From Chaos to Canvas: Erin Friedman on Emotion, Motherhood, and the Beauty of Bold Abstraction
At Anne Haas Design, we believe original artwork doesn’t just complete a space but it anchors it. It invites emotion, tells a story, and adds soul to every corner of a home. In the second installment of our Artist Spotlight series, we’re honored to introduce abstract painter Erin Friedman, whose richly layered work channels emotion, memory, and instinct into compelling, tactile compositions.
Her journey to full-time artistry wasn’t linear but it’s precisely that winding path that gives her work such depth and resonance.
Born to Create
From her earliest days, art wasn’t a hobby instead it was a language.
“I’ve always been an artist,” Erin says. “In kindergarten, my teacher told my mom, ‘You need to put this child in art classes.’ That early validation meant everything.”
With supportive parents and a natural affinity for visual expression, she studied fine art and design in college. Her dream of becoming a painter lingered, but reality intervened after graduation. She pivoted into a creative-but-conventional role as a graphic illustrator for zoos and museums—designing colorful, kid-friendly graphics for souvenirs and educational exhibits.
“In theory, it was a dream job,” she reflects. “But I knew deep down it wasn’t the right kind of creativity for me.”
A Pandemic Reckoning
Everything shifted in 2020.
With a newborn, two young children, and a partner working long hours in construction, Erin found herself overwhelmed and untethered. “My mind exploded under the pressure,” she says. “I needed something for myself - something with my hands. I needed to create.”
She converted the family’s guest room into a makeshift studio, originally imagining it as a shared art space for her and the kids. But almost immediately, it became something more.
“Very quickly, I realized thatI want this space for me,” she laughs.
Night after night, she returned to the canvas. What began as a mental health outlet quickly turned into a calling. Within months of sharing her work online, she had a six-month waitlist for commissions. That momentum hasn’t slowed since.
A Language of Emotion
Erin’s paintings are unmistakable—soft yet bold, abstract yet grounded in feeling. She paints exclusively on raw, unprimed canvas, beginning each piece by pouring watered-down acrylics directly onto the fabric. Once the washes dry, she adds texture and structure using palette knives, oil pastels, and instinct.
“There’s a sculptural quality to the paint,” she says. “I want people to feel something and not just visually, but viscerally.”
Her work doesn’t depict places or objects. Instead, it captures the sensation of a moment: the joy of sun-drenched stillness, the tension of anxiety, the gentle weight of nostalgia.
Motherhood, Messiness, and Meaning
As a mother of three, Erin is candid about how parenting shapes her art, not just logistically, but creatively.
“There aren’t enough mother-artists being represented,” she says. “There’s a depth and emotional perspective we bring to the canvas that’s unique—and I think it resonates.”
Her pieces carry the imprint of a life that’s full, chaotic, beautiful, and constantly shifting. “Our lives aren’t neat. I want my work to reflect that. I want it to feel human.”
Inside the Studio
Erin’s creative process is deeply intuitive. She doesn’t force it and she never begins without inspiration.
“Some weeks I paint nonstop. Other weeks, I just sit with the canvas. It has to come from an emotional place.”
She jokes about the emotional whiplash of painting. Those moments when everything feels brilliant, followed by the inevitable self-doubt.
“You ride the wave. Eventually you land on something that feels complete—and it’s like your whole heart is on the canvas.”
Art That Lives With You
When asked how her work transforms a space, Erin doesn’t hesitate: “It brings soul. Original art makes a room feel lived-in, not staged. It tells your story.”
She believes building an art collection is like curating a visual autobiography. “The work you choose at twenty won’t be what you choose at forty. But it all matters. It’s a reflection of who you are in that moment.”
Looking Ahead
With a loyal collector base and consistent commissions, Erin is now expanding into the gallery world.
“I love working one-on-one with clients - it’s incredibly meaningful. But I also want my work to live in homes around the world. That’s the dream.”
There’s no rigid roadmap, but the direction is clear: show up, stay honest, keep evolving.
Bringing Art Into the Home
At Anne Haas Design, we believe original art isn’t an afterthought. It’s integral. We partner with artists like Erin Friedman to help our clients discover pieces that feel deeply personal and emotionally resonant.
If you’re ready to invest in artwork that adds texture, meaning, and soul to your home, we’d love to connect you.
