Conversations with Suzanne Frazier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Frazier.

Hi Suzanne, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Since 1990, I have enjoyed employing an 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 collective emotional responses from residing in Colorado since 1972.

Between 2005 – 2021, 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. I continue to be invited to show my work at D’art Gallery.

I have been 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. I am also a member of the Colorado Women’s Art Museum and the museum purchased one of my oil paintings for their collection.

I have been interviewed several times about my creative process and the interviews are on my website: https://www.suzannefrazierartist.com/video

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to becoming a full time artist and art teacher has had many detours along the way.

I was declared in the Sixth Grade a “gifted art student”. As a result, I took after school drawing lessons until the art teacher started to draw on my work, ‘making corrections”. After experiencing her “corrections” a few times, I couldn’t handle the art teacher changing my expression and I quit.

In college, I planned to major in Art, but my father refused to spend his money on art classes, saying I couldn’t make a living as an artist. Instead, I graduated in 1969 with a BA Degree in Philosophy with Honors. (My father was happy.) I went on to attend Graduate School at the University of Virginia, but didn’t finish. I was constantly told that no one would hire a woman to be a Philosophy Professor. So…. what was the point?

I moved to Denver Colorado and began a career in radio, as a Promotions Director. I hit the “glass ceiling” at the radio station, so I found new employment at Frontier Airlines. My last position at the airline was as the first woman “Ramp Supervisor” at Stapleton Airport.

In 1986 at the age of 40, I decided to quit my job and return to art school. I had saved up enough money to pay for tuition, I enrolled for a Summer School Session at Denver University. At the end of Summer School, I was invited to register for classes. The next year, I transferred to the University of Colorado where I graduated with a BA Degree in Studio Arts in 1989.

While at CU, I had an interesting experience in 1988, during a conference on “Art Careers” at the Denver Art Museum, one of the speakers informed the crowd that any woman over the age of 40 would never “make it” in the art world. There just wasn’t room for an older women’s perspective in the competitive world of art. As a 42 year old woman, I didn’t listen and decided to prove the speaker was “misinformed”. This particular experience has spurred me on to work even harder to become a professional artist……at least to prove him wrong.

Since 1990, my oil paintings have been exhibited in countless exhibitions throughout the Denver Metropolitan area. From 2019 – 2023, I was a founding and exhibiting member of D’art Gallery in the Art District on Santa Fe. My work is in private collections in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.

Recently, one of my paintings was purchased by the Colorado Women’s Art Museum to become part of their collection.

In 2025, I continue to remove “obstacles” to my career goals and exhibit my creative expression.

This year, I have participated in the East Boulder County Studio Tour last spring and, during the first three weekends of October, my studio is open for the Boulder County Open Studios Art Tour. You are invited to visit my studio during this time.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a self employed woman artist with a teaching studio in Longmont Colorado. I teach oil painting, using water-mixable oil paints, and oil pastel drawing creativity workshops at my studio.

As a Contemplative Artist, I teach art classes centered around meditation with each student encouraged to discover their personal “voice” through their creativity.

I create my oil paintings from my meditative process. My definition for “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.

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 tree has an 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 Meditation 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

My work is in private collections in the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe and can be viewed at https://suzannefrazierartist.com

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The most important quality to develop as a professional artist is: “don’t give up”.
Resilience, tenacity and perseverance are all necessary to discover and create your” voice” in your work

The most important skill to develop as a professional artist is to learn how to enjoy being “at the edge of your comfort zone”.
This is where creativity thrives and serendipity creeps in unannounced. It’s the best place to create.

The most important area of knowledge to develop as a professional artist is to know what art has been created before and what art is being creating right now. Be aware of what is going on. You don’t want to create work that has already been conceived or compete with other artists doing the same thing. Hone your artistic skills well and find your own personal “voice” through your creative process.

Most of all, enjoy your creativity!

Pricing:

• Oil Paintings – $250 – $8,000
• Art Calendar – $20
• Package of 8 Art Cards – $20
• Oil Painting Classes – $50 per class
• Oil Pastel Creativity Art Workshop – $80

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.suzannefrazierartist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contemplativeart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ContemplativeArt
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/contemplativeartist/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ContemplativeArt
• Other: https://www.saatchiart.com/suzannefrazier, https://contemplativeart.blogspot.com/, and https://bsky.app/profile/suzannefrazier.bsky.social