{"id":165365,"date":"2024-11-27T10:30:47","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T15:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/?p=165365"},"modified":"2026-05-22T16:16:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T20:16:20","slug":"cam-tran-on-transforming-nails-into-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/cam-tran-on-transforming-nails-into-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Cam Tran on Transforming Nails into Art"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent.<\/em><\/p>\n<style>\n.quote {\nline-height: 1.2em !important;\npadding: 35px 25px;\n}\n.wp-caption {\n    margin-top: 65px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141369\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141369\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2024\/11\/Screenshot-2024-11-26-at-5.23.56\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"942\" height=\"1020\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-165367\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141369\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/cam-tran\">Cam Tran<\/a> | Image courtesy of Artlist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/cam-tran\">Cam Tran<\/a>, Manicurist <\/p>\n<p><strong>Hometown\/country:<\/strong> Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam<br \/>\n<strong>Based:<\/strong> Paris, France<br \/>\n<strong> Representation: <\/strong> <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/agency\/artlist\"><a href=\"\/\/models.com\/agency\/artlist\">Artlist<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>How would you describe your work?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe nail art I create is a fashion accessory. My work is creative and highly varied. I consider myself a chameleon\u2014I adapt to everything, am eager to explore all possibilities and enjoy evolving based on my own desires or the desires of others. If the client&#8217;s request is complex or specific, I strive to be extremely precise, meticulous, and resourceful. I love learning new techniques and using that knowledge to improve my art, whether it&#8217;s by imagining a new design, look, texture, or even creating a new technique.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you get started in the field of nail art? Was there a particular moment or experience that led you down this path?<\/strong><br \/>\nI&#8217;ve been drawing since childhood, but my spark for nail art came during a visit to the salon with my mother. She had colorful flowers painted over transparent pink polish; I thought it was so pretty and delicate. At home, I grabbed markers and began painting my nails. I love nail art because it&#8217;s fascinating to create designs. I would usually draw on paper or boards, but drawing on such a tiny surface is fascinating. It\u2019s even more intriguing because these small works are so temporary\u2014either the nail grows, and the art must be cut away, or the polish fades and disappears. As my mother would say, the idea of having &#8216;mini masterpieces&#8217; is truly captivating.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What would you say are the main differences between creating nail art for shows, editorials, and campaigns?<\/strong><br \/>\nThe differences between creating nail art for shows, editorials, and campaigns are what makes my job so exciting. For campaigns, the look must be timeless and appeal to a broad audience, creating something universally appreciated. I can push boundaries, experiment, and collaborate on fresh ideas in editorials. I often think that years from now, a nail artist just starting out might look at one of my editorials and think, &#8216;That was cool.\u2019 It\u2019s inspiring to imagine that something I created in 2024 might influence the next generation of nail artists. For fashion shows, the look needs to be either timeless or iconic. While I haven\u2019t created an iconic show look yet, I did design a deeply symbolic piece for <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/simon-porte-jacquemus\">Simon Porte Jacquemus<\/a>. Simon trusted me and asked me to paint the LGBTQ+ flag on his ring finger, which was symbolic as he had just gotten engaged to the love of his life. We then applied this nail art to all the models for the show.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s your creative process like when designing a new nail look? Do you begin with a theme, a color palette, or something else entirely?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy creative process is often a bit chaotic, but it\u2019s where the magic happens. I begin by immersing myself in music or a film to capture an emotion, then I gather all my tools, along with paper and pencil, and sketch out what comes to mind. Once I see the concept on paper, I assess my materials and figure out how to bring it to life. Sometimes, inspiration strikes unexpectedly in everyday moments, and I have to write it down quickly\u2014or if I&#8217;m already in my atelier, I rush to execute the idea. This often happens late at night, which ruins my sleep, but it\u2019s part of the process. About 80% of the time, the idea doesn\u2019t quite work out, but when it does, it\u2019s fantastic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What other jobs have you had?<\/strong><br \/>\nI also work with paint and sculpture, creating 3D pieces on canvas.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Can you tell us about your experiences working with <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/schiaparelli\">Schiaparelli<\/a> and <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/coperni\">Coperni<\/a>? Since 2022 and 2021, you\u2019ve developed a close collaboration with each brand\u2014how have their creative visions influenced your approach to nail design, and are there any particularly memorable campaigns or shows that stand out?<\/strong><br \/>\nMy work with Schiaparelli and Coperni has been incredibly inspiring. Schiaparelli\u2019s creations are nothing short of extraordinary, with truly iconic accessories. I had the opportunity to blend my gold nail designs with their gold bags and accessories, which felt like a perfect match. Schiaparelli\u2019s jewelry often takes the form of eyes, ears, mouths, and fingers, so I sought to recreate these shapes in my nail designs, giving rise to what I call \u2018jewelry nails.\u2019 It was an exciting challenge, pushing me to think beyond the nails themselves \u2014 &#8216;The sky is the limit,&#8217; or in this case, the hand is the limit. My collaboration with <a href=\"\/\/models.com\/client\/mugler\">Mugler<\/a> is equally exciting. They offer nail artists a lot of freedom to express themselves, and recently, we\u2019ve been experimenting with bold new lengths while keeping the designs fierce and innovative.