His paintings evoke a sense of space and light and might be described as the history or memory of his work process. Salmi states, "They (his paintings) exist somewhere between physicality and essence, rationality and emotion. They exist somewhere in memory...." Salmi earned an MFA in painting from Arizona State University in Tempe. An assistant professor of art at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., Salmi's most recent solo exhibition was at Eureka College in Ill.