Art in the margins: 5 ways to stay creative during a busy summer

If you're anything like me, summer is a season where creativity happens in snatches - in the margins, between trips, and often when you least expect it.

With my children on their summer holidays in just a week's time and lots of exciting family plans ahead, I know my usual creative routine will take a back seat.

But that’s okay!

Over the last couple of years, I’ve found a few simple strategies that help me keep growing as an artist and moving my business forward, even during a full summer.

I’d love to share them with you, just in case you’re looking for ways to stay productive in the middle of your own busy season.

These are all things that don't take a lot of time, or need any planning. They make the most of the different things you may be doing over the summer break so when you get back to your creative routine you are full of ideas and inspiration!

1. Commit to adding to your own collection of ‘stock photos’.

As artists, we need inspiration and often pictures to copy and even trace!

Summer is the perfect time to stock up on these photos as you are often doing things you wouldn’t normally do, or seeing things you don't normally see.

By taking your own photographs you can be 100% certain you are not infringing on copyright or accidently copying some else’s work when you use them in your own designs.

Every new experience is an opportunity to snap pictures to refer back to in the months to come when you have some design time again.

You might make a collection of flower photos from your garden, or exotic plants if you visit another country.

You might stock up on your own animal photos if you happen to visit a zoo or safari park.

You might take pictures of boats and fishing gear if you visit the coast!

I also take pictures that I can later turn into colour palettes.

I snap photos on my iphone and later upload them to a folder where I can easily find them for future design projects.

In the dead of winter when you want to draw sunflowers, you'll be pleased you have your own photos to draw on for inspiration!

2. Buy a sketchbook so you can sketch your ideas as they come to you.

Ordinarily during my work day, I have my ipad handy and when I have ideas I can get them down on a new canvas in Procreate.

However, during the summer we are often with friends and family, and I try to limit my phone and ipad time when with other people, especially when I'm with my children.

That's why having a sketchbook handy is great - it is totally different from getting out an electronic device and it can easily be carried in a handbag for when inspiration strikes!

Having a sketchbook with you means you always have something to record your ideas, whether that’s an idea for a pattern, a collection, or a particular motif you don’t want to forget about.

I also like having the ideas all in one place so that when I start my work routine again in September, I know where to go to get ideas.

(I also get each of my children a sketchbook for them to carry round, especially on holiday or a day out. This allows us all to record ideas and enjoy doing art on the go!)

3. Create times to do art that your friends and family can join in with.

If you are spending time with others over the holidays, find something creative you can all do together. This allows you to have creative time but doesn't mean you have to lock yourself away!

My children are very happy for me to sit down and create if they are included too!

We often do a skillshare class together, and although I choose easy classes I know they can access, I nearly always learn something myself and get new ideas for my patterns.

Here we are over the Christmas holidays sitting down to do a watercolour class.

I have paid for a skillshare membership for the past 2 years and I can assure you it is worth every penny.

If you’d like to try it out and get a free month on skillshare you can use this link. (If you go on to buy a subscription I will also get a free month – win win!!)

4. Listen to some creative podcasts or audiobooks.

I love listening to podcasts and audiobooks, especially other aritsts giving their advice and sharing their experiences.

There are plenty of times in my summer where I can enjoy listening even if I don't have time that day to sit down and create.

It might be listening to a podcast when I'm cooking a meal, or on a long car journey.

I often listen to youtube or skillshare classes too when I am doing jobs around the house.

Maximise your time to learn even when you can’t physically create!

5. Take picture of textures that you can later make into texture brushes.

This one might be my favourite, but certainly got me some funny looks when I was out and about last summer!

If you’ve never made a texture brush before, it’s actually pretty simple and I walk you through it in this post.

Keep your eye out for interesting textures wherever you go! Over the summer you may encounter new and interesting textures and natural textures are a great way to make unique texture brushes that you can use in your patterns.

Textures could include:

Tree bark

Sand

Stone

Grass

Water

Here are some I took at a beach last year which I experimented with when I got back home.

Over to you!

Why not commit to trying one or two of these ideas that you think may fit in with your own personal situation and commitments.

By doing a few intentional things, you can enjoy the summer without totally losing momentum with your creative plans.

I would love some new ideas for how to stay creative in the margins of the summer so if you have a good one, please share it in the comments section below!