We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kiarra Velasquez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kiarra below.
Kiarra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
For as long as I can remember, I have always had the insatiable urge to make everything “look pretty.” What started out as just making sure my poster boards and PowerPoint presentations in school were visually appealing, it then naturally blossomed to dedicating thousands of hours to my physical and digital artworks. It came to nobody’s surprise when my artistry translated so well into an equally meditative hobby like doing nails.
My love and appreciation for nails started as early as 4 years old and watching my mom regularly get her manicures. I remember watching Youtube tutorials by creators like Cutepolish and Simplynaillogical on how to recreate nail art designs using toothpicks and bobby pins. My fascination with nail art evolved and so did the technology for nails, so I took it upon myself during these years to experiment and try out different methods. I would spend my entire weekend from school doing my nails- inefficiently I might add- but I never lost patience for it. I also was never in a position to be able to splurge on getting my nails done, and the satisfaction of finishing a set made it all worth it.
Looking back now as a licensed professional, I definitely wish I had done more research on other people’s methods to learn how to do them safely and efficiently. I will be 100% honest and admit that I definitely could have been more gentle on my nail beds. My saving grace, however, was my ability to troubleshoot problems I had with my process. I eventually learned how to work all the tools necessary and perfected application methods that by the time I enrolled in nail school, it felt very natural for me to apply those skills. Given how young I was when I first started, the only thing that held me back was needing the funds to invest in higher quality supplies and products and also needing more time.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a self taught artist- turned licensed nail technician based in Las Vegas, NV. I adopted ‘STUDIO LUCKYGIRL’ as a space to house all of my creative endeavors in hopes to reduce the self inflicted pressure I felt to stick to one medium. I originally gained a following online in 2020 for sharing my portraits and paintings because much like the rest of the world, my plans came to a halt and I was left with nothing but time on my hands; and I managed to grow my art account on Twitter and Instagram under the name KVLSQZ. I had the honor of working with the musician Russ on his album cover art for ‘CHOMP 2’ and also having my portraits showcased in digital galleries in New York and Croatia. Fast forward to 2022, the world started to move quickly again and I naturally shifted my attention to more immediate things outside of the online art community. I truly thought I was just “done” being an artist because I was no longer creating in mediums I was most familiar with- when in fact my next medium was right under my nose this whole time. I found the same peace in doing my nails as I did when I would spend hours fixated on a reference photo trying to project the vision I had for what I wanted the end product to look like.
My background in art is still very prevalent in my work as a nail artist. I will not just sit here, ask for a picture of a set of nails to recreate, and send you on your way. I regularly use color theory to custom mix colors for my clients that will flatter their skin based on their undertone or to better match the exact color they had in mind. I draft up designs based on inspo pics my clients provide and sometimes it’s not even photos of nails, but everyday objects like a cool pattern they saw on a blanket. I even use mediums like pigments, airbrush paints, colored pencils, and pens on actual nail sets. My ability to think outside the box for my clients and nurture my relationships with them is what I am most proud of. It is a privilege to have the clientele that I do and my intention is to take care of them, and I hope they truly feel that when they see me go above and beyond to give them the nails they dream of.
For me, it’s not just giving my clients a unique set of nails, but more importantly making sure they are comfortable and involved every step of the way. I always remind my clients that they are more than just an appointment I have to see from start to finish. My intention from the very start is to have a regular roster of clientele that looks forward to the appointment as much as I do. I truly am so privileged to be in a position where I can take an idea and turn it into the real thing, and my favorite part is seeing just how much happier and confident my clients feel when they leave with a fresh set.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
It’s not a tangible piece of media but this very simple saying holds the same weight and became one of the only rules I live by:
“Slow motion is better than no motion.”
It serves as a nice reminder when I feel like I’m not making enough progress or that I’m not doing enough. This applies to every aspect of my life as well, it’s very helpful when I need to reframe my thinking and release some of that internalized pressure.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Having the ability to create literally anything feels like a superpower. An idea, a *thought* becoming a physical result will always be rewarding to me. Bonus points if the idea is extravagant or is something I have not tried before and I’m forced to trial and error and make adjustments until I’m satisfied.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/studioluckygirl
