Erik Fremstad is a self-taught artist based in Olympia, Washington, whose work is rooted in close observation of the natural world. Working primarily in graphite, he creates highly detailed drawings inspired by time spent hiking and exploring the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest.
Fremstad’s practice is driven by a desire to slow down and engage more deeply with his surroundings. His drawings often begin in the field, where he studies light, structure, and atmosphere, later developing each piece with careful attention to detail over extended periods of time.
In addition to his landscape work, Fremstad has explored themes of conservation and human impact through his series Unnatural Selection, which culminated in a solo exhibition at Lakewold Gardens in 2024.
Through his work, Fremstad seeks to create a deeper connection between viewer and environment, using drawing as a way to translate fleeting moments in nature into something enduring and intentional.
My work begins outdoors, in places where the noise of everyday life gives way to something quieter and more honest. Hiking through alpine basins, forest trails, and coastal landscapes, I use drawing as a way to slow down and pay attention to light, to texture, to the subtle structure of the natural world.
Working primarily in pencil, I’m drawn to the challenge of translating vast, immersive environments into something intimate and tactile. Each mark becomes a way of understanding what I’m seeing, not just documenting it. The process is as important as the finished piece: an act of observation, patience, and presence.
These drawings are not meant to be exact replicas of a location, but rather reflections of an experience. They carry the rhythm of walking, the stillness of sitting with a view, and the small imperfections that come with working by hand in changing conditions.
Underlying the work is a belief that creativity and exploration are deeply connected. Time spent outdoors has continually reshaped how I approach both art and life, encouraging curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to move forward even when the path isn’t clear. In that way, each drawing becomes part of a larger journey, not just through a landscape, but through the process of growth itself.
The Mountain was created in graphite over many months, with careful attention to every detail.
