“Designed for the untamed, inspired by the wild.” These words embody the perspective behind 
Creature, artist Sara Lehtman’s line of prints, apparel, and jewelry. Through the creation of her brand, she has stepped outside of her comfort zone, embodying the boundless spirit that resonates in her art.
Lehtman first found her way to Georgia when she enrolled at SCAD in Savannah, where she graduated with a degree in Illustration in 2006. She has firmly planted herself within the art community in Atlanta after moving to Chicago and returning to the South once again four years ago. Recently, she’s contributed one of her crosshatched masterpieces to ColorATL. Her prowess in illustration has also transitioned into experimentation with details and textures in jewelry making.
Here, she talks with CommonCreativ about her creative beginnings, art as a means of healing and empowerment, and finding inspiration in nature.
CommonCreativ: What sparked your interest in art?
Sara Lehtman: I was very fortunate — my parents have been relentless in their support and I owe everything to that. Growing up I suffered from depression, and they were very aware of the healing power of the creative process. Afterschool art classes, AP art classes, figure skating, dancing — anything that emboldened my artistic spirit was supported.
When I went to Savannah to visit SCAD for college, I remember seeing the big trees drenched in Spanish moss, old architecture, and cobblestones and thinking, if there was any place with the power to inspire an artist for the next four years, it was Savannah. I graduated SCAD with my BFA in Illustration and a minor degree in Sequential Art. Jewelry design came later in life; I learned metalsmithing from my good friend Starr Miller of Pieces of Starr. Jewelry allows me to express myself in a more abstract manner and showcase another layer to my illustrations by turning them into wearable art.
CC: Tell me about starting your Creature line.
SL: Creature was born three years ago during a time when I was feeling very unfulfilled. After college I had fallen into the cycle of working a job that was constant and gave me a steady paycheck but left me no time or inspiration to create. I moved to Atlanta, still in the same loop, and realized being a watered down version of myself wasn’t working. It was time to stop hiding in safety. Do I wish I had started it earlier? Of course. But I truly believe I had to experience losing myself in order to have made Creature what it is.
I was finally in a place where all the things that made me different and a little messy made me feel empowered and beautiful. And that, to me, is a Creature. Creature’s tagline is “Designed for the untamed, inspired by the wild.” Designed for the untamed, meaning I create art for people who are layered and unapologetic about being themselves. Inspired by the wild, meaning wild women and wild nature.
CC: What are your favorite materials to use, and what’s your creation process?
SL: All my illustrations are created with ink and acrylic and then printed locally on a textured white paper so you get the original aesthetic. I draw out a sketch first and then transfer it to another surface for the inking process. From there it’s easy for me to have fun with texture, pattern placement and adding all the details.
With jewelry, I use all sterling silver and earthy stones like jaspers and agates. I use a blend of hand fabricating and lost wax techniques to create each piece. Recently I’ve been delving into wax more; by carving I can really emulate the textures in my illustrations, and then the stones have a way of mimicking the pops of acrylic in some of my work.
Sara Lehtman
CC: Tell me about working with ColorATL.
SL: What William and his team have created is so beyond incredible! The ColorATL mission is very dear to my heart and I’m so honored to be in Volume 2. Not only have I personally been healed by art, but I have witnessed what that type of creative outlet can do for people in the situations ColorATL helps. My aunt, whom I was very close to, passed away due to breast cancer. I remember her telling me all the positive things she would visualize, doodle, or write during chemo.
That played a huge part in deciding what elements to put into my ColorATL piece. I wanted to create a place of healing to escape to. The flowers and bees symbolize life and nourishment. The snake symbolizes healing and transformation. The seeing eye layered on top of it all to ward negative energy. While the sun rays and stars remind us that there’s always a new day.
CC: How do you promote yourself?
SL: I’m going to be honest — I’m very bad at this part. As an introvert, promoting myself is probably the most challenging part of owning a creative business. Instagram has been a great outlet for sharing my work and expressing my process. I also try to participate in regional and local art markets as much as I can. It’s a great opportunity to connect with other artists in the community, and at the same time, be able to chat in person with your customer.
CC: What inspires you?
SL: Nature, mysticism, mythology, and folklore have all played a large role in inspiring my work. Nature is such an important aspect of my life. If I get a creative block, I know it’s because I have been depriving myself of the outdoors, and usually a hike is the only thing that can cure it. I also love weaving together symbols and elements that tell a story or hold a mystical meaning. My best work usually blends these two parts of my life together.
CC: How did you develop your style?
SL: I’ve worked in crosshatching since high school. I would actually paint in layers of crosshatching, and it was a very tedious process. I continued that style and medium through college, and after graduating I began to play around with ink using the same textures. I found that it was actually more in tune with my vision. I then circled back and started bringing in pops of color again with paint. As I explored jewelry it was very much the same process. I started with basics and now I have begun bringing my line work into the jewelry pieces as well.
CC: What brought you to Atlanta, and what keeps you here?
SL: I moved to Atlanta from my hometown of Chicago four years ago. I really missed Georgia and felt like this was where I found myself once and where I could find myself again. The art community here is unlike any I’ve experienced elsewhere; it really is such a beautiful and supportive family. My boyfriend is also a creative working in the film industry, so we are each a part of two industries that happen to be really exciting and booming in Atlanta. I also couldn’t imagine living anywhere that wasn’t driving distance to mountains ever again!
CC: What are your thoughts on the local arts scene?
SL: Not only do the artists so strongly support each other here, but the city itself really champions its art community, and I only see that becoming more prevalent. ColorATL, C4 Atlanta, WonderRoot and the Indie Craft Experience all have many programs and events geared towards helping artists manage the business side of art, as well as connecting us with each other and with the rest of the Atlanta.
I really love the work of Phil Harris, Niki Zarrabi, Jessica Durrant, and Ray Geier, to name a few. There are so many, I could go on for days about all the artists doing amazing things in this city! I also share a jewelry studio with some very talented women: Starr Miller, Nicole Mermans, and Jamie Jenkins. We all have different styles, which makes it so much fun to create and explore different processes together.
CC: What do you do when you’re not creating art?
SL: If I’m not creating, I’m usually outside hiking and exploring or traveling. I love road trips, so we go on a lot of day trips or weekend trips to nearby cities.
CC: What are you currently working on?
SL: This year should be exciting for Creature. I’m focused on growing our wholesale brand with new paper goods and jewelry always in the works. Creature is in a place where it’s emerging from its growing pains and really becoming what I always envisioned and wanted to express. Currently, there are a few new prints and cards in progress for spring and summer, and you can probably find us at some of the local markets this season too!
