<p><strong>Edina Aigner</strong>, Rathdrum, Idaho (&ldquo;The Kiss&rdquo; by Gustav Klimt)</p>

Edina Aigner, Rathdrum, Idaho (“The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt)

<p><strong>Crystal McKenna</strong>, Riverside, R.I. (&ldquo;Two Girls Reading&rdquo; by Pablo Picasso)</p>

Crystal McKenna, Riverside, R.I. (“Two Girls Reading” by Pablo Picasso)

<p><strong>Christy Slavinsky</strong>, New Port Richey, Fla. (&ldquo;Woman With Umbrella&rdquo; by Claude Monet)</p>

Christy Slavinsky, New Port Richey, Fla. (“Woman With Umbrella” by Claude Monet)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Crystal McKenna</strong>, Riverside, R.I. (&ldquo;The Scream&rdquo; by Edvard Munch)</p>

Honorable Mention: Crystal McKenna, Riverside, R.I. (“The Scream” by Edvard Munch)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Ashley Loveridge</strong>, Lords Valley, Pa. (&ldquo;Still Life With Fruit&rdquo; by Paul LaCroix)<br /><br /></p>

Honorable Mention: Ashley Loveridge, Lords Valley, Pa. (“Still Life With Fruit” by Paul LaCroix)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Stephanie Gray</strong>, Covington, Ga. (&ldquo;The Persistence of Memory&rdquo; by Salvador Dali)<br /><br /></p>

Honorable Mention: Stephanie Gray, Covington, Ga. (“The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dali)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Julie Ventura</strong>, Hoboken, N.J. (&ldquo;Starry Night&rdquo; by Vincent van Gogh)</p>

Honorable Mention: Julie Ventura, Hoboken, N.J. (“Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Vickie Chilla</strong>, Eustis, Fla. (&ldquo;Sunny Road&rdquo; by Auguste Macke [left] and &ldquo;Three Black Cats&rdquo; by Maud Lewis)</p>

Honorable Mention: Vickie Chilla, Eustis, Fla. (“Sunny Road” by Auguste Macke [left] and “Three Black Cats” by Maud Lewis)

<p><strong>Yamilka Sanchez</strong>, Cleveland (&ldquo;Girl With the Pearl Earring&rdquo; by Johannes Vermeer)</p>

Yamilka Sanchez, Cleveland (“Girl With the Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer)

<p><strong>Stephanie Rae Schoolcraft</strong>, Montgomery, W.Va. (&ldquo;Woman in a Purple Coat&rdquo; by Henri Matisse)</p>

Stephanie Rae Schoolcraft, Montgomery, W.Va. (“Woman in a Purple Coat” by Henri Matisse)

<p><strong>Kristina McReynolds</strong>, Phoenix, Ariz. (&ldquo;Landscape of Butterflies&rdquo; by Salvador Dali)</p>

Kristina McReynolds, Phoenix, Ariz. (“Landscape of Butterflies” by Salvador Dali)

<p><strong>Heather Temple</strong>, Pittsburgh, Pa. (&ldquo;Dream&rdquo; by Pablo Picasso)</p>

Heather Temple, Pittsburgh, Pa. (“Dream” by Pablo Picasso)

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<p><strong>Edina Aigner</strong>, Rathdrum, Idaho (&ldquo;The Kiss&rdquo; by Gustav Klimt)</p>
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Edina Aigner, Rathdrum, Idaho (“The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt)

<p><strong>Crystal McKenna</strong>, Riverside, R.I. (&ldquo;Two Girls Reading&rdquo; by Pablo Picasso)</p>
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Crystal McKenna, Riverside, R.I. (“Two Girls Reading” by Pablo Picasso)

