The Artist's Manicure

Let others go to an art gallery on their Artist's Date. I am going to a salon!

This morning I went for the second manicure I have ever had in my life.

A month ago, when I got my first, I felt I had to justify it to myself. I did not grow up in a family where these things were done. And so I came up with a list of reasons why to get my nails done. One, I was a nail biter until what, a year ago? It was time I celebrated quitting the habit. Two, I need it because I am a pianist. Leonard Pennario kept his nails manicured up until the day he died and I should do likewise.

Three, I decided I could get a manicure because of the book “The Artist’s Way,” by Julia Cameron.

I am working my way through this book, a 12-week regimen on how to achieve your artistic potential. I found it by chance at Amvets and now I sometimes get the feeling my life is changing at the rate of a mile a minute. “The Artist’s Way” challenges you to do these things called Artist’s Dates. You are supposed to go somewhere, by yourself, and do something that feeds your creative soul. Most people, judging from what I see on YouTube, go to parks, bookstores and art galleries. Or they stay home and make vision boards or something. The bar is generally set pretty low, so all I could think was, a manicure must count. A manicure might not be artistic, strictly speaking, however I do not think “The Artist’s Way” is about strictly speaking. A manicure would feed my soul, I decided. It is a new experience for me.

So I got my first manicure! I found a salon near my house that I loved — that was a big victory for which I thank “The Artist’s Way.” It has made my life easier, having this go-to salon, which is beautiful Imagine, on Hertel Avenue. Practically right around the corner from my house! It is amazing, the things you find in your own back yard.

I had to choose a color and I chose this Barbie pink. I mean why not. If you are going to do it, do it. I know I should have gone for something more subtle. You do not play late Beethoven with Barbie pink nails. Well, you know what, I do. I asked the stylist, Hayley, to trim my nails very short. Otherwise things could get dicey at the end of Opus 109.

At the top of the post is a picture I took of my first manicure! Here is the new one.

I took this picture to remind myself, I need to shoot a new video taking people through my book of sketches. That is another big purpose I have for this manicure! While my nails look really good, I have to make a better video than the one I am using right now on Etsy.

Video making … that is a wild frontier for me. I am going to have to get good at it.

That is another adventure for another day!