We’re looking forward to introducing you to Suzanne Frazier. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Suzanne, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is most important to me.
If one posses integrity the rest of their life is honest, truthful, reliable, loving and successful.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Let me introduce myself. I am Suzanne Frazier, a Contemplative Artist.
Since 1990, I have been selling my oil paintings, teaching art classes in my studio, and hosting Contemplative Art Retreats at retreat centers.
Over the past 35 years, I have enjoyed employing a unique perspective in my creative work as a “Contemplative Artist”. For me, “Contemplative Art” is the product of creative expression rising from the pure joy of creating, grounded in a meditative connection to the radiance and perfection of spirit known only through one’s experience of being fully human.
During a contemplative experience one does not observe anything specific but rather a feeling emerges from the meditation. Likewise, I choose to create work that does not refer to any specific location or time but rather the work is the time and location. I choose instead to invite the viewer into my meditation of my collected emotional responses from residing in Colorado since 1972.
In addition to creating oil paintings, between 1990 – 2025, I have written articles for magazines, regarding my perspective and process. The nine articles are posted on my website at: https://www.suzannefrazierartist.com/articles
In 2015, I published the book, Contemplative Art, describing my meditative painting process and definition for contemplative art. It is available online at: https://www.suzannefrazierartist.com/book/2656/contemplative-art
In 2019, I became a Founding Member of D’art Gallery in the Art District on Santa Fe. Between 2019 and before I ‘retired” from the gallery in 2023, I exhibited in solo exhibitions 5 times in 4 years. In 2023, I was juried into Open Studios in Boulder County and have exhibited with this organization. I participate in the East Boulder County Artists Studio Tour each Spring and Boulder County Open Studios Tour during the first 3 weekends of October. I am a member of the Women’s Caucus for Art – Colorado Chapter and exhibit with this organization.
Since 1986, I have created over 500 pieces of art and sold over 260 pieces including oil pastel drawings, oil paintings and ceramic sculptures
One of my paintings has recently been purchased by the Colorado Women’s Art Museum in Denver, Colorado. My work is in private collections in the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe and can be viewed at https://suzannefrazierartist.com
As a Contemplative Artist, I am inspired by “Life”…..
……………with a capital “L”!
I am inspired by the world that we live in:
The Earth in all her beauty.
The Night Sky filled with wonder.
The Seasons that bring change to our lives.
The Community of Artists surrounding all of us.
The Community of Friends who share their thoughts, fears and love of life.
The Neighborhood filled with trees and gardens of flowers.
The Spiritual Community I meditate with.
The Community Garden I grow my veggies in.
As an artist, I live in a world of unique colors:
Shadows are not grey, they are filled with subtle color.
Clouds are not just “white”, they are filled with color. And sometimes we are blessed with seeing Sun Dog Clouds!
Trees are not all the same color of “green”. Each species’ leaves express unique hues of green and each have a unique shape.
Flowers are Nature’s dance of color. (One can learn color theory from flowers!)
No two people’s skin tone are the same color. Everyone has a unique hue to their face.
And…everyone has a special smile
We are living in a cornucopia of colors, sound, smells and shapes.
For me, Art is a vehicle for exploring the exterior and interior landscape of our existence on this planet.
All of these experiences inspire my artwork, with different paintings presenting different inspirations.
That is why I call myself a “Contemplative Artist”.
With each painting, I invited you into my shared contemplation.
From these contemplative experiences, I have created several series of works:
Boketto Series (Looking into the Distance without Thinking)
Moon Meditations Series
Spirit Light Series
Thresholds Unknown Series
Contemplative Light Series
Opulence Series
Rocky Mountain Series
Boulder Creek Series
Colorado Foothills Series
Boulder Series
and earlier works.
My artwork can be viewed at: https://www.suzannefrazierartist.com/works
For more information on up-coming exhibition events, please view my events listings on my website: https://www.suzannefrazierartist.com/events
I also have videos of interviews and past exhibitions of my work on my website: https://www.suzannefrazierartist.com/video
I love sharing my contemplation.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A very sad moment shaped how I see the world.
Between my Sophomore and Junior year of high school, my best friend died of heart disease.
Her heart valve was malfunctioning since her birth. Her hands were always cold and she tired easily. During the summer of 1962, the doctors at National Institutes of Health in Bethesda Maryland operated on her heart to replace the valve. It was an experimental operation, since no doctor had managed to successfully replace a heart valve. She died on the operating table. They did everything they could to save her life.
From that moment on, I have always lived each day to the fullest.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was a time in my life when I gave up. It was 1982.
I had been working for 10 years, first at KHOW Radio and then at Frontier Airlines at Stapleton Airport. I worked long and hard hours. I was employed in two male dominated work cultures.
The 1970’s and 1980’s was a time when women were being promoted to jobs that had never been held by women before. Prior to those years, women were considered only able to work as secretaries and receptionists. I began my career as a secretary but soon was promoted to a management position.
At my last job in 1982, I was promoted to two positions at Frontier Airlines as both a Ramp Supervisor and Assistant Manager for Ramp Services at Frontier Airlines but I was being paid less than the other 6 Ramp Supervisors and the other 3 Assistant Managers. Since I was working two positions at the same time, I thought I should at least be paid the same or more than the men. When I demanded more pay, I was told that as a single woman I didn’t need as much money as the men who were supporting families.
I resigned and created my own business. I decided that I would work for myself. Then I could pay myself a reasonable salary.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am committed to being a self employed woman artist.
I spend most of my time in my studio teaching oil painting classes, oil pastel drawing classes and creating oil paintings.
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
I spend the rest of my time exhibiting my oil paintings, maintaining my website and participating in social media to promote my work. I am a member of several art organizations and I participate in two studio tours a year: East Boulder County Artists Studio Tour in the Spring and Boulder County Open Studios Tour the first 3 weekends in October.
I plan to continue this project until the end of my life.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
Since I am 78 years old and heading towards 80, I have thought about my legacy.
I hope that people will think of me as a self-directed creative.
I hope my oil paintings will inspire people to look at the world from a contemplative point of view.
I hope people will think of me as an example of a woman who knew what she wanted and she made sure she succeeded with all her energy and purpose in life.
Finally, I hope to be remembered as a kind, caring, loving individual who cherished life and everyone on this planet.
What more could anyone want?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.suzannefrazierartist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contemplativeart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/contemplativeartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ContemplativeArt
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ContemplativeArt
- Other: https://www.saatchiart.com/suzannefrazier
https://bsky.app/profile/suzannefrazier.bsky.social
https://contemplativeart.blogspot.com/
