As the days grow longer, summer offers the perfect canvas for creativity. Whether experimenting with color, dancing barefoot in the grass, or creating a vision board for summer, this season invites you to reconnect with what makes you you. In this post, we’re sharing fun, accessible tips to help you make this a time to explore, create, and celebrate individuality in every form.
Design Your Own Logo: Imagine you are a brand. What symbol or image would represent you? Sketch your own logo and try it in different styles or colors. Better yet, attend our “Build Your Brand” virtual workshop to explore the fundamentals of personal branding and why it matters. The workshop takes place on July 13th from 1:30 – 3:00 pm for youth ages 13-18 years old. Register, at no cost, at go.illinois.edu/BuildYourBrand.
Mood Colors Challenge: Pick a week, and each day, create a mini artwork using just colors that match your mood. No words, just emotion through color.
Self-Portrait Remix: Draw, paint, or sculpt a self-portrait, but with a twist! Try it as your favorite animal, superhero, or in your favorite artistic style.
Express Through Dance: Take advantage of the warm weather and move your art outside! Create a short dance or movement sequence that shows how you’re feeling, such as happy, energetic, relaxed, or anything else. You may even choose to write about how it felt to express yourself through movement. Plus, dance is a great healthy outlet to get movement into your day!
Design Your Dream Outfit or Room: Draw or collage your ideal outfit or bedroom space. What colors and textures speak to you? Explore resources available in interior design and Shopping in Style to help your imagination go wild.
Vision Board for Summer: What do you want your summer to look like? Use words, pictures, and drawings to make a vision board that inspires your goals or adventures.
Playlist-Inspired Art: Pick your favorite song and create a piece of art that visually shows what it sounds like to you. This could be abstract or realistic.
Host a “You Gallery”: Display your creations somewhere like a mini gallery at home for your family, during a 4-H club meeting, at a local art center, or find a Free Little Art Gallery and share your art with others.
No matter how you choose to express yourself this summer, through art, movement, words, or something entirely your own, the most important thing is that it feels true to you. Self-expression is about exploration, confidence, and joy. Try something new, make a beautiful mess, and let your creativity shine. This summer is your story to make bold, colorful, and completely original!
About the author: Danielle Gapinski is a 4-H Youth Development Specialist in Creative and Cultural Arts. She provides leadership to the 4-H youth development program focusing on 4-H clubs, 4-H groups, and youth education initiatives. Danielle provides researched based educational programs geared towards art creation and performance, art careers, intersections of art and culture, art as a tool for wellness, advocacy, and education, and more.