This Collective Painting Project exemplifies Pattern Play Collaborative Art. It is where layering, intuition, and shared creativity jointly bring an artwork to life. The process unfolds in three simple stages. First is Messy Playing. We build the foundation with bold marks and colour. Next is Exploring. Patterns and layers add depth and connection. Finally, there’s Bling!, where we enhance the piece with gold leaf, paint pens, stickers, and gems. Each step allows painters to contribute freely. Painters can respond to what’s already there. They enjoy the evolving artwork without fear of “getting it wrong.”

Collective Painting Project: We Talk Together: Underpainting

The underpainting for this Collective Painting Project began as my first social art project with adults in 2017. It was exhibited that same year at Skylight, much to the delight of the participants. In 2023, I decided to continue developing the artwork with the My Time group. Many of the original painters were still involved. This approach reduces costs. It aligns perfectly with Pattern Play Collaborative Art. In this collaborative art form, layering enhances both the visual depth and the creative experience.

Adding layers allows the artwork to evolve naturally. This process helps participants focus on the joy of painting together. They need not worry about “getting it right” or “getting it wrong.” Over time, those fears fade, replaced by the realisation that it’s simply paint—we can always add more! My record for layering is 14, achieved in the Community artwork created during the Westfield Marion Art Story project.

Collective Painting Project: We Talk Together: Messy Playing

The first layer of this collective painting project used three cool colours—dark blue, light blue, and green. We incorporated simple patterns from my Pattern Play Visual Resources. We selected just a couple from the dozen available in the pack. Limiting choices helps foster creativity, as too many options can feel overwhelming or intimidating.

The process was straightforward: pick a pattern you like, paint it in three places—big and small. Then, swap colours and repeat. I always emphasise BIG and small. That gives us lots of variety. Medium naturally happens as one person’s big spiral is quite different to that of the next person. This contrast makes the approach clear, easy to follow, and visually engaging. We used larger brushes for bold marks.

Collective Painting Project: We Talk Together: Exploring

The next layer naturally introduced warm colours—crimson, pink, and orange. As the collective painting project progressed, painters began adding more patterns. They also responded to what was already on the canvas. I encouraged both approaches:

• “Imagine the canvas is blank and simply add your marks and patterns.”
• “Engage with what’s there—outline a shape, decorate the spaces in between, or add dots or dashes along a line.”

These suggestions give participants the freedom to follow their creative intuition, making the process both engaging and enjoyable! We used medium brushes for this layer. This alternate layering of colour families can continue over several sessions if you like. The artwork becomes more and more visually rich, with many fascinating parts to wander over with your amazed eyes…

Collective Painting Project: We Talk Together: Exploring

Returning to cool colours, this layer featured light blue, dark blue, a translucent metallic green, and a touch of purple. We switched to small brushes. Round brushes are for modulated lines. Flat brushes make choppy marks. Filbert brushes give a mix of both (I simply like them, and call them ‘cat’s tongue’ brushes!

For this stage of the collective painting project, we used my Pattern Play Printable Cards. They were scattered around the canvas. This allowed painters to choose a design that caught their eye. It was fascinating to see how popular ‘Tallies’ (tally marks) became. They added a dynamic element to the artwork in different sizes and colours!

Collective Painting Project: In conclusion

This collective painting project has been a journey of layering colours, patterns, and creative intuition. We started with a cool underpainting, followed by a warm layer to build contrast and depth. Each stage encouraged painters to add their own marks. It also prompted them to respond to what was already there. This fostered both individuality and collaboration. Using my Pattern Play Visual Resources and Pattern Play Printable Cards, participants explored different patterns. ‘Tallies’ emerged as a favourite addition.

Next, we move into the BLING! stage—introducing gold leaf in the top left quadrant as a visual centre. We’ll spend several sessions adding the final decorative touches. We will use paint pens, stickers, and gems. These elements will bring this collective painting project to life.

Discover simple tips on how Collective Painting Projects like these can be created by YOU! Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ Visual Resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too. Let my tools help you!

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

Go Straight to the Survey…

At Painting Around is Fun, I bring people together to create beautiful, collaborative artworks in a fun and inclusive way. My unique approach, called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art,’ is designed to be accessible to all. My background as an art teacher and a behaviour therapist for my son inspired its evolution. I focus on ‘success strategies’ to build creative confidence. I also work to accelerate learning through FUN. Mainly, it’s having fun painting together! I LOVE what I do. I create murals with at-risk teens. I also work on large-scale artworks with under-served community groups. Additionally, I enjoy painting with people of all ages and abilities in public projects!

I am enrolled in a Certificate 4 in Entrepreneurship and New Business program. I need to survey people about my ideas. I also need to know about their interests. I thank you for helping me with this research.

👉 This survey takes about 3–5 minutes, a little more if you have extra suggestions and ideas to share. You can skip questions. None are required. It has 6 short sections to break it up. I put in photos to add some variety, too!

Click here to take the survey!

It’s called Seeking Your Ideas About Collaborative Art Projects.

