​
Sue Fazio often jokes that her favorite line is, “I paint all day, EVERY day!” While not entirely literal, it captures the spirit of her life and passion for creativity.
Her journey has been shaped by a full and dynamic life — raising six children, earning a doctorate in education, teaching at UNCA, moving often, and sharing decades of marriage with golf course architect Tom Fazio. Throughout it all, creativity has remained a constant thread.
Sue’s path has been guided by curiosity rather than convention. She has never felt drawn to settling into just one lane, believing that variety, challenge, and exploration are what keep life meaningful.
Today, she continues to create with that same sense of energy and openness, grateful for the beauty, relationships, and opportunities that surround her.
Artist Statement
People often ask why I paint and make pottery as much as I do. The simple truth is that I have an abundance of “TO DO” energy—an internal motor that never stops humming. I’ve learned to channel that energy into art because I love to be challenged.
When I first went to college, the aptitude tests said my strengths were numbers and language. Naturally, they suggested careers in those fields. But choosing something I was already good at felt far too easy…and a little boring. So I chose art instead and earned my bachelor’s degree in ART. Trust me—I was not a “natural,” nor did I arrive with any miraculous innate talent. I worked at it. And that work thrilled me. I was excited to spend hours painting, regardless of whether anyone else liked the results.
Eventually, I continued my education but shifted my major to Education because I wanted to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem in the world. I earned my doctorate while raising six children, teaching at UNCA, and opening the Blue Butterfly—my paint-your-own-pottery studio and juice bar—right next door to this very building. Ten years of pouring all that TO DO energy into that adventure…and I loved every minute.
When our youngest, Gavin, left the nest, Tom and I moved to Lake Toxaway, and I returned to painting full-time.
There, I discovered my deep love of color and texture. People, flowers, landscapes—they all became my subjects, painted with the love and gratitude I feel for the sheer generosity of being alive. I am surrounded by beauty and blessed by love. It’s a GOD THING, truly.
Over time, I evolved into abstract painting—not to record what was in the world, but to express what I feel about it. Feelings need an outlet, and painting gives mine a place to land. I still lean into color and texture, but now I anchor them in emotion—a specific word or feeling, like joy. Colors, when unfocused, are pure chaos. My work is the process of turning that chaos into something—if not conventionally beautiful—then at least deeply interesting.
Abstracts are the hardest to paint because how do you ever know when you’re finished? My friends would say I run my life the same way—creating CHAOS and somehow turning it into something meaningful.
Thank you for coming into my space…and into my life
Visit the Gallery
in Hendersonville, NC
contact for appointments
Follow
