Sushila Oliphant draws her inspiration from inner traditions from her spiritual teachers. She grew up in Hampden Highlands, Maine. She, David and Penny, her brother and sister, were taught to draw and paint by their Grandmother during the harsh winter months. Her Grandmother, Dorothy Chadeayne, was a graduate from Pratt Art Institute and a professional artist whose work was shown throughout New England and Florida. Sushila was further inspired by her travels to Canada, Arizona, Colorado, Florida as well as throughout the Yucatan, Chiapas in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.
Sushila spent several years in an ashram studying Vedantic Yoga philosophy under Swami Jyotirmayananda. She helped illustrate his books, monthly magazine "The Yoga Guide" and designed the website from 1996 - 2010. She learned graphic design while working on his publications. Her art became meditative, a tool for higher consciousness - the painter and the painting merge. Each piece of art that she creates leaves its mark on the viewer of serenity and spiritual sensitivity.
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The artist works in pen and ink, pastels, colored pencils, graphite, watercolor, collages, acrylics on found wood and also does photography and digital photography with Photoshop. Nature and spiritual themes are her favorite subjects. Sushila has developed her own line of Native American, Mayan and Yoga T-Shirts from her artwork. In 1996, she created a graphic and web design company, Harmonic Designs and continues with her painting in between her design work.
Ms. Oliphant has won several awards for her work in various art shows in Maine, Colorado, Merida, Mexico and Florida. She served on the Board of the Institute of Maya Studies at the Museum of Science in Miami for over six years, designed their monthly newsletter, event posters and other marketing material. Sushila also served on the Board at the Kendall Networkers organization and designed the brochure and website.
Sushila resides and has her studio lakeside in "The Hammocks" in Miami, Florida. Make an appointment to see her work - many pieces are available for sale. Her work will be available in prints soon and can be purchased online at that time. She has also created an extensive online product line, Gifts for the Soul, at:
http://www.cafepress.com/harmonicdesigns
http://harmonicdesigns.wordans.com/my/boutique
http://zazzle.com/SushilaJean |
Awards
Artist of Distinction, "We Can Never Have Enogh of Nature," National Show, Still Point Art Gallery, June 2011
Founder's Choice Award, Infinity Gallery, International Digital Art Show, November - December, 2010
Artwork, colored pencil, chosen for the cover of "Natural Awakenings," Sarasota, Florida 2003
Poster of Mayan Calendar, in collaboration with Sid Hollander,
Public Collection Archaeological Museum of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico 1994
Second Place, acrylic on found wood, "Country Walk Festival," Miami, Florida 1988
Poster, pen & ink, chosen for "Annual Indian Art Show," in Aspen, Colorado 1988
Third Place, graphite, "Homestead Art Festival," Homestead, Florida 1987
Second Place, Cash Award, mixed media, "Wine Art Show," Miami, Florida 1984
Juried Shows
Grove House Artists Gallery, "Small Wonders", Coconut Grove, Florida, October 1 - 29, 2011,
Still Point Art Gallery, National Show: "The Serious and Playful Sides of Light", Dec. 2009 - Feb. 2010
Infinity Gallery, International Digital Art Show, Nov. 2010 - Jan. 2011
South Miami Art Festival, Miami, Florida 1991
Miami-Dade Community College, Student Art Show, Miami, Florida 1979
Coconut Grove Gallery, Coconut Grove, Florida 1975-78
The Freedom Train Traveling Art Show, Miami, FL 1976
University of Arizona, Student Show, Tuscon, AZ 1969
University of Maine, Student Show, Orono, Maine 1966
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June 13, 2011 - September 30, 2011
Sushila Oliphant Honors Nature
Artist of Distinction Award
Still Point Art Gallery's current exhibition is all about the essential nature of Nature. It was inspired by a passage by Henry David Thoreau, which ends with the words, "We can never have enough of Nature." Three of Sushila Oliphant's paintings were selected for this exhibition, and she was named an Artist of Distinction for her particularly wonderful and meaningful contributions. They are beautiful...colorful, vibrant, rich...the tones are deep, akin to those of a haunting cello or lyric basso profondo. These paintings speak to the grandeur and splendor of Nature, calling us to bow with respect and in worship. Oliphant so perfectly captures that aspect of Nature that makes it bigger and greater than all of us, though we are all contained within it. She captures the spiritual aspect of Nature, that part that feeds our souls, that part that Thoreau honored in his writings about Nature, that part of which we can never have enough.
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Golden Meadow |
Los Pináculos de Daniel |
Midnight Reflection |
"Midnight Reflection" was published in the magazine, "Stone Voices", September 2011.
January 18, 2010
Artist Sushila Oliphant Inspired by Pointillism
"Still Point Art Gallery's current exhibition, The Serious and Playful Sides of Light, is showing three amazing pieces by artist Sushila Oliphant. (Two are shown below.) These pieces are...at first glance...all about color...shimmering, vibrant color! The colors of the sky at sunset...the colors of the landscape at sunset. Bright and bold yellows and oranges, deep blues and purples and greens. Sparkling reflections on the water, rocks, shrubs, and trees. Is this the serious or the playful side of light?"
"Still"
"The Call"
"Sushila uses a certain technique to create these pieces, a technique which contributes to their energy, vibrancy, and texture. In the style of the pointillists, the most famous probably being Georges-Pierre Seurat (1859-1891), Sushila creates these pieces with dots and dashes. Sushila notes that this type of painting requires an action that is very strict, deliberate, and disciplined. The mind cannot wander while painting with this technique. Although it takes longer to create a piece using this method, Sushila finds that it has become a type of meditation for her...a spiritual practice." -Christine Cote, Still Point Art Gallery
The Call (18 x 5.75), Acrylic on Plywood, $2200
Still (13 x 14), Acrylic on Plywood, $2800
Contact Christine Cote by email or by phone at 207-837-5760.
Christine Brooks Cote
Still Point Art Gallery
January 18, 2010
Digital Arts Exhibit
Founder's Choice Award
Sushila Oliphant
November 15, 2010
"Symbolism is successful in its balance and harmony – inspiring a meditative and contemplative space that is truly Zen-like, reflecting the magic and mystery of life in this world and beyond."
~ C. Swing
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