Level up your creative skills this summer

Every creative idea is a doorway—open it and discover where it leads.

Summer is that glorious stretch of time where the days are longer, your alarms are optional and your biggest decision is whether to sit in the sun or chase the shade.

But before you spend three straight weeks binge-watching shows you’ve already seen twice, let me pitch you an idea: why not turn this summer into a creative side quest?

I’m talking about a laid-back, self-made collection of whatever artsy, expressive, cool stuff you decide to create over the break.

Think photography, painting, writing or that strange clay sculpture idea you had at 3 a.m. during finals week.

So, grab your tote bag, pack your water bottle and let’s explore some fun ideas to level up your creative skills this summer.

Capture the city

A woman is taking pictures of a green landscape filled with trees and natural scenery. — *Via GIPHY*

Toronto is full of hidden gems, especially if you’re willing to explore with fresh eyes. For example, Kensington Market is a kaleidoscope of cultures, colours and characters.

You can snap photos of fruit stands spilling onto sidewalks, quirky vintage shops or fashionable street musicians. Or head to Graffiti Alley, a living art gallery with constantly changing murals, where every wall screams history.

This isn’t about professional gear—it’s about perspective. Use your phone or borrow a camera from a friend. Learn the basics of composition, natural lighting and storytelling through imagery.

Challenge yourself with themes like urban nature, portraits of strangers or neon signs at night. Take photos on sunny days, cloudy days, rainy days—each mood tells a different story.

You’ll not only build a great collection of aesthetic images, but also come away with new eyes for the world around you and a lot of content that’ll make your followers say, “Where is this place?”

Learn a new language

A woman is laughing and the words - [LAUGHS IN SPANISH] are written below. — *Via GIPHY*

Learning a new language isn’t just for translators, it’s for anyone curious, bored or simply craving a new way to connect with the world.

You don’t need to master grammar on day one. Start with the basics—greetings, food, music lyrics. Make mistakes. Laugh at them. This is your low-stakes, judgment-free zone to mess around and find your rhythm.

Watch movies with subtitles, follow creators who speak the language or label things around your room. Order coffee in your new language. Text a friend using just what you’ve learned so far.

Feeling ambitious? Find a language buddy or drop into a free conversation meetup. Duolingo is great, but so is shouting random vocabulary at your roommate until they start responding.

By the end of summer, you won’t just know more words—you’ll have a new skill, a fresh perspective and maybe even a few international inside jokes.

Write like you’re the main character

An animated character is writing, "I am pretending to write something down" on a sheet of paper. — *Via GIPHY*

Level up your creative skills this summer by diving into writing. I’m sure you’ve lived through enough personal plot twists to make a soap opera, so why not write them down? Whether it’s fiction, memoir, poetry or pure nonsense, writing is one of the best ways to get creative without needing anything more than your brain and something to write on.

Start simple. Challenge yourself to write for 10 minutes a day. Try journaling about your daily adventures, describing people you see on the subway like you’re a novelist.

You can even invent a fictional version of yourself who lives in a lighthouse and solves ghost mysteries with a talking owl. Writing doesn’t have to make sense—it just has to move you.

If you’re more structured, start a blog. Write short stories, personal essays or a weekly column on “What I’m obsessed with this week” (which could be anything from iced matcha to favourite TV characters).

Experiment with voice, tone and pacing. If you’re a screenwriting or creative writing student, this is your practice ground and it’s way more fun than writing under a deadline.

Experience the joy of painting

A man is throwing paint on a canvas. — *Via GIPHY*

Art is not about making a masterpiece—it’s about getting messy, making cool stuff and discovering how colour can reflect your emotions.

Paint like nobody’s watching. Set up a space at home or outside where you can experiment with painting styles that intrigue you—watercolours for calm days and acrylics for bold moments.

You don’t need expensive supplies. Start with a few primary colours, a brush or two and whatever surface you can find—paper, cardboard, old notebook covers or even glass jars.

Just start blending until something cool appears. Try painting a landscape from memory, your dream apartment or how your favourite song feels.

Don’t be afraid to mess up—you might invent something original just by spilling paint accidentally. Hang your favourites in your room or snap high-quality pics for your digital portfolio.

Because sometimes, the best kind of therapy is colour-coded and paint-splattered.

Dive into free tools and start creating

An animated man is working on his laptop. — *Via GIPHY*

Free creative tools like Krita (for digital art), Blender (for 3D stuff) and Audacity (for sound editing) are just sitting there—waiting for you to try them out.

You don’t need to be an expert. You don’t even need a plan. Just download one, open it up and start playing around.

Want to draw something totally random with a bunch of layers? Go for it. Make a 3D animation of a dancing bird? Why not?

These tools are free, super powerful and fun to learn. And if you get stuck, there are tons of videos and tutorials online to help you figure things out.

You might end up with something amazing. Or something weird. Or something that just makes you laugh. Either way, you made it—and that’s the whole point.

So go ahead. Make some fun things. And be proud of your work!

Summer full of creativity

An animated character is dancing and painting and the words, "STAY CREATIVE," are written on top. — *Via GIPHY*

This is your chance to create without the pressure of a grade, to experiment without the fear of failure and to level up your creative skills this summer.

Document your adventures. Celebrate your weird ideas. Fall in love with creativity again—not because someone told you to, but because it feels good.

By September, you’ll have more than just a tan—you’ll carry a collection of creative ideas filled with your personality, growth and joy.

So grab your sketchbook, your camera, your playlist and that iced latte. Your creative summer starts now!

Feature image courtesy of Caroline Veronez on Unsplash

Planning to stay in the city for the summer? Check out the must-do summer activities in Toronto!