The Case for Diving Deep

Why going deeper can be the greatest gift you can give yourself and your creative work this summer.

For many in Canada and across the northern hemisphere, the arrival of July brings a shift in rhythm. For some artists and creative professionals, it marks the beginning of a busy season of festivals, exhibitions, performances, and touring. For others, the longer days and change of pace create an opportunity to step back from their usual routines and embrace the more expansive energy of summer.

If you happen to find yourself in that second camp, this season can offer something especially valuable: permission to pause the constant cycle of producing, promoting, and juggling competing demands. Permission to take a  deep dive to explore a new material or technique, immerse yourself in a body of research, or simply spend uninterrupted time with a project that deserves more than fragmented attention.

Most creatives spend much of the year trying to keep their practice or business afloat, pulled in countless directions by deadlines, client work, administration, marketing, and the realities of making a living. Deep, uninterrupted focused time can feel like a luxury.

In my own creative practice, and through coaching artists and creative professionals, I've come to appreciate just how valuable these periods of sustained focus can be. It's often during a deep dive that our most meaningful work takes shape. Our best ideas emerge when we give ourselves the time and space to wander, experiment, and follow unexpected connections. The longer we stay with an idea, the more it reveals itself. Hidden patterns, stronger compositions, richer stories, and more thoughtful solutions begin to surface, transforming promising ideas into work with greater depth, clarity, and impact.

Staying with challenging work, ideas, or projects that push us beyond our comfort zone also strengthens our skills, builds confidence, and helps us develop a creative voice that feels authentic and uniquely our own. Taking the time to deeply explore techniques, materials, and ideas creates a deeper understanding that allows us to adapt, innovate, and continue growing throughout our creative careers.

Plus, it’s incredibly fulfilling to create work with depth, intention, and focus. In my own experience, a deep dive into focused learning, a creative project, or even something like working on my website can become a refuge. Immersing myself in the process quiets mental noise and brings a sense of satisfaction, connection, and enjoyment that is harder to attain when I’m skimming the surface.

As you probably know, summer can quickly fill up with invitations, plans and commitments. I invite you to take a moment to consider what you want or need to create space for this summer in your life and work as a creative. I hope you’ll make a point of taking a deep dive into this season and allow yourself to fully luxuriate in it. Whether it’s for a few hours, a number of days or over the course of a few weeks. 

What might you discover or create if you take a deep dive this summer?

Photo: Michael Evans

Later in the Month — For Paid Subscribers

Learn how to prepare for the dive: set a course, remove obstacles, and take the plunge (not just this summer but anytime you feel the need!)

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