Quick Takeaway

A collaborative art project at home is a simple way for family and friends to create something together. You don’t need a lot of supplies or painting experience, and the finished artwork doesn’t need to be perfect.

In this post, I’ll show you how to set up a simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art project at home, using the same process I’ve used in more than 60 community and school-based projects with over 2,000 participants.

How do you start a collaborative art project at home?

You don’t need a workshop, a classroom or a big group to try collaborative art. Start with two or three people, a shared surface to paint on and a few colours you like.

The important part is having a simple process that gives everyone something to do while leaving room for their own ideas.

Try Pattern Play Collaborative Art

Pattern Play is my approach to collaborative painting. It starts with simple mark making and playful patterns, then builds the artwork up in layers.

The process has three main stages:

• Messy Playing: get the first layers of colour onto the artwork using large brushes, rollers, sponges and simple shapes.
• Exploring: add patterns, dots, circles and clusters of shapes.
• Bling!: finish with details such as paint pens, gems, stickers, glitter or metallic touches.

You can use the same basic process with a couple of people at home or with a much larger group.

Paint together without the stress

A shared artwork gives everyone something to contribute without asking each person to produce their own picture.

Why this works well for beginners:

• No drawing experience needed
• You can start with a few colours and simple supplies
• Everyone contributes to the same artwork
• There is no single “right” way to paint it
• The artwork develops as everyone adds their own marks and patterns

See collaborative art projects in action

I’ve used Pattern Play with groups ranging from a few people to hundreds of participants.

Conversation was created by 600 people of all ages and abilities at Westfield Marion, with participants adding to the artwork over two weeks.

We Talk Together brought 40 parents and staff together to create a shared artwork using warm and cool colours.

Together We Thrive was a student-led mural created by 106 students and staff at a specialist school, using blue and orange layers, simple patterns and mask shapes.

These projects were much larger than anything you might make at home, but the same basic idea applies: everyone adds to one shared artwork.

Start your own collaborative art project at home

You could start with just two or three people. Choose a surface, pick a colour scheme and give everyone some simple painting materials.

Then start with Messy Playing and see where the artwork goes.

You don’t need to know exactly what the finished piece will look like. That’s part of the fun.

I’ve made a free step-by-step guide to help you get started

My Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art walks you through the Pattern Play process and gives you practical ideas for planning and running your own project.

FREE Guide + Mini Course: Learn the Easiest Way to Run a Collaborative Art Project

Sign up to get the Beginner’s Guide and a short email course that shows you how to plan, start, and guide your first Pattern Play project with confidence.

You’ll get weekly creative tips and group art ideas from me.

Bonus: You’ll also receive a special offer inside.

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