<p><strong>Christy Slavinsky</strong>, New Port Richey, Fla. (&ldquo;Woman With Umbrella&rdquo; by Claude Monet)</p>
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Christy Slavinsky, New Port Richey, Fla. (“Woman With Umbrella” by Claude Monet)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Crystal McKenna</strong>, Riverside, R.I. (&ldquo;The Scream&rdquo; by Edvard Munch)</p>
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Honorable Mention: Crystal McKenna, Riverside, R.I. (“The Scream” by Edvard Munch)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Ashley Loveridge</strong>, Lords Valley, Pa. (&ldquo;Still Life With Fruit&rdquo; by Paul LaCroix)<br /><br /></p>
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Honorable Mention: Ashley Loveridge, Lords Valley, Pa. (“Still Life With Fruit” by Paul LaCroix)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Stephanie Gray</strong>, Covington, Ga. (&ldquo;The Persistence of Memory&rdquo; by Salvador Dali)<br /><br /></p>
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Honorable Mention: Stephanie Gray, Covington, Ga. (“The Persistence of Memory” by Salvador Dali)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Julie Ventura</strong>, Hoboken, N.J. (&ldquo;Starry Night&rdquo; by Vincent van Gogh)</p>
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Honorable Mention: Julie Ventura, Hoboken, N.J. (“Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh)

<p>Honorable Mention: <strong>Vickie Chilla</strong>, Eustis, Fla. (&ldquo;Sunny Road&rdquo; by Auguste Macke [left] and &ldquo;Three Black Cats&rdquo; by Maud Lewis)</p>
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Honorable Mention: Vickie Chilla, Eustis, Fla. (“Sunny Road” by Auguste Macke [left] and “Three Black Cats” by Maud Lewis)

<p><strong>Yamilka Sanchez</strong>, Cleveland (&ldquo;Girl With the Pearl Earring&rdquo; by Johannes Vermeer)</p>
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Yamilka Sanchez, Cleveland (“Girl With the Pearl Earring” by Johannes Vermeer)

<p><strong>Stephanie Rae Schoolcraft</strong>, Montgomery, W.Va. (&ldquo;Woman in a Purple Coat&rdquo; by Henri Matisse)</p>
10/12
 
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Stephanie Rae Schoolcraft, Montgomery, W.Va. (“Woman in a Purple Coat” by Henri Matisse)

<p><strong>Kristina McReynolds</strong>, Phoenix, Ariz. (&ldquo;Landscape of Butterflies&rdquo; by Salvador Dali)</p>
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Kristina McReynolds, Phoenix, Ariz. (“Landscape of Butterflies” by Salvador Dali)

<p><strong>Heather Temple</strong>, Pittsburgh, Pa. (&ldquo;Dream&rdquo; by Pablo Picasso)</p>
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Heather Temple, Pittsburgh, Pa. (“Dream” by Pablo Picasso)

It requires a lot of talent and a little bit of nerve to take on the world’s greatest masters. These bold nail artists rolled up their sleeves, gathered their finest brushes, and attempted to re-create a famous work of art on a nail tip to compete in this year’s Mini-Masterpiece Contest. As you’ll see, the results are astounding.

Meet the Winner

It was an iconic American image that caught the eye of internationally known nail tech and frequent NAILS cover artist Elsbeth Schuetz. In 1942, Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller was hired by the Westinghouse Company’s War Production Coordinating Committee to create a series of posters for the war effort. It was Schuetz’s nail-tip-sized version Miller’s poster titled “We Can Do It” that made her this year’s top vote-getter. She was drawn to its theme and its implications today. “It portrayed confidence that with hard work we can overcome the current economic state,” she says.

Though it didn’t take her long to paint, she says, she took extreme care. “One infinitesimal brushstroke can change the entire expression. I guess I changed the lips six times.” Her tip for others wishing to preserve their own nail art masterpieces: “Finish with clear UV top gel. Regular top coat may smear and blur your detailed work.”

Gone Fishing: NAILS 2011 Mini-Masterpiece Contest Winners

Wave of Success: NAILS 2010 Mini-Masterpiece Contest Winners

American Beauty: NAILS 2009 Mini-Masterpiece Contest Winners

Girl Before A Mirror: NAILS 2008 Mini-Masterpiece Contest Winners

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