Akzéntz’s new Gel Art Powder can be mixed with any Options color gel to create beautiful 3-D designs. The gel does not harden until you cure it, so you have plenty of time to sculpt and perfect each petal without it setting up too soon. Just mix your colored gel with the powder until it thickens, scoop out a tiny bead, and sculpt. Here Akzéntz educator and owner of Gel Essentialz Salon in Cranston, R.I., Gina Silvestro, shows how she makes a delicate 3-D flower in white using Akzéntz Gel Art Powder. 

1. Using a spatula, mix a small amount of Options Gel Art White with Gel Art Powder on a palette, and moisten a nail wipe with Akzéntz Prep & Wipe for cleaning and wiping your brush. Using a small acrylic design brush, scoop out a tiny bead of the gel mix and place it on the nail. Dip your brush into the powder to prevent the gel from sticking to the brush as you sculpt.

Using the tip of your brush, hollow out the bead to create a “C” shape. Keep the tip of your brush in the center of the “C,” and open up the petal by pressing outward with the belly of your brush. Keep dipping into the powder as necessary if you find the bead is too wet. This will give your sculpture more definition. Flash cure after each petal for 30 seconds to freeze it in place.*


2. Wipe your brush off to remove any sticky build up. Place another bead opposite your first. Be sure to leave an empty space in the center for other layers. The amount of petals will depend upon the desired size of your flower. Silvestro suggests starting with an odd number, either three or five, and slightly overlapping some. Continue with your third petal.

 

3. Be sure to continue curing each petal as you go along. Begin your second layer following the same steps. When you are overlapping petals, be careful not to flatten them out completely. Your third layer will be the center of your rose. These petals should become smaller with each layer as you work your way to the center.

 

 

4. For your final petal place a bead in the center, clean your brush, and bring it to a nice point. Dip it back into the powder and hollow out the center of your final bead. Cure for two minutes in a UV light or 30 seconds in an LED.*


5. For the leaves, you can place multiple beads down at once. If you are not overlapping the leaves there’s no need to flash cure. Dip your brush into the powder and flatten out each leaf, bringing them into a point. Clean your brush off and tidy up the edges of your leaves. When you are finished, cure the flower for the full recommended cure time.* Two minutes in a UV light or 30 seconds in an LED.


*You can only cure the new Akzéntz UV/LED Options in the LED light. All original Options gels must be cured in a UV light.


For more information, visit www.akzentz.com.

 

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