We recently connected with Tohko Nishimoto and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Tohko thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
Yes, as a nail artist my happiness stems from the creative freedom and self-expression I can bring to others. Previously I was in e-commerce and retail and I realized that even if it were in a similar field, I was still missing something. Finding nail art as a passion seemed like a natural evolution of my career path and I’m glad to have followed my heart.
Tohko, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Tohko, I’m a nail artist based in Los Angeles but am originally from Japan. Instead of working in a salon, I do house calls wherein I travel to each client for each request. The process of interacting with clients, understanding their wishes, and making them come true is always a refreshing and fun experience. I have also done work for magazine shoots, commercials, and some music videos. It brings me great joy to see my work in action and on display for others to enjoy.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
In order to hone my creativity, I am constantly seeking new experiences. To be conscious of exploring places and things that I am unfamiliar with, allows me to expand my imagination. With that in mind, I may find art hidden in the various scenes of daily life and generate ideas that lead to art. To make use of these sensibilities, my aim is to bring forth the creativity and self-expression of myself and others through nail art. To make the designs into reality and allow for new and uniquely exciting fashion to come to life is my ultimate goal as a nail artist.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Working as a nail artist in America, I have a lot of fun being able to freely express what I like with my nails. What brings the most joy is when my work is appreciated by others. The reward is in the feedback of my clients, that I uniquely added to their fashion, their self-expression. I love the time I spend creating my nails by myself, brainstorming the best designs with customers, and working with fellow nail artists on a particular theme. I hope to continue to do so in the future. I want to always create nails that bring passion and excitement to the people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nails-by-touko.com/
- Instagram: @bytouko
- Other: TikTok @bytouko
Image Credits
For the last photo, Model @pyperamerica Photographer @jorafrantzis Makeup @paulyblanch Styling @maleeka.moss