Salmi’s paintings invoke a style that can be characterized as “Abstract Impressionism”, as they explore the reality between the physicality of a painterly surface and the suggestion of light and space somewhere beyond. Quote from the artist:“I like to think that my paintings offer the viewer the opportunity to experience stasis along with movement, presence along with absence, mass along with void, form along with space, etc…. each, in relation to the other. These are what I understand to be the forces inherent in nature…constantly working in relation to the other, yet at times also seemingly invisible. The forms in each painting may reveal themselves as shimmering entities….are they a solid mass, or like a mirage- merely vaporous movements? That which may initially appear to be solid, may in fact be as porous as the atmosphere. Forms may appear to be deliciously close, yet deliriously distant… approaching the edge of recognition, yet careful to remain unnamable.” Salmi grew up enjoying the lakes, streams, and wilderness areas of northeastern Minnesota. Taking inspiration from nature, enjoying visits to coastal Maine and the desert southwest, Salmi uses the language of brushstroke and color to lay the foundations for his abstract impressions of light and form. Salmi’s paintings also reveal his influences by artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Rothko, Joan Mitchell, Wolf Kahn, and Susan Rothenberg. Salmi’s paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States and his work is in both private and public collections including Kennebunk State Bank, J.L. Hubbard Insurance, LL. Bean, Edward Jones, Anheuser Busch, Illinois State University, Millikin University, Lawrence University , The Quincy Art Center, and The Rochester Institute of Technology.