Nailed it! Q&A with nail artist Jennie Shaw
Talk about harnessing your creativity and promoting books to the next level. Every book lover should know about this! This is a book lover's dream.
Have you ever had a 12- to 20-hour manicure? Well, that’s how long writer and nail artist Jennie Shaw takes to create…book covers into fingernail art. (From manuscripts to manicures?)
As an avid reader, Jennie began doing this kind of nail art to celebrate a friend’s debut novel, and she quickly became addicted. She also sells sets of custom bookish press-on nails and has started doing tutorials, breaking down the steps so others can rock their own bookish nails!
“I like to think of book cover nail art as tiny walking billboards. When people notice, it’s an opportunity to gush about the book,” she says.
Above is one of Jennie’s many mind-blowing nail book-art creations!
Nailed It! A Polished Q&A with Book Cover Manicurist Jennie Shaw
RE:BOOKS: When did you first come up with the idea of doing book covers on fingernails?
JENNIE: A writer friend of mine published her debut, The One That Got Away, and I wanted to celebrate by painting a small blue bird from her book to feature on my blog. Around the same time, I was shifting from blogging to Instagram and found a few accounts that matched nail art with book covers.
As a nail art novice at the time, I was sold! Combining reviews of books with manicures of the book covers became my favourite way to lure in people and then enthusiastically peer pressure them to get the book in their life. ;)
RE:BOOKS: Take us through the process. If I gave you a cover of one of my books, what would you do first? Generally, how long does it take you to design it for nails? (Am I correct that you now create them and send them to people as press-on nails?)
JENNIE: The process begins with reading the book. I’m hired for a commission, and I only paint cover manicures for books that I’ve read and loved.
I break down the artwork into layers, starting with the background. That may be a solid colour or a gradient, or anything else that sits behind artwork and lettering.
The rest of the process depends on the cover, but usually the background happens in one sitting, artwork in a second, and then a third sitting adds the title and author name.
They generally take 12-20 hours, which is why I’ve recently shifted back to simpler cover-inspired nail art.
I do sell sets of custom bookish press-on nails. When it comes to my Instagram account, I paint directly on my own nails for others to see.
RE:BOOKS: What was the hardest book cover you had to custom paint on nails?
JENNIE: Anything with portraits is always an intimidating challenge. A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow is the longest time I spent painting and one of my all-time favourite cover manicures. It’s a truly stunning cover on every level!
RE: BOOKS: What were some of the funnest book covers you have done?
JENNIE: I love painting water and gradients, and there’s never been more variety of bold, dynamic, and stunning typefaces. The gradient blend of colours on the cover for The Two Lila Bennetts (above!) by Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke stands out in my memory, and The Ten Thousand Doos of January by Alix E. Harrow features an incredible typeface that was fun to paint.
RE:BOOKS: My mouth literally dropped when I first saw your work — the cover of Women on the Edge on author Samantha Bailey’s fingernails at her book launch. I don’t think anyone’s fingernails have had so many pictures taken at a party! Her nails were amazing and exactly like her book cover. I thought it was the greatest idea! What do others think about seeing book covers on nails?
JENNIE: Some love it! Some think it’s a little strange. I imagine there’s a good amount of overlap. Fair enough!
RE:BOOKS: What’s the hardest part about doing nail art/manicures of book covers?
JENNIE: The time needed to paint! When I first started, my nail art skills were limited, so manis didn’t take as long. As I practiced and improved, I’d try to add more detail and eventually attempted to incorporate as many elements of the cover I could squeeze in. Aiming to paint one a week, plus reading the book and writing a review wasn’t sustainable, and I got burned out. Plus, you know…{gestures at the world}
After taking some time off, I’ve decided to shift away from recreations and back to cover-inspired nail art, only this time with tutorials.
My hope is that by translating a book cover into nail art and breaking down the steps, it will help other people rock their own bookish nails! I really love how the mani and tutorial for House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland turned out. Such a sinister and gorgeous cover.
I’m a greedy reader, devouring fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror, and all sorts of other fiction. I’ve been very lucky to have nail art open some incredible opportunities across all genres.
The biggest campaign I’ve been a part of was working with Bloomsbury to create a cover-inspired mani and tutorial for the international release of A Course of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas, which was a real thrill, as I’m a huge fan.
RE:BOOKS: Can anyone just send you their favourite book and ask you to create that book as nail art, which they then press on their nails at home?
JENNIE: I’ve cut down considerably in accepting books, as things got out of hand for a while and the pressure grew too great. No matter what, I want to preserve my love of reading, and having a literal teetering TBR (to be read) pile of books felt threatening instead of enticing. So, most often now, I purchase the books I review, or a publishing marketer reaches out to me.
Anyone is welcome to email me with a pitch or press release (and please include the cover!). But I only accept books for consideration if I feel confident that I’ll love it.
RE:BOOKS: In your opinion, why is this creative way of celebrating books so fun for authors or bookworms?
JENNIE: Maybe because people like seeing larger things made smaller? I know I do!
Seeing the time and effort a fan invested in creating art must be a trip in the very best way. I also have zero chill when meeting authors, so I’d be remiss to not mention how kindly author’s Jenny Lawson and Karin Slaughter reacted to my beet-red sweaty face when I showed them my book-themed nails at signing events.
RE:BOOKS: Have any male authors asked for nail art for their book covers?
JENNIE: Male authors have definitely reached out, and I’ve painted a fair number of male-authored books! Nail polish is for everyone.
RE:BOOKS: How much do you love your job? (You are incredibly talented!)
JENNIE: After taking some time off, I’m excited about being back! It’s a lot of work but truly a labour of love. And, of course, sometimes I pick up a book specifically because I want to paint the cover. But since I’ve been burned before — meaning I read the book and hated it — now I wait until I know I love it. The manis take a huge effort and I require fangirl fuel.
Right now I’m reading Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and it’s phenomenal. Definitely a mani coming for this one!
RE:BOOKS: Where can we contact you and DM you for your tutorials?
The best way to contact me is on Instagram @jennieshaw or you can send me an email at jennie.gibson.shaw@gmail.com.
RE:BOOKS: It really is incredible what you do. You’re so talented! Heads-up: I may commission you for some custom press-ons of one of my book covers! It's always nice to flip pages with freshly manicured hands. But this is next level! Every bookworm, or publicist — because your nail cover book art is so fun and gets people talking — should know about this service!
JENNIE: My pleasure!
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Nail Artist, avid reader, book reviewer and writer Jennie Shaw below!
