Creative Fun Under the Sun — Artsy Things to Try During the Summer

Happy Summer! Today is the first official day of summer. Summer is the season of color, sunshine, and play. It’s the perfect time to take your creativity outside. Whether you’re looking for family‑friendly activities, low‑cost art ideas, or ways to reconnect with your inner artist, the outdoors becomes your studio, and the sun becomes your spotlight.

Here are three vibrant, simple, joy‑filled art activities anyone can try this summer.

1. Chalk Art & Tempera Paint Ground Murals

Sidewalks, driveways, patios, they’re all blank canvases waiting for a burst of color. Chalk art (I recommend soft pastels, never use oil) and washable tempera paint murals are perfect for kids, adults, parties, or anyone craving a splash of creativity.

Why it’s magical

• It washes away with water (black tempera paint will need a power washer).

• It’s bold, bright, and forgiving

• You can go big!  no tiny brushes required

• It’s perfect for photos, reels, and summer memories

Try this:

• Sketch simple shapes first (sunbursts, waves, flowers, silhouettes)

• Layer colors for soft gradients

• Add outlines for a comic‑book pop

• Mist chalk with water for a buttery, painterly look (If using chalk or pastels)

• Or simply start painting with tempera paint. I have switched to this since its much faster and I am not having to be on the ground all day (cause that hurts!)

Want to see it in action?

Watch my chalk‑art demo here: My Chalk Art Video 

 This is just one way to create a large chalk mural. I recommend just going out and giving it a try!

*Please make sure to only use environmentally friendly mediums like tempera, chalk or soft pastels. NEVER use oil based or acrylic mediums.

2. Sand Sculptures at the Beach

You don’t need to be a master sculptor to create something beautiful in the sand. With a few simple tools and a playful mindset, you can build anything from abstract shapes to whimsical creatures.

What you’ll need

• A bucket or container for packing sand

• A small shovel or scoop

• A plastic knife or old credit card for carving

• A spray bottle (optional but amazing for detail work)

How to do it (super simple)

1. Find wet sand. Dry sand collapses — wet sand sticks.

2. Pack it tight. Use your bucket to create solid blocks. I usually create one large mound.

3. Carve from the top down. This prevents accidental collapses.

4. Start with big shapes. Smooth domes, arches, or stacked tiers.

5. Add details last. Eyes, scales, patterns, textures, use your fingers or a plastic cutlery. You don’t need a lot of tools.

6. Mist with water to keep everything crisp and photo‑ready.

   *Easy shapes to try: sand dollar, starfish, turtle. Work your way up to whales or mermaids.

 3. Shadow Tracing

This is one of the most magical, meditative summer art activities, and all you need is sunlight, paper, and a pencil. You can even use chalk directly on the ground for larger shadows of people or trees.

How it works

As the sun moves, shadows stretch, shrink, and shift. You simply place an object so its shadow falls across your paper… and trace the shapes you see.

What to trace

• Leaves and branches

• Toys

• Your hands or people!

• Flowers

• Interesting objects with holes or patterns

Tips for beautiful results

• Trace the same object every 10–15 minutes to capture movement

• Fill shapes with bright colors or patterns

• Layer multiple shadow outlines for a dreamy, abstract look

• Try it at golden hour for softer, longer shadows

  
  

Summer is the perfect time to let go, get messy, and rediscover the joy of making art just for fun. Whether you’re chalking up the driveway, sculpting at the beach, or tracing shadows as the sun drifts across the sky, these activities invite you to slow down, play, and create something beautiful.