Natalie Salminen Rude is an incredibly talented visionary amongst the artists in Minnesota, and she is a Duluth native/resident of the bustling city on Lake Superior.
This world-traveled, mixed-media-adoring, and exploring artist will leave you in awe at her fantastical artwork, which includes Encaustic techniques, Sculptures, Oil pieces, and more. Natalie Salminen Rude‘s passion for the journey of a work of art from its conception to its finished product and the joys of collaboration are happily contagious, and you may find yourself filled with your own untapped inspiration by the time you finish reading about this talented artist. I also can’t stress enough how intricate and captivating her aesthetic and poetic signature is that’s laced between each stroke and the detail of her work. It’s truly magnificent, and we’re incredibly happy to have her here On Lake Superior.
In this article, we’ll hear from the wonderful artist herself and examine her projects and artist journey. Learn more about Natalie Salminen Rude here, and be sure to follow her work; it’s well worth it!
which you should definitely click on right now and check out!
Q & A With Natalie Salminen Rude
Admiring artists in Minnesota while you’re dawdling about on Lake Superior is one thing, but getting the opportunity to admire their work AND having a lovely conversation with them about their artistic journey? Now, that’s a little slice of inspirational magic pie. I imagine the flavor is a combination of sunshine and what we all daydream clouds feel like.
As I mentioned, I had the wonderful privilege of asking Natalie Salminen Rude a few questions about her life as an artist, her love of being on Lake Superior, and a peek inside her and artist/friend Jordan Sundberg‘s book Fables of the North Shore.
While reading Natalie Salminen Rude‘s answers, I was filled with a frolicking flutter of giddy inspiration and reverting back to those early years of free-for-all imagination. I hope you receive a similar pep in your step after reading these delightful answers brought to you by one of the talented and passion-filled artists in Minnesota. Let’s give it up for Natalie Salminen Rude!
What’s one of the earliest memories you can recall of you tapping into your true creative self?
Somewhere in my elementary years, I found myself in my blue-carpeted bedroom closet with a scrap of paper, a lighter, and a “brick red” crayon. I would melt the crayon with the lighter until the wax from the crayon would drip onto the paper. Something drew me to hold that little scrap of paper up to the bare light bulb illuming my closet. I was undone. The beauty! The way the light came through the paper and lit up the deep red until it glowed?! I can still feel the same profound ache within my chest – it was the longing for beauty.
I remember thinking “I need to live with this!” But how could I? I was always trying to find ways to get that little piece of paper to stay in front of the light bulb permanently.
The thought crossed my mind that I could start the paper on fire and that that would be bad. (In hindsight I’m thankful for that wee bit of little girl wisdom!) For as long as I can remember, every time I went into my closet I would squint my eyes and stretch my arm out as far as I could reach and hold that little piece of paper up to the light bulb. It was a moment of absolute delight wrestling with absolute longing.
Do you have a quote/saying that you remind yourself of when you’re running into artist/writer’s block? Or that inspires you to create?
Yes! I have a few paragraphs of instructions of sorts that I have taped to my studio wall by author Elizabeth O’Connor. Essentially it’s about centering yourself beyond distractions and the opinions of others and then giving “oneself to the work at hand, exercising the gifts that will give the work breath.” Over the years I have come to see that I co-create with God. So if something is stuck, I’ve got a great studio partner to work things out with.
Did you click on the link yet? What are you waiting for? Dazzling artwork awaits!
Lake Superior is a happy place for so many; what’s one of your favorite memories on Lake Superior?
Definitely my childhood memories of Lake Superior are my favorite because I believe they are the foundation of my artistic sensibilities. This is where I first encountered the magnificent gravity of natural beauty!
Up the north shore, during a family camping trip I remember hopping along the great round stones of the Baptism River until it flushed out into the lake. Oh! To think of my little heart encountering the weight of the horizon line beneath all that deep blue water! Gasp! The cold stones of every shoreline!
The imagery continues its influence as these design elements continue to show up consistently in my work. I just get such a kick out of it all. We are so blessed to have Lake Superior at our fingertips. To really imagine how it’s shaped so many people’s creative work is jollification itself!
If you were to give a note of inspiration to any writers or artists out there, what would you tell them?
JUST DO IT. Get to it, get into it, go for it.
Poet Mary Oliver talks about one of humanity’s greatest regrets as having a creative impulse and then not acting on it. Let’s not live in regret!
