Eileen E. Fjerstad is a plein air landscape painter whose work reflects decades of careful observation of the natural environments in the American Southwest. She resides and creates art in Silverton, Colorado, and has been a professional painter since the mid-1980s, gaining recognition as a regional artist through her consistent dedication to painting directly from the land.
Largely self-taught, Fjerstad has shaped her art through independent study and ongoing professional development. Over the years, she has taken part in workshops led by artists such as Kevin McPhearson, John Budicin, George Strickland, Joseph Shephard, David Schwindt, Ann Templeton, Jessica Zemsky, and Jack Hines. She was also mentored for many years by Durango artist Paul Folwell, an experience that helped refine her technique and strengthened her long-term dedication to plein air painting.
Fjerstad has attended national Plein Air Conventions in Monterey, California, and Santa Fe. These events brought together painters from across the country to share techniques, materials, and working methods through demonstrations and outdoor paint-outs, offering wide exposure to contemporary plein air practices.
Working primarily on location, Fjerstad keeps her materials close at hand, enabling her to respond quickly to changing light, weather, and seasonal conditions. While her early work focused on watercolor, she has increasingly turned to oil painting in recent years. The medium’s depth and versatility allow for richer surface texture and a deeper engagement with color and atmosphere.
Her subject matter focuses on the San Juan Mountains and the surrounding desert landscapes of the Four Corners region. Cliffs, canyons, alpine valleys, and less-traveled terrain often appear in her work, shaped by direct observation and repeated visits. In addition to Silverton, her paintings are displayed in and around Durango, Colorado, as well as in Bluff, Utah, and Sedona, Arizona.
She is an associate member of Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society, American Women Artists, and the Outdoor Painters Society.
