Daily Inspiration: Meet Cara Martin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cara Martin.

Cara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Truth be told, I feel like my story is the typical “struggling artist” narrative with a Gen-Z twist.

As a child, my mother would personally create special event dresses for my identical twin and I. I remember the wonderful feeling of getting to pick out any fabric that I wanted for my outfit! (only if it was “the right material”, of course) After that, we were old enough to really create our own things. I was quite good at drawing, painting, embroidery, bedazzling, and anything else that fell under the “arts and crafts” umbrella.

Then highschool began. And I did not enjoy that phase of life very much. I became super stressed attending a competitive school. Though I have never been ashamed of my Black and Asian descent, I was the victim of some very harsh words in that environment. That only added to my frustration and sadness of not knowing what the heck I was going to do after graduation.

“What major? Which school? How do I even apply?” I knew that I needed a career that fulfilled my creative needs. Eventually, I was accepted into SCAD and even got a scholarship. I still didn’t know what career I wanted. So, my mother took a leap of faith in me and enrolled me into Nail School immediately after she thought of it.

It’s been a year and a half since my first day of school. And have been featured in over five professional photoshoots already. I say that not to brag but to show that passion triumphs over many things. I do not have the same amount of fancy equipment or following as popular artists, but I do have an eye for craftsmanship and knowledge of many art elements.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, I will not sugarcoat it. Being a creative and business owner is hard. There has been times where I’ve questioned myself. I thought it was a risk at first to start taking clients. Anxiety would swarm my head. But I had to put faith in myself and remember: If they didn’t want to come to me, then they wouldn’t ask to.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Nail Technician and Artist, so I provide beautiful acrylic nailsets and bold press-on nails. I enjoy designs that are eclectic, fun, creative and express personality. I specialize in hand-drawn artwork, mostly pop culture and anime characters. I definitely have an appreciation for not only the subject that I’m painting but to color and composition of the design overall. I am known for making attention-gaining sets. Whether it’s the long length, glitters, excessive charms or piercings, my nails make a statement! I believe I stand out to people because of the thought I put behind my designs.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Just because someone is nice, and does great work, or has a huge following, doesn’t mean that you need to work with them! Investing into your Nail education (practical or design related) is an investment into yourself. Technique is 90% of the work, and the rest is the drive behind the work. As for networking, it is absolutely fantastic to interact with the nail community. Not only can advice be exchanged but peers of the same trade can relate to each other’s experiences in ways other people cannot.

Pricing:

• Fullset $35 +
• Freestyles $60 +
• Custom Press-Ons $25 +

Contact Info:

• Email: tigerclawnailz@gmail.com
• Instagram: @tigerclawnailz

Image Credits
Charlee Moss