Many of us want to be creative but are stuck for inspiration or motivation to get going. As the summer approaches, we often have more time which could be used to get creative but are unsure of where to start. I’ve thought of 10 ways to inspire you to get creative this summer, and whether that is for artwork, music, poetry, story writing, or designing, there is something for everyone! 

Get into nature 

For me, nature brings so much clarity and inspiration. As the weather gets drier and warmer, the summer is the perfect time to spend more time outside. You could go on a run, take the longer, scenic route on your walk home, or simply sit in your local park. Try to listen to the sounds around you and how the whole experience makes you feel, and think about how your surroundings could inspire a story or art piece.  

Look for the small details around you  

This goes hand-in-hand with number 1. When you are out and about, keep your eyes peeled for the small things: someone wearing an unusual outfit in town, a dog running around in a park, 2 friends meeting in a coffee shop. The more little things you notice, the more ideas will flow based on these smaller, more detailed encounters. This is also great to do in a window seat in a café, as you can people watch all day and imagine scenarios perfect to write about or draw.  

Listen to music  

Music can make us feel all kinds of things, evoking elation, sadness, or even fondness for a time gone by. I would recommend playing one of your favourite albums and simply sit and listen, and see what thoughts and feelings are inspired, or you could listen to something new and create something based on the lyrics. You could also make a summer-themed playlist to go alongside your creative projects to inspire you more!  

Try a new hobby 

Trying something new can be scary, but can also inspire us. You could try a new sport, learn how to do a new type of craft, or bake something using a new recipe. Doing something different and overcoming whatever was holding you back can be really inspiring and evoke strong feelings which just need to be expressed, and trying an artistic hobby is the most straightforward way to do something creative this summer.  

Paint by numbers  

This is a really simple way to induce creativity, as most of the hard parts of art are done for you! The outline is already there, and the colours chosen for you, so all that’s left is actually painting. I’ve done a few paint-by-numbers before, and find it really soothing, and love being able to display my creation when it’s finished!  

Be a tourist in your hometown  

Despite living in an area for a long time, we tend to avoid or look beyond its biggest attractions. We get used to things that would intrigue visitors and forget to see the magic around us. This summer, try being a tourist in your hometown and visit areas you don’t usually go to. This will let you see your surroundings from a fresh perspective and is sure to encourage new ideas to pop into your head! 

Lego  

Whilst designed as a children’s toy, Lego can be a really fun way to create something different. They sell fun sets like bouquets or city skylines, or you can see what you can build from normal bricks. This gives you so much creative freedom, and if anything goes wrong you can simply take it apart and build something new. You could meet up with a friend to see what you can create together or build alone as a way to relax in the evening.  

Scrapbook  

Why not try making a scrapbook this summer? Print out old photos, collect tickets, drawings, and write down your thoughts, bringing it all together in a scrapbook! You could create a more general scrapbook of your life, or one more specific, perhaps of everything you get up to this summer. You could even create a nature-themed scrapbook, including pressed flowers and sketches of plants and animals to act as a memento of your summer.   

Go to a charity shop 

For many people, I don’t expect going to a charity shop would instantly connote creativity. However, I think it’s a brilliant way to see objects you wouldn’t otherwise encounter, and you can see what ideas flow when you see the weird and wonderful items people have donated. You could even buy something to upcycle, perhaps altering clothes or painting an old vase or pot, or write a short story inspired by the inscription scrawled inside an old book. The list of possibilities is endless, and I’m sure there is something to inspire everyone in charity shops! 

Dream journal  

Try to write down your dreams as soon as you wake up in the morning. I know that my dreams are often very strange, so what better thing to inspire art, music, or words than something whacky and wonderful? This can be a great way to inspire some more obscure ideas, and realise what themes consistently play on your mind and think about how you want to develop these further creatively.  

Thank you for reading my collection of ideas on how to get creatively inspired! Whilst they are not all reliant on it being summertime, I find that the sunnier weather often helps rid me of creative block, so hopefully when paired with these ideas you have the same response! 

Words by Abigail Manley