Quick Takeaway
Looking for an easy collaborative art project for groups? Circles of Connection is a simple, inclusive project where participants build one artwork together using circles, patterns and layers of colour.
I created this project with the Mums of My Time, a carer peer support group in Australia. It gave participants an opportunity to spend time together, experiment with paint and create something they could be proud of as a group.
The project follows my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework, moving through three stages: Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling!
Creating Circles of Connection
The Circles of Connection project was created with the Mums of My Time, a carer peer support group.
The project gave the group a chance to step away from their usual routines and spend some time creating together. The artwork was built up over several stages, with everyone contributing their own marks, patterns and details.
I started with a yellow Underpainting so participants weren’t faced with a stark white canvas. From there, the group worked through Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling!, gradually adding layers to the artwork.
Here’s how the process worked.
Start with Messy Playing
The first stage was Messy Playing.
The canvas was laid flat on a table and participants moved around it as they painted. We started with groups of circles in different colours and sizes.
Circles could be:
- Filled in
- Open
- Overlapping
- Made into clusters of dots
- Big, small or anything in between
I encouraged participants to overlap their circles and respond to shapes that were already on the canvas.
The aim at this stage was simply to play with paint and build an interesting base for the artwork. Everyone was reassured that they couldn’t mess it up.
That freedom to experiment is an important part of Messy Playing. People can concentrate on making marks and enjoying the process rather than worrying about creating a specific finished picture in this type of abstract art.
Move into Exploring
Once the first layer was established, we moved into Exploring.
Participants added layers of patterns using stencils and smaller tools. As the acrylic paint dried, we could introduce new colours and build up the artwork without losing the layers underneath.
The existing circles became starting points for new patterns and decorations. Participants could add to their own marks or respond to areas created by someone else.
This is where the artwork started to become more detailed and interconnected.
Finish with Bling!
The final stage was Bling!
This is where participants added the small details that bring the artwork together. For Circles of Connection, we added stick-on gems and white pen details.
These finishing touches gave everyone another opportunity to personalise the artwork and add their own little details.
By this stage, the original circles had become part of many layers of colour, patterns and decoration.
What made this project work?
The Circles of Connection project was simple enough for everyone to get started, but the layered process gave participants plenty of opportunities to make choices and contribute.
A few things made a big difference:
- Start with an Underpainting. A coloured background makes the canvas feel more inviting from the beginning.
- Give people a simple first action. Circles are easy to paint and can be made in many different ways.
- Keep the colour scheme limited. A related group of colours helps the different contributions work together.
- Encourage overlapping. New marks become part of the artwork rather than sitting separately from everyone else’s contributions.
- Build in stages. Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling! give the artwork time to develop.
- Let people respond to what is already there. Participants can copy, adapt and add to ideas created by someone else.
The result is an artwork that belongs to the whole group, with every layer showing evidence of the people who contributed.
Try Circles of Connection with your own group
This project can be adapted for community groups, schools, workshops and other groups who would enjoy creating an artwork together.
You could use a different background colour, change the colour scheme or replace circles with another simple shape, like spirals! (I love spirals). The Pattern Play process stays the same: start with playful marks, develop patterns and finish with the details.
If you’d like to explore the process further, my free Beginner’s Guide and Mini Course will take you through the basics of Pattern Play Collaborative Art.
I hope Circles of Connection gives you some ideas for creating a collaborative artwork with your own group.
Happy painting!
Charndra
Your inclusive collaborative art guide
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Explore More Collaborative Art Resources →
If you’ve enjoyed reading “Circles of Connection: An Easy Collaborative Art Project for Groups”, there are plenty of other ways to explore easy collaborative art projects for groups. These posts offer tips, ideas, and inspiration to help your group paint with confidence and have fun.
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- Fun pattern-based collaborative art activities – Simple, repeatable pattern ideas that make group painting easy and visually effective
- Tips for running a successful group art session – Helpful guidance to keep your sessions flowing smoothly from start to finish
