Obsessulating over ELPHABA
ALICE NALI, Scratch Stars Mixed Media Artist of the Year 2025 & Nailympia London 2025 Art Winner of Winners (Division 3) shares a step-by-step guide to painting Wicked protagonist, Elphaba, portrayed by Cynthia Erivo, on nails
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Step 1 Apply white gel polish to the nail and cure, followed by a layer of matte top coat. This creates a smooth, non-slippery surface for sketching. Cure the top coat, then lightly draw a grid on the nail for proportion purposes. With a fine brush and brown gel paint, lightly sketch the outline of Elphaba, using a reference image. Flash cure in stages to prevent smudges. When the sketch is complete, fully cure, then apply matte top coat and cure. This will make the surface easier to paint on and help control the placement of colour.
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Step 2 Add green to Elphaba’s face using gel paints, switching between light and dark shades to create depth. Do not cure. Work in sections, starting with the eyes then moving outwards. At this stage, focus on colour placement only; do not blend.
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Step 3 Using a clean micro-brush, gently pat along the edges where colours meet to create soft transitions. Cure. Clean the brush frequently to remove excess product and prevent muddying.
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Step 4 Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the cheeks, nose and mouth, applying and blending colours gradually. Maintain balance and symmetry in the face to preserve the likeness of your reference.
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Step 5 Paint finer details such as eyelashes, eyebrows and subtle highlights within the eyes using gel paints and a thin nail art brush. These elements bring the portrait to life. Flash cure as colour is applied. Fully cure once the facial details are complete.
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Step 6 Using the wet-on-wet painting technique, create Elphaba’s hair, clothing and hat. Work in sections to maintain control over the blending. Cure when you are satisfied with the look.
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Step 7 Paint a light blue gel polish background around the portrait to provide contrast, and cure. This step also defines Elphaba’s profile.
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Step 8 Apply a glossy gel polish top coat for a slick finish. Cure.
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Alice Nali was presented with the
Scratch Stars Award
for
Mixed Media Artist of the Year
at
The Scratch Stars Party
2025, owing to her industry knowledge, prowess and ‘Out Of This World’-themed competition day creation.