Susan Nicholas Gephart

Susan Nicholas Gephart, a 1979 BFA graduate of Penn State, has been painting award winning landscapes “Plein Air” for thirty years. Susan has shown with The Pastel Society of America, The Art of the State of Pennsylvania, and is in the permanent collection of The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art. In 2007 she was inducted into the Montgomery County Community College Alumni Hall of Fame, where she and her father will have an exhibition together in June 08. She is a Certified Instructor of Jack Richeson Products and teaches for the Rochester NY Art Center. Susan also organizes artist retreats at Hameau Farm Studio in Central PA, where she teaches plein air painting in pastels and oils. www.snicholasart.com

Susan's deep appreciation of the earth is seen in her colorful, impressionistic paintings, which capture a mood or essence of what is felt. Working on location outdoors, whether in pastels or oils, allows for spontaneity and directness. Responding to the sound, smell, and light of the environment influences each interpretation. The essential elements of these paintings are color, shape, sense of atmosphere, and the emotion of the moment. In the creation of her large studio works, music provides energy for inspiration. 'When all that exists is the response to color, marks, and the inner music of painting, then all is in harmony, and there is a sense of balance.'

'I am committed to the idea of bringing art to the public and creating environmental awareness through landscape painting. Each May and October I organize a “Plein Air” artist retreat in Central PA's 'Big Valley', at Hameau Farm Studio in Belleville. It is my goal to create a safe and nurturing environment for artists to paint, interact, flourish, and exhibit, while at the same time promoting alternative uses for farmland.'

Focusing on the landscape, my goal is to capture the beauty of our fragile earth and convey a message of importance. Keeping my mind’s eye open for unique, electric reactions in pastels and oils continues to excite and rejuvenate my ongoing love of painting Sky, Water, and Earth.”

