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Summer Fun for the Creatively Curious

There’s something about summer that loosens the tight knots of our routines. The sun lingers a little longer in the sky, and the air seems to buzz with possibility. For those of us who live and breathe through our art, whether through painting, photography, sculpture, dance, design, or music, this season offers more than just warmth and daylight. It offers time.
Time to pause. Time to play. Time to explore.

But here's a thought: what if, this summer, you challenge yourself to step outside your usual artistic comfort zone? What if, instead of brushing another canvas or framing the perfect shot, you try telling a story? Composing a melody? Sketching the world not as you see it, but as you imagine it? This is what I call Creative Divergence, an intentional detour from your main medium to discover unexpected intersections of artistry and, perhaps, even hidden talents.

All forms of art share one fundamental element: creativity. It’s the pulse that drives a photographer to wait for perfect light, a painter to layer color upon color, a sculptor to see form in stone, and a writer to dig deep into the meaning of words. Though the tools may differ, the instinct is the same. The artistic soul is driven by curiosity and the need to express something just beyond the surface of the visible world. And creativity, like any muscle, grows stronger when exercised in new ways.

This summer, let yourself wander. If you’re a musician, try drawing. If you’re a graphic designer, experiment with poetry. As for me, I set my camera down and picked up a pen,
and to my surprise, a story came pouring out. It wasn’t perfect, and it certainly wasn’t polished, but it was honest. Raw. Alive. And it reminded me that creativity doesn’t live in the medium; it lives in you.

The beauty of art is that there are no fences between disciplines, only open fields.
The strokes of a brush can inform the pacing of a paragraph. The rhythm of a dance can influence the arc of a storyline. A single photograph can inspire a thousand unwritten poems. When we cross pollinate our creative energies, we often find new insights not only about our art, but about ourselves.

So here’s my invitation to you: assign yourself a summer project that leads you into unfamiliar territory. Not with the goal of mastery, but with the intent of discovery. Create a short film. Write a haiku every morning. Carve something from wood. Capture the world in ink. It’s not about leaving your primary medium behind; it’s about rounding out your creative voice with new textures, new languages, new ways of seeing.

Who knows? You might come back to your usual craft with a fresh perspective, new tools, and a reinvigorated sense of purpose. Or you might uncover a hidden talent that’s been waiting patiently for its moment. Either way, you’ll be richer for the journey. Let this summer be more than just a pause, it can be a spark. Give Creative Divergence a try. Follow your curiosity and let your imagination roam. You just might surprise yourself. I certainly did.

Book: NEPAL / Tsum Valley, An Avalanche of Adventure
My first attempt at writing . . . but not my last.