Meet Nancy Kaplan Kuppersmith | Crystal Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nancy Kaplan Kuppersmith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nancy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My name is Nancy Kaplan Kuppersmith and I am an artist living on the North Shore of Chicago. Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been drawn to the creative process. Creating things nourishes my soul. After college, I became a lawyer, but that career never fulfilled my creative passion. After starting a family, I channeled my artistic energy into making jewelry, designing invitations, and mosaics. I have always loved colorful vintage fruit and vegetable labels. One day, almost a decade ago, I mounted one of the labels on a board and applied beautiful Austrian glass crystals on it to create depth and dimension. The results were dazzling. I knew immediately that I was onto something unique and established NIK Crystal Art Studios, specializing in the creation of one-of-a-kind pieces of art reimagined with thousands of the highest quality Austrian crystals. While I began by enhancing antique fruit and vegetable labels and vintage posters, I am now working primarily on posters and photographs of all kinds. I have developed a technique that allows me to elevate someone’s meaningful photograph into a unique work of art so in addition to a wide variety of non-custom work, I also create custom pieces for individual clients.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For almost a decade, I have been created of one-of-a-kind artwork reimagined with thousands of the highest quality Austrian crystals. The crystals are available in a palette of over 150 colors and effects and many different sizes and shapes which allow me to create depth, shading, detail, and nuance. The technique of mixing colors and sizes is similar to a painter combining colors to achieve their desired palette. I use anywhere from 2,000-25,000 crystals in each piece, some no larger than a poppy seed, which are meticulously hand-applied with tools that I have specially designed for this purpose. Each individual crystal is like a precious jewel and the effect of many together is as stunning as it is unique. When complete, the radiance and brilliance of the crystals help bring the image or poster to life, shimmering as it captures and reflects light.

I seek inspiration in the natural beauty that surrounds us. I have always loved being in nature, by the water and in the mountains. That is where I feel most alive, at peace and connected to the world. When in that setting, the beauty and splendor that surrounds me is both humbling and inspirational. Over the course of the last couple of years, I have spent extended periods of time in Arizona, specifically in the Scottsdale area. Gorgeous hikes, colorful wildflowers, the spectacular desert in bloom, stunning sunrises, and sunsets… Arizona has provided an abundance of beautiful nature-inspired inspiration.

When I cannot be out in nature, I seek and find inspiration all around me, often in images capturing beautiful moments or stunning scenery. I have developed a technique that allows me to elevate someone’s personal, meaningful photograph into a unique work of art. Therefore, in addition to a wide variety of non-custom work, I also create custom pieces for individual clients, including landscapes and cityscapes, wedding and other special occasion photographs, iconic album covers, vintage posters, cartoon characters to name a few. I cannot look at a photograph or poster without conceptualizing it reimagined with crystals!

Challenges: I work on my own in my home studio. Much of the time, when I am in the zone, I am perfectly content to be working quietly in my studio for hours on end. However, sometimes, it can be rather isolating. That’s why I so enjoy the initial stages of the process when I am meeting with prospective clients and developing ideas. I am also finding that the creative process is far more interactive when I am doing photographs. Usually, once the crystal application process begins, much of my time is alone. This can be very challenging at times.

Another challenge is marketing and promotion. While I am so proud of what I have created, I haven’t done a very good job of promoting my work outside my circle. I did recently do my first public art show, Chicago’s One of a Kind Holiday Show at the Merchandise Mart, and I am doing it again this year. It was a very enjoyable and gratifying experience. In addition, while navigating the nuances of social media often eludes me, I do my best to create interesting and varied content. Regardless, I am making greater efforts to share and promote my work. Having said that, I recognize that I still have a way to go in that regard.

What did you learn about yourself through this process?

It may sound elementary, but I realized that I have always been drawn to the creative process. I am really at my happiest, calmest, most purely and fully contented when I am with family and friends and when I am creating something. Tapping into my creative side really centers and grounds me. To boot, working with individuals to create a special piece is such a joyful and fulfilling process.

This whole journey of creating a second act coincided with the loss of my mother, my true artistic inspiration. After she passed away, I sought refuge in my art and I came away with a deeper understanding of myself, a greater appreciation for what is really important, and a profound gratitude for all the blessings in my life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Having only spent a couple of years visiting Scottsdale during the Winter months, I still have so much to learn and experience. Embraced by family and friends who have been here for many years, I am so lucky that they took us under their wings, shared their communities and helped us explore this beautiful part of the country. For now, here are my recommendations of attractions that I have loved during my time in the Scottsdale area.

Hiking: The rugged beauty and varied terrain of the area is so beautiful. Granite Mountain Loop and Gateway Loop, especially when blanketed in wildflowers and cactus flowers, are some of my favorite hikes in Scottsdale. If you’re feeling like a challenge, you can’t go wrong with the view at the top of Tom’s Thumb. In Cave Creek, I love the Go Johns Loop, where moments into the hike, you feel miles away!

Day Trips: Sajuaro Lake: The hike around the lake is a relatively easy and beautiful excursion. Rent a pontoon on the lake for a fun day with friends or family! For a more challenging hike: Head to the Supersition Mountains/Boulder Canyon to experience a “Grand Canyon” type experience. Simply gorgeous!

Other outdoor adventures: A Jeep Ride with a Naturalist in Tanto National Forest is an interesting and bumpy adventure!

Music/Light bites: Check out The Living Room for live music, outdoor breakfast/coffee and delicious lunches and dinners. Janeys or the Grotto in Cave Creek is a fun place to stop for some pre or post hiking live music and light fare.

Sunset: Sunsets almost anywhere and anytime never disappoint in Scottsdale. Each unique and stunning! Looking for a lovely sunset experience while enjoying a glass of wine or a light bite? Don’t miss the Four Seasons in Scottsdale. For a beautiful sunset in a relaxed casual setting: Isabella’s is a super fun atmosphere with casual bites and an expansive sunset view.

Early Riser?: Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the sunrise from almost anywhere. One of my next landscape projects is a breathtaking sunrise over the Sonoran desert. The pinks and purples are gorgeous!

Dinner: The Phoenix/Scottsdale area is replete with incredible places to eat…both casual and fine dining. We have only just begun to experience all it has to offer from a culinary perspective. Some of our favorites spots for now: Hacienda/Buck & Ryder/Keelers/Lamp Pizzeria. We are still excited to try wood fired pizzas from James Beard Award winning chef Chris Bianco at Pizzeria Bianco and looking forward to dining at Giada De Laurentiis’s new restaurant Luna scheduled to open in early 2024. .

Other places of interest: A visit to Taliesin West never disappoints. Also, whether you’re a seasoned collector or someone who simply enjoys strolling around Art Galleries, an afternoon or evening in Old Town Scottsdale is a fun outing. In addition, I thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon at the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center whose mission it is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured, displaced, and orphaned wildlife.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to thank my family and close friends whose enthusiastic support from the moment I began pursuing artistic endeavors has been motivating, unwavering and uplifting. I am so grateful to have a wonderful network of people who have believed in me and my work and provided encouragement, inspiration and counsel along the way. A very special shoutout to my Arizona family and friends who so warmly welcomed and embraced us from the moment we arrived and as we began to explore this beautiful and magical place.

Website: www.nikcrystalart.com

Instagram: @nik.crystal.art

Other: email: nikcrystalart@gmail.com, Vimeo links: https://vimeo.com/761555219/817728331c?share=copy, https://vimeo.com/641986281/cf44e5afd0?share=copy

Image Credits
Headshot: Robin Subar Florence Landscape with Coffee Van: Brendan Walsh All others: Nancy Kaplan Kuppersmith (Me!)