Education
1991 Pennsylvania State University Independent Study with Richard Mayhew in Color Theory, University Park, PA
1977-1979 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, Cum Laude, Marshall for College of Arts and Architecture
1975-1977 Associate in Arts, Montgomery County Community College, Blue Bell, PA, Magna Cum Laude
Solo/Duo Exhibitions
2006-2007 'Landscape Passages: A Father and Daughter Exhibit' with Thomas C. Nicholas, Jr., Dec. 8, 2006-June 3, 2007, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Loretto, PA, in the Margery Wolf-Kune Balcony Gallery
2006 'Landscape Passages,' Schlow Library, State College, PA
2004 'Seeking Passages,' Foxdale Village, State College, PA
2000 'Soliloquy of Earth and Spirit,' Gallery at the Gamble Mill, Bellefonte, PA
1991 'Father and Daughter Exhibit,' Gallery at the Gamble Mill, Bellefonte, PA
1990 'Sense of Balance,' B&S Gallery, Williamsport, PA
1987 'Focus on the Landscape,' Pennsylvania State University, The Hub Gallery, University Park, PA
1986 Lebanon Valley College, Annville, PA
1986 Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Johnstown Extension
1984 Kern Gallery, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Selected Group Exhibitions
2006 'From the Heart of the Valley II,' June 20-September 2, Kelly Gallery, The Packwood House Museum, Lewisburg, PA
2004 'Images 2004', Central PA Festival of the Arts, Robeson Gallery, Penn State University, State College, PA
2004 Art of The State of PA-37th Annual, State Museum, Harrisburg, PA
2002 'Scapes and Scrapes,' Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA
2002 The Pennsylvania Centre For Landscape Painting, Gallery at the Gamble Mill, Bellefonte, PA
2002 'Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2002,' Harrisburg, PA
2002 '19th Annual Juried Art Exhibition,' The Susquehanna River Art Center, Clearfield, PA, Best of Show
1999 'Food For Thought,' Gallery at the Gamble Mill, Bellefonte, PA
1997 'New Statements,' Adam & Art Gallery, Bellefonte, PA
1996 'Group Works,' Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association
1995 'Art of the State: 29th Juried Exhibition,' co-sponsored by the Greater Harrisburg Arts Council and The State Museum of Pennsylvania
1994 'Four Women Artists,' Adam & Art Gallery, Bellefonte, PA
1991 'A Father and Daughter Exhibit,' Gamble Mill Gallery, Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association, Bellefonte, PA
1990 'A Sense of Balance,' Brian Galas and S. Nicholas, B&S Gallery, Wiiliamsport, PA
1989 B&S Gallery Group Exhibit, Williamsport, PA
1984-1986 Central PA Festival of the Arts, juried Art Alliance of PA, Group Booth
Selected Juried Exhibits and Awards
2005 Second Prize, 'Annual Art Exhibit Lewisburg Arts Council,' Packwood House Museum, Lewisburg, PA
2005 '22nd Annual Juried Art Exhibition,' Clearfield, PA
2005 Biennial II, Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, PA
2004 First Prize, Art Alliance Juried Show, Art Alliance of Central PA, Lemont, PA, Juror-Leo Mazlow, curator of American art at the Palmer Museum of Art at The Pennsylvania State University
2004 First Place, Regional Art Exhibition, The Williamsport-Lycoming Arts Council and the Bald Eagle Art League, B&S Gallery, Williamsport, PA
2004 Award of Merit, Annual Members' Show, Art Alliance of Central PA, Lemont, PA
2004 Honorable Mention, Lewisburg Festival of the Arts, Lewisburg, PA
2004 Central PA Festival of the Arts, 'Images,' State College, PA
2004 Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art Biennial
2003 Lewisburg Arts Council, Packwood House Museum
2002 Jurors Award, 'Artists In Our Midst,' Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Altoona, PA
2002 Jurors Award, Westsylvania Arts and Heritage Festival, Altoona, PA
2002 Second Prize in Painting, Lewisburg Festival of the Arts, Lewisburg, PA
2002 'Biennial,' Southern Alleghenies museum of Art Second Prize in Painting, Lewisburg Festival of the Arts, Lewisburg, PA
2002 Art of The State of PA: 35th Annual, Harrisburg, PA
2002 Best of Show, 19th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Susquehanna River Arts Center
1999 Best of Show, 'Images,' Central PA Festival of the Arts, Adam & Art Gallery, Bellefonte, PA
1999 Jurors Award and Jurors Mention, 'Artists in Our Midst,' Altoona, PA
1998 Best in Show, Williamsport Lycoming Arts Festival
1997 Blair County Arts Foundation, Altoona Penn State
1992 Best in Graphics, Blair County Arts Festival, Penn State Altoona Campus, Altoona, PA
1991 Best of Show, 'Lewisburg Festival of the Arts,' Lewisburg, PA
1987 The Artist's Magazine, 1987 Landscape Competition Finalist
Invitational Exhibits
2006 Schlow Library, State College, PA
2006 'Art Thrives on 45,' Artists' and Artisans' trail initiative to highlight independent artists' studios, local art organizations, bed and breakfasts and cultural events, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts
2004 The American Philatelic Society Grand Opening Invitational, Bellefonte
2002 'From The Heart of The Valley,' Packwood House Museum, Lewisburg
1999, 1996, 1988 Southern Alleghenies Museum, Triennial Regional Exhibitions
1996 Pennsylvania Art Education Association Conference, 'Artist Studio Tours'
1989 The Pennsylvania State University Exhibits, University Park, PA
1988 'Visible Landscape, Current Viewpoints,' Indiana University of PA
1985 'Pennsylvania Painters and Printmakers,' Central PA Festival of the Arts
1983 Mountgomery County Community College Alumni Exhibit, Blue Bell, PA
Collections
Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, State College, PA
Penn College, Williamsport, PA
Lock Haven University, Lock Haven, PA
Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, Loretto, PA
Lutheran Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Geisinger Medical Center, Bellefonte, PA
Omega Finance, State College, PA
Workshops Attended
2006 Robert Gamblin, Mediums and Color workshop, New York City
2006 Robert Carsten, Pastel Workshop Sponsored by the Central Pennsylvania Pastel Association, State College, PA
1996-1999 Joe Sweeney Workshops at Hameau Farm, Belleville, PA
Teaching and Demonstrations
2000-2006 Hameau Farm May and October Workshops, Belleville, PA
2002 Art Alliance of Central PA Artist Studio Tours
1998-1999 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, 'Artist in Action'
1997 'Art Scape,' Bellefonte Studio and Gallery Tour, Sponsored by the Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association
1996 Pastel Workshop, Art Alliance of Central PA, Lemont, PA
1990 Grier School of Art, Visiting Artist
1987-1990 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Visiting Artist in high schools
1985-1989 Pastel Painting Techniques, Art Alliance of Central PA
Galleries
Faustina's, Lewisburg, PA
Langman Galleries, Willow Grove, PA

Organizations
Art Alliance of Central PA: 1981-1991 Board of Directors, 1984-1986 Vice President in Charge of Exhibits
Art in Common
Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association: Gamble Mill Exhibitions Committee 1984-2007
Centre County Farmland Trust
Central PA Pastel Society
ClearWater Conservancy
Farmland Preservation Artists
Landscape Artists International

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