the overview

Sara Saltee is an assemblage artist and a certified creativity coach who works with artists, writers, and complex creators. From her home on Whidbey Island in Washington State, she makes harmonious little worlds in shrines and shadow boxes, and helps other creators get unstuck and find harmonious ways to integrate all of their creativities in their life-making.

an origin story

The “smart girl” script suited me perfectly…until it didn’t.

Perhaps you know that script too?

• good girl: responsible, curious, and bright

• gets good grades without much bother

• is eager to please

• performs, accomplishes, succeeds

• packs in the extracurriculars like they are going out of style: theater, orchestra, speech team, mock trial, academic decathlon, you name it!

That script got me to Swarthmore College where I fit right in with a lot of other smart kids. I had to work a bit harder for those good grades, but thrived within the constraints and expectations for intellectual and personal growth.

some lists

5 Things Sara loves to talk about:

1. What creative project are you working on, and how’s it going?

2. How are we going to untangle ourselves from toxic femininity and toxic productivity so that we have a shot at thriving as a creator?

3. How can we get you unstuck so you can reclaim the deep pleasure of creative play?

4. What do you do that is just for fun, and just for you?

5. Any ideas for cheap and delicious dinners that take no planning, prep or energy?

5 Things Sara hates to talk about:

1. The price of gas

2. The fifteen million ways the world is going to hell in a handbasket

3. Diet plans

4. Taxes

5. Fungus

5 Things Sara is in recovery from/actively rebelling against:

1. Academia

2. People pleasing/perfectionism/good-girl-itis

3. Hustle culture

4. Any and all advice in the vein of “find your (singular) passion”

5. Devaluing images, imagination, and story while over-valuing words, analysis, and theory

5 things Sara wishes she were more or less of:

1. More extroverted/Less shy

2. More cool ‘n breezy/Less earnest ‘n serious

3. More steadily confident/Less wobbly

4. More adventurous/Less of a homebody (that’s a lie, I love being a homebody…but I would like more courage for travel)

5. More interested in exercise/Less interested in chocolate and lounging about

5 things that nourish and inspire Sara’s creativity:

1. Naps

2. Walks

3. Good music

4. Instagram feed carefully curated to showcase artists, musicians, and babies + dogs

5. Interviews with creatives in any field in which they are invited to geek out about their process

professional history

In addition to her work as an assemblage artist and creativity coach, Sara’s engagement with the more traditional worlds of employment has included:

Director of Leadership and Learning Programs for Riane Eisler's Center for Partnership Systems. Sara designs and facilitates online programs for a global audience based on the work of internationally best-selling feminist author Riane Eisler.

Freelance editor and content designer. Sara helped consultants, coaches, speakers, and other professionals create dynamic information products and training programs that effectively communicate their expertise.

Organization development and strategic planning consultant. Sara specialized in qualitative data gathering and analysis, community-based planning processes, and adult learning design for public agencies and not-for-profit organizations.

Adjunct Faculty in Communication and English at Regis University and Front Range Community College in Colorado.

Faculty Advisor at Regis University and Front Range Community College.

Writing Instructor at UC San Diego's Muir College Writing Program.

Education

Certified Creativity Coach, 2003, Eric Maisel Training Program (now run through the Creativity Coaching Association)

Doctoral Candidate in Communication, 1996 University of California, San Diego

M.A. in Communication, 1993 University of California, San Diego

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology & Anthropology, 1990 Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA