Award-winning nail artist Elena Maltseva has shared a detailed mixed-media tutorial for creating a realistic human eye design, featured on the Nailympia 2026 marketing campaign. Maltseva explains the eye's significance in conveying character and emotion, often using it as a foundational element in her face sculpting workshops.
The technique begins with building a base using flesh and nude acrylic tones before outlining the eye's shape. Maltseva then layers shades of brown, grey, and lilac to define eyelids and create depth, using lighter, shimmery tones for the lower lid. White acrylic is applied to the eyeball area, followed by the iris. Maltseva suggests using three complementary colours on the colour wheel for the iris, such as blue, light blue, and turquoise, or brown, terracotta, and orange.
Subtle shading with nude tones highlights eyelids, while clear or pink acrylic can add volume. Gel paints are then used for finer details, accentuating the eye perimeter and adding iridescent effects within the iris. Maltseva advises against overly dark eyebrows, recommending layered light brown shades. For eyelashes, a thin layer of clear acrylic and a no-cleanse matte gel top coat creates a floating effect. She stresses applying lashes with varied strokes from thick to thin, avoiding overcrowding, and building colour from lighter shades to a subtle black, adhering to a 'less is more' principle.
