Finding Beauty in the Heat: How Summer inspires My Creative Process

There's something about the heat of July that both slows me down and stirs something deep within.  While the sun blazes and the air hums with life, I find myself drawn to my studio, surrounded by vibrant paints, scraps of vintage paper, stencils, and the sounds of birds chirping outside.

Summer is a season of boldness.  Nature doesn't hold back.  Flowers bloom unapologetically, birds sing at full volume, and color is everywhere.  That fearless energy often finds its way into my art.  I reach for brighter hues, sun-warmed yellows, bold reds, lush greens--and start layering with even more intention.  The textures become more playful, the brushstrokes more loose and expressive.  

It's also during these long days that I feel most connected to the world around me.  Cardinals flit by more frequently, always catching my breath when they appear.  To me, they're not just birds; they're messengers, symbols of hope and connection. Their presence during the summer months brings a kind of sacred stillness I try to capture in my work.

Even the heat itself inspires something tactile--the way paint dries faster on canvas and how layering becomes a rhythm, like a heartbeat.  Summer challenges me to move at a different pace, to honor the slow burn of creativity rather than rushing through it.  

So while some hide from the heat, I lean into it with paintbrush in hand and heart wide open, soaking in every warm sunlit moment and turning it into something lasting.