3 Ways to Inspire Your Art This Summer
Ah, summertime! Picnics, parades, pool time… there are so many summertime sights, sounds, and smells surrounding us. How could we not be inspired? And yet with the heat, visitors from out of town, and changes in family schedules, it can be easy to let your art practice slide and to miss out on this inspirational season.
Here are three ways that you can ensure that you’re keeping the creative fires stoked during this busy season:
Let Travel Inspire Your Art
Most of us take a trip in the summer—to a family reunion, the beach, or a vacation out of town. This is a great thing for your art practice, even if you’re not able to bring many (or any) art supplies with you.
Simply putting yourself into a new environment is incredibly stimulating for an artist. Think about using your cell phone camera as a creative tool, and capture images of everything that catches your interest. From landscapes to faded old signs to flora and fauna to cracks in the sidewalk, be looking with your artist’s eye.
I like to create an album titled “Inspiration” in my phone’s photo library. I place all of these photos in the album. This is helpful in a few ways:
It gives me a moment to reflect on my photos and acknowledge the inspiration.
It provides me with an album to turn to in the future when I want a dose of inspiration.
It helps answer the question “Why do I have 15 photos of sidewalk cracks?”
I also like to bring a sketchbook on my travels, so I can capture sketches and notes. It becomes a travel journal as well as a place to record what inspires me!
I recently traveled to Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. As my husband and I hiked through incredible landscapes, I knew that the colors, shapes, and skies will be feeding my future artwork for many months!
2. Find Summer Inspiration Near Home
We can’t be on vacation all the time. And yet with the long days and warm temperatures, there’s a holiday feel to normal life that can be inspiring. Take advantage of this by visiting your neighborhood pool, a 4th of July parade or fireworks show, or an outdoor festival. Once again, view the scenery through the eyes of an artist and capture what interests you.
You can also take advantage of the warm temperatures to take your art process outdoors. Not only can you try your hand at plein air painting, your art practice will feel totally different. You’ll also have to choose what supplies to bring outside with you, and you may find that that puts a healthy constraint on your color palette.
This summer, my friend has offered me the use of her large studio while she is out of town. I’m finding that working in this new space is leading my work in exciting new directions, even though I’m still in my home town! The larger space is giving me the opportunity to create bigger paintings.
Don’t have a friend with an empty studio to borrow? You can still try this by working in a different room in your home or even the garage.
3. Let the Lush Landscape Inspire Your Art
Plants are at their fullest, greenest, leafiest splendor in the summer. Think back to six months ago, when the trees were bare—and then look at the almost jungle-like growth surrounding you this summer!
Get in close to the plants, flowers, and even weeds that you spot in your yard or on your neighborhood walk. There is so much inspiration to take from these plants and flowers, and they are on display waiting for your creative eyes.
Have a Fun, Art-filled Summer
Not only is summer a season to maintain your art practice, it’s also a season that’s chock full of inspiration that will feed it all year long. I’m wishing you a creative summer, whether you enjoy life at home or venture out on a trip.
I’d love to hear how summer is inspiring you! Please let me know in the comments below.
A Creative’s Exploration Guide
This free, step-by-step guide will help you progress in your creative journey.
Grow as an artist by building a solid foundation in your painting practice. Develop your confidence. Then, if you choose, charter a thriving creative business to call your very own.