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s something outside of your work that fuels your creativity?<\/strong><br \/>\nCinema, music, and travel are major sources of inspiration.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What\u2019s one thing outside of your work that you would like people to know about you?<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen I told my mother I wanted to pursue this career, she was initially discouraged. This kind of work is poorly paid and physically demanding in my country. But she chose to support me when my passion didn\u2019t fade over the years. My mother passed away in 2013, but before she left, she made me promise to shine so brightly that no one would ever overlook me. I\u2019ve held onto that promise and am grateful to have a job that brings me fulfillment, joy, and security. Despite my passion for what I do, I find immense joy in life\u2019s simple pleasures\u2014walking my dog, cooking delicious meals, or finally learning to ride a bike at 32.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who do you think is one to watch?<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/aurore-gibrien\">Aurore Gibrien<\/a> is the person to look for. I love her vision of beauty, her unique touch, and her desire to always renew herself.<\/p>\n<h3>Selected Work<\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2024\/11\/Screenshot-2024-11-26-at-6.00.36\u202fPM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"970\" height=\"1464\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-165379\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nImage courtesy of Artlist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/schiaparelli-schiaparelli-fw-24-show\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Schiaparelli F\/W 24 Show<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\nI found it incredible to style the toenails\u2014it&#8217;s like saying, &#8216;Yes, I wear tights, but my nails deserve to be seen.&#8217;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2024\/11\/CAM2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1660\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-165371\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nBy Carlijn Jacobs | Image courtesy of Artlist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Frieze Magazine &#8211; Eye of the Beholder<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/carlijn-jacobs\">Carlijn Jacobs<\/a> is one of my favorite photographers, and that day, she had a nail art idea in mind and told me she couldn\u2019t trust anyone else to bring it to life. There&#8217;s no better feeling than achieving a difficult look in a short time and first try.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2024\/11\/CAM3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-165372\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nBy Annie Leibovitz | Image courtesy of Artlist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/american-vogue-oh-baby-rihannas-plus-one\/1692586\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Oh Baby! Rihanna&#8217;s Plus One<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\nMeeting <a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/people\/rihanna\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Rih <\/a> was an absolute dream\u2014I\u2019ve loved her since Pon de Replay. That day, I also had the privilege of learning, well ahead of everyone else, that her favorite nail shape is square and that she absolutely dislikes coffin shapes, information that all nail artists&#8217; fans would love to know.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2024\/11\/CAM4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-165373\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nBianca Balti by Davit Giorgadze | Image courtesy of Artlist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/etro-etro-vela-bag-2023-campaign\/1908091\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Etro Vela Bag 2023 Campaign<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\nThat was the chrome metallic era\u2014I love it because our eyes are drawn to all the little details.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_141376\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-141376\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mdel.net\/oftheminute\/images\/2024\/11\/F98E8F4B-CC5C-4248-9DF2-C1C5F8700388.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1600\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-165374\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-141376\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><br \/>\nImage courtesy of Artlist<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/models.com\/work\/schiaparelli-superselected\/2019962\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Superselected for Schiaparelli<\/a><\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/\/models.com\/people\/daniel-roseberry\">Daniel Roseberry<\/a> is a true genius and incredibly talented\u2014so much so that I wanted to create this jewel on my nail.<br \/>\n<!--pp-thumb-start--><!--PictPress found no dir \/2024\/11\/165365--><!--pp-thumb-end--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent. Cam Tran, Manicurist Hometown\/country: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Based: Paris, France Representation: Artlist How would you describe your work? The nail art I create is a fashion accessory. My work is creative and highly&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":450,"featured_media":165367,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6476,12752,13941,10414,16,13943],"tags":[12930,12921,13154,14670],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165365"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/450"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=165365"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165365\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":165390,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/165365\/revisions\/165390"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/165367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=165365"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=165365"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/models.com\/oftheminute\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=165365"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}