Local Art Seen: Natalie Salminen Rude @ Studio Haiku

I first began to notice Natalie Salminen Rude's work in encaustic and oils at some point in 2017, at Lizzard's Gallery downtown. The effects she was creating through layering and colorations were at times like disembodied ghosts, not in appearance but in that sense that you weren't quite sure how she was achieving this. The soothing colors, the exquisite details and the sense that there is something more that you're missing all make for engaging art.

Just under a year ago I visited her Studio Haiku up on Woodland Avenue, and felt a nudge to revisit again this spring to see how her vision has progressed and hear more stories. We talked about where inspiration comes from and how great work is something akin to giving birth, in the sense that you carry it inside you and how painful it can be to deliver.

Photo by Liz Pawlik

Natalie shared a story about a show she did in Mexico where she periodically teaches. She had produced a number of pieces but had no theme. How the theme emerged seemed nothing short of miraculous, an answer to prayer.

Like many artists in the region, becomning immersed in the creative flow requires learning how to find that ideal work-life balance. Natalie is a wife and mother of three. Her imagination and the visions she would like to pursue exceed her available time, but the fire is burning and she's enjoying the dream of bringing new possibilities to fruition.

Related Links
Studio Haiku, Natalie Salminen Rude's Poetic Artspace
Studio Haiku Website