Natalie Salminen Rude works in a variety of mediums, and recently opened a studio/gallery in the Woodland neighborhood. She tells how her varied interests come together in her work.
NS: I work in a host of mediums which all wonderfully inform each other. Encaustic, oils, photography, haiku — each process shapes the other. There’s this constant hum of cross-pollination that happens in my studio. I think curiosity and a fascination with connection are the forces that propel me to do the work I’m doing. And beauty. Always on the hunt for beauty.
I came to work in encaustic after playing/painting a bit with melted candles in college — to which my then professor let me know that there was an ancient beeswax medium called encaustic. A year later, while living in the Everglades, I ordered the only book available on the subject at the time, and taught myself (i.e. fumbled along) in my kitchen. Earlier, while working on my BFA, I danced between ceramics and painting as a concentration. Ceramics held the physicality that I craved, but painting held the color. Then came encaustic. It was this beautiful marriage of the two. Plus, I was able to employ my wildest mixed-media and text dreams within the medium. Encaustic felt like coming home.
That was 2004. I’ve been working in encaustic ever since. It’s almost like an epicenter — something that my other mediums resonate and revolve upon. The process is fascinating — encaustic is a mixture of pure beeswax, damar resin (an East Asian tree sap), and pigment — all fused with heat. Once the medium has been created, (the medium itself is the paint) each layer of paint is fused to the subsequent layers beneath. Mixed-media materials may be embedded along the way. Depending on the height of the relief that is built up, layers may be carved upon and excavated. The possibilities within encaustic are truly limitless.
I love what I do. Absolutely love it. And yet it’s so hard. Excruciating sometimes, even. There’s this call to serve the work, which I try my best to do, but there’s always a wrestling. This is the challenge and the reward. Staying with a piece even when it’s had me in tears – such a feeling of deep accomplishment.
Much of my work is commissions based — also deeply challenging and equally rewarding. I put my heart, body and mind into my work and strive to bring a work of art that communicates more than we could imagine. So there’s a seriousness that arrives, but it’s so much fun to play out … so in the end I guess it’s a lot of serious fun. Beautiful, serious fun.
Studio Haiku – 2311 Woodland Ave.
studio Haiku
a poetic atmosphere
for creative acts
Locally, my work can also be found at Lizzards Gallery and Framing downtown. Lizzards does a wonderful job of connecting people to our art culture. Very grateful for them.
I’m on the web here:
Instagram:
@tuliptea
@studiohaiku.design
Websites:
nataliesalminen.com
studiohaiku.design
Etsy:
SalminenShoppe.etsy.com
Facebook:
Natalie Salminen Fine Art
For more on Encaustic: nataliesalminen.com/about/about-encaustic
I’m working on a handful of very meaningful commissions this winter through my justice/art/beauty initiative, The Commissions Project. One being for the organization Preemptive Love Coalition, based in Baghdad, Iraq. They work to empower people affected by war by “preemptively loving across enemy lines.” We’ll have an opening for the new artwork at Stuido Haiku on Valentine’s Day, so mark your calendars.
I’m also working on a piece for Bent Paddle’s new taproom and partial proceeds from prints of the painting will go toward protecting our beloved Boundary Waters. So much good in store!