Soccer Mural Created with Primary School Children

About 32 children in a specialist soccer program at a local primary school painted this mural. They gathered four times to create this small-scale mural. It matches the exact size and shape of a soccer goal. They practice kicking their soccer balls at it during training and school breaks. Now, they can marvel at the beautiful mural they created together, building on their team bond.

Colourful Mural Created with Teenagers

Around 20 girls and staff contributed to this beautiful mural. They used the ‘Galaxy’ colour scheme from my set of “7 Essential Colour Schemes.” The mural stretches 6-7 metres across their canteen wall. It can be seen every day and builds their confidence to try new, creative and challenging things.

Teenagers Creating a Collaborative Art Project

During our debriefing sessions about the mural and their community-based SACE program, the girls created this piece. It was then cut up into postcards and put into a vending machine at Flinders Medical Centre. Visitors, staff, and patients can buy a little bit of original art to share. We used an earlier form of my “Easy Pattern Play Visual Resources.” Each resource has easy-to-copy and inspiring patterns. These patterns are asymmetrical and based on hand-painted patterns that have now been used on hundreds of individual artworks. They help people to get creative with confidence and enjoy creating together!

In conclusion

Collaborative art projects bring people together, fostering creativity, confidence, and teamwork. My ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ approach makes it easy and fun for all ages and abilities. I’d love your input—take my survey to help shape future projects! Your ideas will make a difference.

Discover simple tips about how KEYWORDS like these can be painted by YOU. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too. Let my tools help you!

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

Painting should never be intimidating. These Accessible Painting Ideas for Beginners make it easy and fun. Anyone can join in! Using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach, each project follows three simple stages. The first stage is Messy Playing to build up layers. Then, there is Exploring with patterns and shapes. Finally, Bling is used for final embellishments. Young carers paint together for Girl Power. Parent carers layer colours during My Time. Exhibition visitors spontaneously add their mark. These projects show how creativity can be inclusive, social, and accessible to all.

Accessible Painting Ideas for Beginners: Girl Power!

The Girl Power project is a collaborative artwork in progress, created by a group of young carers. It offers them a chance to take a break from their carer roles. They spend time together to chat, play, snack, and visit each other’s homes. Meanwhile, we mums enjoy a relaxed afternoon tea and a good natter! The girls use cool and calming colours in their paintings, blending blues, greens, purples, aqua, and white. My Pattern Play resources are scattered nearby for inspiration. They add layers of patterns to the artworks creatively. They also respond intuitively to what’s already on the canvas. This simple and flexible painting approach is perfect for beginners of any age. The girls in this project range from about 10 to 18 years old, and their artwork continues to evolve. When we decide it’s finished, I plan to show their work to celebrate their creativity!

Accessible Painting Ideas for Beginners: We Talk Together

The second Accessible Painting Ideas for Beginners project is another work in progress. It is created collaboratively by a group of parent carers. They contribute as part of their My Time peer support program. This group brings together parents of children with disabilities or chronic conditions. They meet six times each school term to chat and share stories. They exchange information. They tap into what we call our ‘brains trust.’ Parents are at all stages of the journey. There’s always someone with the right advice. They have ideas to point you in a helpful direction. This large artwork evolves with each session, as we add either a warm or cool layer of colours. In our next session, we’ll be working with three cool colours. There will be one extra with a touch of white. These are perfectly portioned into the four cups of the trays. I always use them to keep the paints neatly under control, with one brush in each pot.

Accessible Painting Ideas for Beginners: Myriad in Harmony

The third Accessible Painting Idea for Beginners is the ultimate in accessibility. It was created by 80 painters. They spontaneously joined in during the annual “Myriad” Art Exhibition at the State Library of South Australia. Visitors were invited to contribute to a 1m x 1m canvas, using my Pattern Play cards as inspiration. The painting began with a bright blue underpainting. Over three sessions, we layered four variations of three warm colours. The warm colours were red, yellow, and orange, mixed in different ways to add in lovely peaches and corals.. This collaborative approach made painting truly accessible to everyone, regardless of experience! People of all ages, abilities and backgrounds created seamlessly together to create this beautiful artwork!

Accessible Painting Ideas for Beginners: In Conclusion

These Accessible Painting Ideas for Beginners show how anyone can enjoy painting, no matter their experience. Young carers create calming artworks in the Girl Power project. Parent carers layer colours in their My Time sessions. Spontaneous visitors contribute to a collaborative piece at the State Library. Each project proves that painting can be simple, inclusive, and fun. With a few colours, some inspiration, and an open approach, beginners of all ages can explore creativity with confidence!

Discover simple tips about how you can use these accessible painting ideas for beginners in your projects. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too. Let my tools help you!

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

Collaborative art has the power to bring people together, creating vibrant expressions of unity and creativity. Take inspiration from “Myriad in Harmony,” a stunning artwork created by 80 members of the public. “Peer Support,” was brought to life by 16 members of a disability network support group. “Enhancing Voices,” stands as one of four artworks painted with 96 people living with disabilities. These projects showcase how Innovative Community Participation can spark meaningful connections and creative outcomes.