The practical side of “just do it” means get yourself a deadline. (Seriously, best advice!) But don’t do it alone. Book that show. Hire a coach. Have accountability with someone who wants you to soar. Works like a charm!
We need your art. We need you. The world needs your particular expression of creativity. There is no one but you that can make the work that is swirling around in your head and your heart.
Are there any future projects/events that you wish to share?
Thanks for asking! A long, long, long time ago while in collage I worked at the beloved New Scenic Cafe along the North Shore of Lake Superior on our visual treat that is Highway 61. While I was working there I had a small show of oil paintings and woodblock prints. These were inspired by my getting to stare into the horizon of the lake everyday while working.
Now, over twenty years later I am excited to show work once again at such a special place for lovers of the North Shore that showcases a truly epic display of creativity through their menu, talented staff and lovely setting along the lake. The show runs October 8th – November 25th, 2024.
Q & A About Fables of the North Shore
Along with learning about Natalie Salminen Rude inspiring origin stories of her artwork, childhood, and passion for all things entangling creativity, I also got the opportunity to ask her a few questions about the beautiful book Fables of the North Shore. She collaborated on creating with another talented artist from the Duluth area, Jordan Sundberg!
This book is packed FULL of delightful tales on Lake Superior, magnificent artwork crafted by these fabulous artists in Minnesota, and playful, thought-provoking messages that will sit crisscross applesauce in your bookish heart with a smile.
Get your copy of Fables of the North Shore so you, too, can be immersed in this wonderful, quirky world! You can also read my in-depth book review of Fables of the North Shore here on Lake Superior!
Can you share with us the inspirational spark that was ignited to begin the epicness of Fables of the North Shore?
The initial spark was the fabulous Mr. Joshua Lindstrom, owner of Fika Coffee in Lutsen. He invited Jordan Sundberg and I to collaborate on a show for Fika. He said, “Why don’t you guys do something around your friendship?”
We were thrilled at the idea and since neither of us had collaborated with another artist before to this extent we were jazzed at all the possibilities of what we could do. Jordan had the brilliant idea of writing fables right away. Art-filled storytelling around the place we loved best? It was an obvious lightening bolt “Yes!” for both of us.
What did you take away from your collaboration on Fables of the North Shore with Jordan Sundberg that you feel may inspire you in your future projects?
At the onset of the project we both sensed a very divine invitation to play. I truly believe that accessing our childlike wonder, freedom, silliness and unique sense of playfulness is where every single project should begin.
Even projects for me that have a more serious nature are still rooted in play. It comes from a confidence of knowing that I’m loved and there’s nothing I can do, no performing or striving, to make my work any more legitimate than it already is.
The Fables are such a great reminder of that. And as far as collaboration goes, Jordan and I learned heaps and had such a ball throughout the entire adventure. I loved how collaborating pushed us further than if we had set out to do the project alone. Our friendship deepened and we were able to offer each other tremendous amounts of encouragement.
Our playfulness tumbled into not only a successful project but into the wisdom that seriousness doesn’t necessarily guarantee success, though that is something the world would like us to believe. The spoils from these victories will live long into my future projects.
What has life been like after Fables of the North Shore came out? Do readers have any favorite parts?
Life has been an even greater hoot since the Fables came out! Jordan and I talk often of how much ding-dang fun we had and the best part is seeing how others immediately pick up on that just by reading the fables and engaging with the illustrative art work.
There is such a radiant joy in these stories that folks can’t help but catch. Readers have so many favorites! It’s impossible to nail down a single favorite, but I would say that one of the highlights for me in seeing how folks connect with the stories and characters is how they bring the fables to life in their own way.
A few examples: we had a Nordic ski club in Duluth perform “The Wizard in Denim” (a fable about skiing in jeans) as a skit for a fundraiser, Jordan and I organized a “Ski in Jeans” party at a local ski hill (absolutely hilarious as you can imagine!) and currently there is a dance company in Minneapolis using the fable “Silma the Smelt” as fodder for their choreography and story line for an upcoming performance.
We have also received many videos of people reading the fables to others. There is a shared, communal joy within this little book that just has to come out and into real life. It’s wild.
There are a few things in life we should stop for: smelling flowers and admiring an artist’s hard work. I certainly hope you get the chance to explore Natalie Salminen Rude’s expansive and impressive portfolio and support her future work. Many artists in Minnesota on Lake Superior bring the beauty of the lake we love so much to life with their wonderful talents, and it’s my wish that you get the dazzling chance to admire them.
