The Girl with the Zebra Striped Nails
by Katie Mogan

Mondrian, bows, zebra stripes and Aztec patterns. No, it's not the current exhibit at the VAG or the fashion forecast for summer 2010, but a sample of the latest designs by Vancouver nail artist Christina Culver. Culver, a self-described "girl's girl", is sitting across from me in a busy JJ Bean. Tapping her perfectly painted nails against a soy latte, she regales me with stories of skateboard manicures, Gold medal ceremonies and vegan cooking.

photo by Eydis Einarsdottir

It all began with stick people. While most young crayon-wielding children attack construction paper and end up with scribbles, Culver spent her youth creating elaborate stick families, each with elaborate, colourful nails. Her budding interest in art and fashion was inspired by a mix of fairy tales and beautiful things. Following school she worked in a salon where a fan base developed with the friendly clientele. An appreciation for all things "fun, flirty and feminine" translated into her wardrobe to such an extent that one client used to asses her outfits and ask "where's the pink?" It was this same client who encouraged Culver to enroll in fashion design at the Helen Lefeaux School of Design. Under the tutelage of the couture queen herself and Vancouver designer Jason Matlo, she excelled at the finer points of design. Post graduation, she worked alongside Matlo and launched her own line, Christina Darling, to much acclaim at BC Fashion Week in 2005.

Fast forward to 2007 when Culver joined friends on a trip to New York City. In addition to nights out dancing, museum visits and shopping expeditions, she had one life-changing experience. Amidst a treasure trove of couture she found a set of fine-tipped artist's brushes and immediately saw their potential. Upon arriving home from the Big Apple, Culver set to work on her big career change - channeling her childhood love of beautiful designs to transform mundane nails into miniature masterpieces. Her first designs were painted on the nails of a friend whose hands were balanced on the top of her boyfriend's skateboard. From this first mobile experience, her career has rolled high speed into success (pun intended)!

Amidst a formidable lineup of Vancouver's leading fashion artists, Culver is now represented by THEY Representation artist's agency where she doubles as the booking agent for both THEY and is the studio manager for Sugar Studios. She is one of the few nail artists in the city to have reached this achievement and it's easy to see why when she talks about her latest projects. In addition to high fashion shoots, advertising campaigns and many a Vancouver party, Culver has also painted the nails of celebrities and athletes. During the Winter Olympics this February she painted a vibrant gold on the nails of half-pipe snowboard gold medal-winner Torah Bright and was later asked to do the same on the nails of every visiting member of her Australian family (even her 6 month-old niece to be)! Other favourite projects include painting the nails of her brother's bull mastiff (a photo of the painted pooch was proudly displayed in Aritzia's headquarters) and covering her friend's 2 inch-long nails in intricate designs. As Culver explains, the joy of such work is that "there is just more real estate to work with!"

Look for Culver's geometric designs in publications such as Zink magazine, or online at: www.theyrep.com/artists/manicurists/christina-culver