Business Spotlight: Salt Sky Studio

Inspired by nature, patterns, folklore, music and more, Salt Sky Studio creates their unique wood artwork out of their home studio in Hubbards. A team business, Salt Sky Studio is made up of Kate the artist/designer and BJ (her husband) the woodworker.

During the pandemic, I was working a corporate job, and my husband is a firefighter, He started to make wood projects in his spare time. We started a business for him making wood things, mostly squirrel picnic tables, and then eventually it turned into figuring out what to do with all of the scrap wood we had. We started making artwork out of it. A couple of years later we started Salt Sky Studio. Since 2022 we have primarily been making artwork.

Tell us about your signature medium – painting on wood slats – how did you develop this technique?

We started playing with the scraps of wood. I like the depth and texture, and the shadow added a layer. You didn’t have to be so detailed. It could add its own depth and dimension. People really seem to resonate with it. I haven’t messed with it too much. It can be tricky to take ideas and say how do they work in this medium – but it has been really popular. I like the challenge and clean lines.

Walk us through your creative process from idea to finished product

There are limitations and challenges dealing with slats of wood. You have to build it first. I have to figure out the dimensions and frames. It takes a couple of weeks of lead time before I can start painting. We keep some standard sizes so I can pull them.

I get a lot of inspiration from magazines, pinterest, and my own photography. I keep a board with ideas and themes, which also helps to keep me on track.

I also love science, math, nature and art. I started a song series where I take music notes from songs, give them a colour code, and from that colour code you could play the song reading left to right. It tells a story with the colours.

Most of the time it is writing down all of my ideas.

When did you realize that this could be a sustainable business?

I left my job in 2022. It was too much. I wanted to be home with my kids. Because I had more time my artwork developed more. I’ m a curious person, if I see something even if I am not ready, I’m going to figure out how to do it. We saw the One-of-a-Kind Art Show in Toronto. Someone said have you ever thought about that? We applied and went seven weeks later and figured it out. We like a challenge.

Now it’s a norm for us to go to Toronto a couple of times a year for shows. I still love showing around here too.

It is a team business; how do you and BJ collaborate?

It is a team business. We work really well together. We are both doers, we can sit still. This all really started because he couldn’t sit still during the pandemic.

I can explain what I want and he can physically execute it. We are continuing to figure it out.

Tell us about the variety of products that you create/offer?

We realize that art is an investment. We want to make art accessible, so we started making art prints in smaller sizes available on our website. We also wholesale to some stores, like Jennifers of Nova Scotia. It gets our art in front of more people.

Do you have a favourite piece or concept?

I really liked the song series. I have so many ideas on where it could go. I need to figure out how to tell the story better.

Sometimes I just fall in love with colour palettes like neon pinks blending into moodier palettes.

Do you create signature/commissioned pieces?

We do some custom work.

How far has your work traveled after sale?

Definitely across Canada and the US.

How can people connect with you and purchase your custom wood art?

On our website and through Instagram.

If you want to see things in person best to hop into Jennifers of Nova Scotia

What do you hope people feel or take away when they see, or bring home, a piece from Salt Sky Studio?

I’ve struggled with what to call this. When people see our work at shows I really pay attention to how they react and what they say. A lot of people say, “they make me happy”. I look at them as tiny bundles of joy, celebrating the small happy moments that you might otherwise forget. Like, when I sky is incredibly vibrant at sunrise and sunset.

What has been a surprising success in building your artistic practice and business?

Before this the idea of showing my face and being associated with something terrified me. I’ve realized that people really connect with people. I was afraid of that at the beginning. I’ve started turning that around online. Connecting with people and telling stories and being a genuine person is really what people want. That has been helpful because I thought artists they’re these entities and I’m not like that, it was intimidating. Realizing it can be whatever you want it to be has been really helpful.

What advice would you share with someone considering an artistic business

I think the big thing is whatever your thinking do it before you are ready because you are never ready. So, if you are thinking you want to make it a business reach out to people that have done it, reach out to people who are where you want to be in the future and see if they will chat. Then, put yourself out there. Talk to the shops, sign up for shows. Get out there.

We started at the Hubbards Farmers’ Market, and we weren’t ready then, and now we are showing in Toronto. Everything scales, it depends on how much you want to put yourself out there.

What is on the horizon for Salt Sky Studio?

I have been reflecting on that. Our primary focus the last couple of years has been in-person shows, getting out there meeting people. We want feedback and what to know what people take away. Now we really need to focus more of being an online presence so I can focus on actually painting. Shows can take away from me making what I have in my head. Balancing time so I can be more creative and set up time when I am not working. Figuring out the balance.

Salt Sky Studio
https://www.saltskystudio.com/
https://www.instagram.com/salt.sky.studio/