Juanita’s little canvases

While most artists require a sizable canvas, local resident, Juanita Bester requires a canvas no bigger than a R1 coin.

With the most detailed and delicate strokes, this nail technician prides herself in her ability to create the most extraordinary masterpieces on the smallest of canvases.

“I have always enjoyed art, and doing nails. I remember doing my nails as a child and making little stars with nail polish and a tooth pick. Even though I have always been creative, I never thought I would be doing nails for a living,” she said.

Juanita welcomes each day with about 50 to 60 blank canvases and enjoys leaving her unique mark on each one of them.

“Since I was a straight-A learner throughout my school career, it made sense to study accounting after school, and I got a job within that field. However, in 2015 I attended my first nail course and when I walked through that door, I instantly knew that this was what I was supposed to do. I was finally able to combine my love of art and nails,” she said.

She subsequently became a part-time nail technician for two years, after which she joined a nail salon full-time. During those years, she taught herself a lot about the intricate craft and decided that her love of art was going to set her apart from other nail technicians.

It wasn’t long before she entered all kinds of nail competitions. One of her accomplishments include winning first place in the national Professional Beauty Nail Competition for Gel Polish Creations in 2019.

Her most recent accomplishment is winning first place in the national Professional Nails and Beauty Supplies SA competition that was held in February.

“Some competitions I have won and others I have lost, but that doesn’t matter. I enter them because I like it and it’s fun. I like to challenge myself, see what I can come up with and just have the creative juices flowing. I see nails as my little canvases,” Juanita said.

Some of the nail competition themes included Graffiti, Space and the 60s, to name just a few. After having completed hundreds of masterpieces, this talented artist decided to open her own salon, Juanita’s Little Canvases, at the beginning of this year.

“My dream is to be able to teach others the craft. Even though I taught myself through YouTube, I know that other enthusiasts would benefit from live lessons. I want to help others who are just as passionate as I am,” she said.

She would like to encourage other upcoming nail artists to keep on trying and never give up. Everyone has to start somewhere and if they feel it’s something they like, they should most definitely try it.