one stroke technique
One stroke is a very popular technique nowadays, where we paint the shadow and the light part of the petal with one movement and with a special oblique brush.
The founder of this technique is Donna Dewberry (www.onestroke.com), who paints big on canvas. She deserves to be mentioned here, we all in the nail business must be thankful for her, even when we paint in small, mush detailed and changed methods, but the basics we must remember!
One stroke is not an easy painting technique, but it is really possible to learn. The main point is to participate in a good course, practice-practice-practice, and use good quality materials and brushes.
In the past we were using acrylic paints. Today, everyone-even me- is using gel paints... This makes the procell longer, since we have to cure it in the UV lamp, but still wonderful results.
If you ask me, I also love the old version, because it was fast, and was flatter and easier...
I wrote a workbook for this course, with fantastic step by steps, so you can follow every movement! The book starts with many preparing-practicing tasks, so you can understand every detail. Then you can put together the complete flower. (soon I record a video also for people, who wanna learn online the acrylic painted one stroke designs)
I love to paint with Apacolor, or Polycolor acrylic paints.
If I paint with gels, I use the KKSP color gels.
Brushes are also important, they must made of soft, oblique, synthetic hair. KKSP brushes are almost the best on the market.