It’s a frequently asked question: “Is there such a thing as ‘love at first sight?’” and if you ask artist Jim Sallenbach, his answer will be “absolutely.”

When Sallenbach entered the Baldwin Lumberyard Arts Center in 2010 for the first time, he fell in love with the fascinating architecture and the unusual story of the building.

“I just left my tour thinking, ‘I will show in that place in two years,’” Sallenbach said. “And now I’m here and I’m really, really, really happy with the show and my pieces.”

Sallenbach, who is originally from a city outside of Hollywood, California, is an ex-professional roller skater who “haphazardly” fell into the art game. However, after receiving too much negative feedback, he decided to try out his hand in janitorial work. Yet due to “an itch (he) couldn’t scratch,” Sallenbach put himself back in the game. He gave himself a three-to-five-year frame of only doing art, with absolutely no backup plan.

“You have to adopt an ‘A’ for artist,” Sallenbach said. “You’re constantly being judged and being told no, but you have to get out there and make it happen. I like being told, ‘you can’t do that,’ and then doing it.”

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His techniques are unique; he works in an old carriage house with a screw-in light bulb for a light, kneeling on a pillow as “homage to the art.” He does most of his work by sight and touch, not knowing right from wrong, and only working to please his own desire due to being self-taught.

Sallenbach is a part of the “found objects” movement, thus, some of his pieces are collections of nails, bird nests, figurines and much more.

“This piece here I found after literally being hit on the head with it,” Sallenbach said, pointing to a seed in one of his pieces. “I was out in my yard and a bird dropped it on me, and I thought ‘I can use that.’”

Sallenbach admits that he always thought he was a bit looney, due to the fact that he was constantly picking things up off the ground that seemed to have no significant meaning. But once he became an artist, he understood why he had been doing it.

“I love almost magically putting together the pieces,” Sallenbach said. “It’s almost like a puzzle. Every piece has a story and an identity that try to capture your attention and tell you a story. I enjoy people being lost when they look at my work.”

His other collection of work is entitled “mixed media,” where he takes pictures, charms and even sand that he calls “sands of the world,” which he has collected on his numerous trips to exotic countries and puts them together in an earthy and textural way.

“My work is pure and straightforward,” Sallenbach said. “I’m being true to myself and pushing it to the max. I feel that the doors have just opened up for me, after all the time that I’ve spent knocking. You just have to make it happen and never take no for an answer.”

Sallenbach’s show “Object-ive Vision” will be featured through Oct. 21 in the Lumberyard Arts Center.