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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Katniss, Girl on Fire: Hunger Games Midnight Release Mani

Edited to add sun pictures.

After re-reading the Hunger Games in the last couple of days, I was reminded that Katniss herself had her nails done for the interview directly preceding the beginning of the Games. In the book, Katniss says Cinna's team decorates her by "painting flame designs on [her] twenty perfect nails." So of course, I had to do a flame design.


(sun)

(sun)

(artificial light)

For a background, I used Orly Iron Butterfly. I wanted it to look a bit like smoke and ashes as well as being representative of District 12's coal industry. It's an easy one-coater matte black with silver shimmer, and it resembles China Glaze Stone Cold from the Colors from the Capitol collection.


(artificial light)

I wanted a flame design but I wanted it to look a little more natural than the typical hot rod flames. So I opted to paint the flames right over the charcoal instead of using a more opaque base. I started by freehanding the flame design in China Glaze Riveting, a red-orange glass fleck.  At first I'd planned the flames coming up my nails from the tip, but decided since Katniss was the girl on fire, the flames should be coming from her nails instead.


(indirect sunlight)

After doing all the red, I used Zoya Tanzy to fill in all the flames, leaving a bit of a red outline around the edges. I went over it twice to make it a little more opaque.


(indirect sunlight)

Lastly, I added some Milani Gold Glitz to the base of each flame (at the cuticle), to make it fully opaque and add a little bit of extra sparkle. It also toned down the fire to a bronzey-gold. Again, I didn't want bright hot rod flames, but more natural coppery flames.


(indirect sunlight)

I tried so many "versions" of flames (including the "hot rod type" which were made by painting black over the flames instead of the flames on the charcoal), but these actually came out exactly how I wanted them to.  I had a heck of a time trying to get pictures of these in natural light because the glare wanted to wipe out the flame shapes.

I won't lie, these were NOT easy, and it took a LONG time. But the result made it all worth it to me. I feel like the Girl on Fire.

41 comments:

  1. gosh I love these!! awesome job!!

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  2. I have seen a bunch of HG manis today, and I think I like yours the best! It looks fabulous! I'm working on mine, but it's way more simple, I am nowhere near this skilled at freehanding. I'm going to a midnight show and I can't wait!

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  3. Wow girl, these look absolutely amazing.
    You did a great job!

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  4. Holy Moly, this is freaking awesome!!!

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  5. You really look like the girl on fire ! I love it so much that you used this more "natural" colors of the fire! Really awesome !! :D

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  6. This looks AMAZING! I can't wait for the movie tonight! weeeeee!

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  7. I love your color choices! They make it look natural. I too am rocking a Hunger Games mani for the movie. I currently have flames on my nails but they're are coming from the tips. Love how you mad the flames coming up from the nail!

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  8. GORGEOUS! These are simply amazing!

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  9. Totally gorgeous! This is my favorite flame manicure I've seen so far. (There have been tons of good ones, too!)

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  10. I love this. Its so unique compared to some of the other designs!
    I am also rocking hunger games nails, but I just did mine based on the book cover.

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  11. These are gorgeous. I think they are my favourite Hunger Games mani that I have seen!

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  12. The colours aren't my bag, but this is so beautiful! You have such talent!

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  13. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!
    Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaa!!!
    You keep bringing it! Day three of non-stop-better-than-the-last-glitter-post?! Is it possible?
    Wait, am I dead?
    Is this heaven?

    Possible.
    ;)

    -Guess who :)

    Seriously -- A-FReAKING-MAZING!!!
    Goose Got Game!

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  14. OH MY GOSH!!! This looks so amazing!!! :D I LOVE it!!! :D

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  15. wow, this is looking so great!!! you've a really nice blog, I like it :-)

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  16. Holy crap, that's some awesome nail art! O__O You're so talented!

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  17. ive seen a lot of hunger games manis's lately, most of which are flames and i gotta say - this far surpasses any of em. you did such a good job on these!

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  18. I love these! You definitely achieved what you set out to do - a more natural looking flame.

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  19. I love these! You definitely achieved what you set out to do - a more natural looking flame.

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  20. This is definitely the coolest Hunger Games mani I've seen so far! Amazing!! Well done!

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  21. ZOMG! I love these! I wanted flaming nails for the midnight premier too but I didn't have time :( So jealous! ... not that mine would have been this freaking awesome! :D

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  22. This is the best flame mani I have seen by far! Love your blog, btw!

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  23. Wow... This looks SO arty!! Will you please make a tutorial on how to to this??

    I'd love to recreate this... I ♥ this manicure!

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  24. OMG your nails! Your pictures!
    *BOOKMARKED*
    :)

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  25. LOVE!! i can't believe i didn't have your site on my google reader til now, how the heck did i let that happen?! sorry doll, lots of catching up to do :)

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  26. Exactly like I pictured her nails in the book! They're also the most realistic looking ones I've seen on the net. Beautiful work!

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  27. EXACTLY how I pictured the stylists painted her nails in the book! They're also the most realistic looking flames of all the manicures I've seen on the net. Beautiful work!

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  28. Oh. My. God.... these are FANTASTIC!

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