This nail design, depicting a quaint wildlife scene, evolved out of a growing negative space trend, which combines color and art with exposed natural nail. Milan, Italy-based Color Club nail technician Alessandra Marchesi created the look by hand with polish and acrylic paint. Marchesi is a former fashion designer-turned-tech who moved into the nail realm after getting inspired by Robin Moses’ YouTube videos. “Use your hands to say something,” says Marchesi. “Nails aren’t just for decoration, but a canvas for art.”

1. Start by preparing the nails. This design can be done both on natural and gel/acrylic nails. 
2. Use Stuck on You by Color Club, or the base coat of your choice, to create an adhesive base for your nail art. 
3. With a medium beige (Marchesi used Ruby Wing’s Lagoon), create a faded design, applying the color starting from the free edge of the nail downward. Marchesi also suggests trying a shade shifting polish for the background in this design.
 
4. Apply little strokes of a translucent glitter polish. (Marchesi used Si Vous Please by Color Club.)
5. Using a striper brush, apply lines in a dark olive green coming down from the free edge. The lines should resemble blades of grass — try to give them an irregular look.  
6. Using a dark brown (almost black) polish or acrylic paint, draw the birds. Use beige paint or polish to add feathers and a beak. Then add a touch of medium gray and white to add dimension. Seal your design with top coat and then pamper the cuticle. 

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