Erin Friedman: Exploring the Inner Psyche

Erin Friedman

Trail Marks

24" x 36" Acrylic, Gouache, Vinyl Emulsion, Charcoal

Erin Friedman working on a large-scale painting

Shed Some Skin

24” x 30” Diptych Acrylic, Gouache, Vinyl Emulsion, Charcoal, Wax Pastel

Detail of ‘Shed Some Skin’

24” x 30” Diptych Acrylic, Gouache, Vinyl Emulsion, Charcoal, Wax Pastel

Morning Light

36”x 36” Acrylic, Gouache, Vinyl Emulsion

Space Between

48" x 48" Acrylic, Gouache, Charcoal

Something Beautiful

36" x 36" Acrylic, Vinyl Emulsion, Charcoal

A New Day

30" x 40" Acrylic, Gouache, Wax pastel

Erin Friedman in her studio

Based in Washington DC, artist Erin Friedman explores energy, intuition, and her inner psyche while creating abstract works of art. Erin is a process-based artist who values the act of art making just as much as the final product. Often utilizing a variety of mediums, Erin’s work reflects her deep understanding of color, shape, line and composition as well as her passion for working intuitively.

Tell me about your background and where your creative journey began.

I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland in a family which valued and supported my love for the arts. My parents had careers in education and medicine, but my father is also a musician and my mother has a deep appreciation for language. As a child, I always gravitated toward art. My talent was recognized at a very early age and my parents invested in various art classes outside of school where I studied drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. I believe exploring this passion at such an early age created the foundation for my life's work. My love, in particular, for painting led me to study fine art in college at the University of Maryland. I graduated with a BFA in painting and a concentration in design.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?


Many times I find inspiration for my work based on the person for whom I am painting. My commissions build off the energy of the collector. Emotions and current events have taken front stage in my art, too. I am a process driven artist, so moments and reactions to everyday life and experiences show up. I bring my personality as a sensitive and empathetic truth seeker to every blank canvas. Each piece is deeply personal to me. We are living in such a fraught time right now. Adding something beautiful to the world and painting my experiences during this time feels impactful to me.

What led you to focus on abstract art?

It's difficult to pinpoint a specific moment that led me to find my niche in abstract work. I have always appreciated abstract art because it doesn't reflect any form of realism and is driven by feelings and energy, with no rules intact. My work examines my internal psyche and I paint intuitively based on present thoughts. Nothing drives me more than the complexity of emotions. I feel so alive and present when I am immersed in a painting, and it's a thrilling experience. I aim to capture the essence of the human experience. We all experience conflict, change, joy and sadness. I do my best to embrace this process and allow those feelings to be revealed throughout my work.

How has your work shifted and evolved over time?


Before pursuing my art full time, I spent over a decade working as a graphic illustrator, designing gifts and toys for zoos, aquariums and museums all over the world. Covid-19 flipped my world around. Overnight, my children stopped attending school, and I stopped working. I did a lot of self-reflection about what I wanted to focus on in my life and what was most important, which brought me back to painting. Painting gave me some feeling of control during the initial chaos. The pandemic has forced many into a state of introspection due to isolation. This period gave me the gift of time to explore my own feelings regarding order, mental health, and social inequality.

What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?


It really changes often. On the days that I have childcare, I am in the studio the majority of the day. My day is always broken up - making meals, picking up and dropping off my children, and taking breaks to play or help them. After their bedtime, I usually go back to the studio and work at night. It's totally silent in the evenings and I explore some of my best ideas at night. Becoming a mother created a major shift in my practice because I needed to learn to work with more intention and to my fullest capacity with the compromised time I now maintain.

Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Becoming a mother for sure. I have three little boys, ages 7, 3 and 1. Motherhood truly is transformative and really puts your life into perspective. It's a full time job, so art feels like a creative outlet more than ever, and allows me to focus on the process of simply creating. My time throughout the day is very involved with day to day activities with my children and therefore each moment I have for art is explored with a fierce drive and deep intention.

How has Instagram impacted your art career?


Instagram has fueled my career as an artist and really put me on the map. It's a gift to share my work, view art so easily, and have the ability to link to creative circles I would have never discovered otherwise. During such an isolating time that we are living in, Instagram has helped me learn and grow. It has given me the opportunity to reach out directly to other artists and organizations and develop community. Also, as a mother with young children, I have made so many wonderful friendships with other females in similar roles to mine which has brought overwhelming support and positivity.

What are your future goals and aspirations?


I'd love to take some time to enlarge my collection of paintings and work on a unique series. Honestly though, I am just feeling so grateful in the way that my career has evolved. I feel so alive while I work, and I hope this fiery passion never slows down.

Victoria Fry