Collaborative art made simple for groups of all ages and abilities

Pattern Play is my simple, three-stage method for creating a shared painting together. I’ve developed it through years of working with school groups, community groups and people of all ages and abilities.

My Pattern Play resources help you confidently run collaborative art sessions with no prior art or art teaching experience needed.

You provide the space, materials and encouragement. My method gives you a clear structure to follow, with plenty of room for everyone to make their own creative choices.

How Pattern Play works

Pattern Play has three main stages. Each one builds on what the group has already created.

1. Messy Playing

We start with colour, movement and big shapes. Participants use large brushes and other simple tools to cover the surface with circles, spirals and clusters of loose marks. It’s an easy way to get everyone involved without worrying about getting things ‘right’. We start with a ‘mess’, so it can only get better from there!

2. Exploring

Now the group explores sets of simple shapes, starting with groups of three, and accessible, easy-to-copy patterns, also in groups of three. Participants build on the marks already there, adding their own ideas while contributing to the developing artwork.

Soon, they begin to discover their own creative flair and experiment, combining their ideas with those of others and even working directly together.

3. Bling!

Time for the finishing touches! Paint pens are used to doodle, decorate and delight, followed by glitter glue ‘bursts’, sticky gems, dot stickers and other fun decorative details that give everyone a chance to add something shiny to the shared painting.

The result is an artwork that belongs to the whole group, with contributions from everyone who took part.

Why I created Pattern Play

I want more people to experience how much fun it can be to create art together.

Leading a group art session can feel daunting if you don’t consider yourself artistic or have never taught art. Too many choices can also make it difficult for participants to know where to begin.

Pattern Play gives you a manageable process, simple visual prompts and a way to guide the group without needing to be the art expert in the room.

Everyone can contribute in their own way, at their own level, and the group discovers what they can create together.

Ready to give it a go?

I’ve created practical resources to help you get started, including my free Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art, printable Pattern Play cards, pages of the simple and accessible patterns I’ve used with thousands of people, and helpful resources for choosing limited colour schemes.

You can follow the method with children, teenagers or adults in schools, community groups, disability support settings and other group environments.

Start with my free guide (sign up below) and learn how to plan and run your first collaborative art session.

Happy Painting!

Charndra
Inclusive Social Artist