Using my unique Pattern Play Collaborative Art method, participants progress through three simple and engaging stages. The first stage is Messy Playing, where bold marks and vibrant layers start the journey. The second stage is Exploring, where patterns and textures come to life. The third stage is Bling, the final touch of embellishment that makes the artwork shine. Let’s create REAL community participation through art and create something extraordinary together!

Innovative Community Participation: Myriad in Harmony

“Myriad in Harmony” highlights how people of all abilities can unite. Together, they create something truly beautiful. A diverse group of individuals created this 1m x 1m artwork. They included people living with disabilities. They used the Pattern Play Collaborative Art method. Through the joyful stages of Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling, participants of all ages discovered that creativity knows no boundaries. This vibrant project showcases Innovative Community Participation’s power. Art becomes a bridge, fostering connection and inclusion. It creates an incredible sense of achievement. This artwork was created at the Myriad Exhibition, an annual showcase of artworks by people living with a disability.

Innovative Community Participation: Peer Support

“Peer Support” highlights the transformative power of art in bringing communities together. Members of Our Voice SA and friends created this collaborative artwork. They participated in three engaging weekend workshops. This artwork celebrates inclusion and self-expression. It was proudly displayed at the Westfield Marion “Art Story” pop-up exhibition. Later, it was showcased at the “Myriad” exhibition. There, “Myriad in Harmony” was also featured. This project not only produced a beautiful piece of art. It also reinforced the importance of Innovative Community Participation and inspired participants and audiences alike.

Innovative Community Participation: Enhancing Voices

“Enhancing Voices” is a testament to the power of art in amplifying diverse perspectives. This project involved 96 members of the Our Voice SA network. They were from groups all across South Australia, including Adelaide, Whyalla, Mount Gambier, and the Riverland. It brought people together through the inclusive stages of Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. Each participant contributed their unique touch resulting in a vibrant expression of shared creativity and connection. This project exemplifies Innovative Community Participation. It shows how art can unite communities across distances. It embraces different abilities to create something truly meaningful.

Innovative Community Participation: In conclusion

These inspiring projects—“Myriad in Harmony,” “Peer Support,” and “Enhancing Voices”— show empowerment through Innovative Community Participation. This allows people of all abilities to create meaningful and beautiful art. Through the joyful stages of Pattern Play Collaborative Art—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—individuals and communities connect. They express themselves and celebrate creativity. These artworks are a show the power of inclusion, collaboration, and the transformative magic of art.

Discover simple tips about how you can create artworks like these that represent real innovative community participation. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too.

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art.

Have you ever dreamed of creating collaborative artworks with your family, friends, or community? You can turn that dream into reality. My free guide will help you! “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home” is the perfect starting point. This guide introduces you to Pattern Play Collaborative Art. It walks you through three simple yet exciting stages: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling.

To inspire your creative journey, I’m sharing three examples of creating collaborative artworks. I’ve worked with a wide range of people. This includes toddlers, preschoolers, primary and secondary students, and adults. I also have experience with people living with disabilities, people from diverse cultural backgrounds, and seniors. Professional, aspiring and everyday creative people have enjoyed my collaborative art projects too. This process is truly accessible to all! Each project celebrates the joy of working together, experimenting with patterns, and bringing shared visions to life. I hope they spark ideas for your own collaborative art adventure!

Creating Collaborative Artworks: Christmas Creativity!

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Creating Collaborative Artworks: Conversation

The artwork “Conversation” is a stunning example of collaborative artworks. It was brought to life as part of my “Art Story” artist-in-residence program at Westfield Marion. This piece is one of three 1m x 1m canvases. It was created with the help of 600 members of the public. It symbolises connection through it’s overlapping circles and intricate patterns created with so many people. Each participant added their unique marks, layering shapes and colours to this lovely artwork. “Conversation” showcases how collaborative art can spark meaningful interactions and produce something truly memorable.

Creating Collaborative Artworks: Our Enderman

The “Endy” project at Marion Primary School Holiday Care is a fantastic example of creating collaborative artworks. Over two sessions, students from Reception to Year 6 worked together to design a vibrant, Minecraft-inspired artwork. They began with the Messy Playing stage. During this stage, they painted and cut textured papers for collaging. They also underpainted the canvas with bold yellow and black. The students then added creative touches during the Exploring and Bling stage, layering decorative patterns, glitter, and sparkle. This social art project not only resulted in a playful and dynamic piece. It also fostered teamwork, creativity, and connection in a pressure-free environment. Plus, his eyes glow in the dark!

Creating Collaborative Artworks: In Conclusion

The “Endy” project highlights the joy and creativity of creating collaborative artworks. Students engaged with Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. They explored painting, collaging, and pattern-making. All the while, they built important social and teamwork skills. Projects like this show how collaborative art brings people of all ages together. “Conversation” and “Christmas Creativity” also show this ability to create meaningful and visually stunning pieces. These experiences show that the process of working together is just as rewarding as the final artwork itself. You can adapt these three stages into any group project – try it!

Discover simple tips about how creating collaborative artworks like these can be painted by YOU. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too.

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!