAILS Magazine it just drives you to try to do better.&nbsp;We have always been competitive.&rdquo;&nbsp; He offers these tips for creating a mini-portrait: &ldquo;First have a print out or a vision of what you&rsquo;re going to paint. Start painting basics and then slowly put in your detail. I would find a starting point such as the eyes or nose, then work around that. Have patience and remember to take break."</p>

2008 1ST PLACE WINNER:  Robert Nguyen, an OPI guest artist and A-Team member, happens to be brother of Vu Nguyen, winner of the Self-Portrait competition in 2006. Is sibling rivalry at play? “Well yeah!” says Nguyen. “When you see your brother’s portrait in NAILS Magazine it just drives you to try to do better. We have always been competitive.”  He offers these tips for creating a mini-portrait: “First have a print out or a vision of what you’re going to paint. Start painting basics and then slowly put in your detail. I would find a starting point such as the eyes or nose, then work around that. Have patience and remember to take break."

<blockquote style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr">
<p>2008 2ND PLACE: Kristen Powers, St. Louis, Mo.</p>
</blockquote>

2008 2ND PLACE: Kristen Powers, St. Louis, Mo.

<p>2008 3RD PLACE: Amy Becker, Cedarburg, Wisc.</p>

2008 3RD PLACE: Amy Becker, Cedarburg, Wisc.

<p>2008 4TH PLACE: K.P.S. Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka</p>

2008 4TH PLACE: K.P.S. Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka

<p>2009 2nd Place: Natalie Wargo</p>

2009 2nd Place: Natalie Wargo

<p>2009 3rd Place: Brenda Skermont</p>

2009 3rd Place: Brenda Skermont

<p>2009 Honorable Mention: Patty Lopez</p>

2009 Honorable Mention: Patty Lopez

<p>2009 Honorable Mention: Rachel Ouellette</p>

2009 Honorable Mention: Rachel Ouellette

<p>2009 Honorable Mention: Michelle Ward</p>

2009 Honorable Mention: Michelle Ward

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<p>2008 1ST PLACE WINNER:&nbsp;&nbsp;Robert Nguyen,&nbsp;an OPI guest artist and A-Team member, happens to be brother of Vu Nguyen,&nbsp;winner of&nbsp;the Self-Portrait competition in 2006. Is sibling rivalry at play? &ldquo;Well yeah!&rdquo; says Nguyen. &ldquo;When you see your brother&rsquo;s portrait in NAILS Magazine it just drives you to try to do better.&nbsp;We have always been competitive.&rdquo;&nbsp; He offers these tips for creating a mini-portrait: &ldquo;First have a print out or a vision of what you&rsquo;re going to paint. Start painting basics and then slowly put in your detail. I would find a starting point such as the eyes or nose, then work around that. Have patience and remember to take break."</p>
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2008 1ST PLACE WINNER:  Robert Nguyen, an OPI guest artist and A-Team member, happens to be brother of Vu Nguyen, winner of the Self-Portrait competition in 2006. Is sibling rivalry at play? “Well yeah!” says Nguyen. “When you see your brother’s portrait in NAILS Magazine it just drives you to try to do better. We have always been competitive.”  He offers these tips for creating a mini-portrait: “First have a print out or a vision of what you’re going to paint. Start painting basics and then slowly put in your detail. I would find a starting point such as the eyes or nose, then work around that. Have patience and remember to take break."

<blockquote style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px" dir="ltr">
<p>2008 2ND PLACE: Kristen Powers, St. Louis, Mo.</p>
</blockquote>
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2008 2ND PLACE: Kristen Powers, St. Louis, Mo.

<p>2008 3RD PLACE: Amy Becker, Cedarburg, Wisc.</p>
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2008 3RD PLACE: Amy Becker, Cedarburg, Wisc.

<p>2008 4TH PLACE: K.P.S. Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka</p>
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2008 4TH PLACE: K.P.S. Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka

<p>2009 2nd Place: Natalie Wargo</p>
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2009 2nd Place: Natalie Wargo

<p>2009 3rd Place: Brenda Skermont</p>
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2009 3rd Place: Brenda Skermont

<p>2009 Honorable Mention: Patty Lopez</p>
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2009 Honorable Mention: Patty Lopez

<p>2009 Honorable Mention: Rachel Ouellette</p>
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2009 Honorable Mention: Rachel Ouellette

<p>2009 Honorable Mention: Michelle Ward</p>
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2009 Honorable Mention: Michelle Ward

Because nail artists never tire of a challenge -- and never cease to amaze -- we're always trying to push them to create new masterpieces. In this gallery, view the self-portraits of top nail artists: how they see themselves, on the tip of a nail. If you'd like more information on the NAILS Self-Portrait contest, or more information about upcoming nail art contests, email Judy Lessin at judy.lessin@bobit.com.

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