At Ascot Park Primary School, we embarked on a group mural creation with the Specialist Soccer Team. We brought together 26 students to transform their soccer practice “Hitting Wall” into a vibrant mural showing teamwork. Using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach, we guided the students through three simple stages. The first stage was Messy Playing, where creativity flowed freely with big brushes and spontaneous marks. Next was Exploring, where detailed layers were added to build depth and texture. Finally, we reached Bling, the step that brought the mural to life with intricate finishing touches. The result is a stunning, multi-layered mural that the school community enjoys daily, reflecting both creativity and collaboration.
Group Mural Creation 1: Underpainting: Setting the Foundation
The project began with a solid foundation—a vibrant underpainting that would serve as the base layer for our mural. The students used large brushes and rollers. They applied broad strokes of primer mixed with colour to the wall. This established a solid backdrop. We focused on warm tones like red, orange, and yellow. These colors created a feeling of energy and motion. They set the stage for what was to come. The underpainting not only helped unify the mural. It also gave the students confidence to start creating without worrying about perfection. It was all about getting the first layer down and warming up the space for further creative exploration.
Group Mural Creation 2: Messy Playing: Freeing the Creativity
In this phase, the students were encouraged to loosen up and have fun with the mural. We introduced a variety of tools—sponges, stamps, templates and stencils—to add playful and spontaneous elements. This messy playing stage is all about creative freedom, allowing each student to make their mark without fear. By layering bold shapes and spontaneous patterns, the students brought energy and movement to the mural. This step let their ideas flow naturally. It gave the artwork an organic, fluid feeling. This is much like how a soccer team works together dynamically on the field.
Group Mural Creation 3. Exploring: Building Layers of Detail
The playful base was established. Then, the students began to explore more intentional techniques. We aimed to bring depth and complexity to the mural. They used finer brushes and simple patterns. They layered these designs on top of the earlier marks, creating quite intricate areas. They added subtle details in similar colours and the patterns created a sense of unity across the mural. The patterns used were an early form of my “Pattern Play” visual resources. I now use them for every project. I also offer them for sale at my online shop. During this project, I laminated the simple hand painted pattern ideas into A4 sheets. The sheets were scattered around. They were stuck up to give the kids ideas to copy. This scattered approach provided inspiration to create. Kids added their own ideas too. Every contribution was guided and encouraged, and each layer added more visual interest. This phase gave the mural its distinctive character. Students worked in sync and painted around each other’s contributions. They created a cohesive design that reflected their teamwork.
Group Mural Creation 4: Bling: Adding the Final Touches.
The finishing stage was all about adding that extra sparkle and final polish to the mural. Using a dark crimson for a pop of accent colour, and attention-grabbing elements like fine detailing, we added the “bling.” This stage helped emphasise focal points and brought a sense of completion to the mural. Each student’s name was included in the design, giving them a personal connection to the finished piece. The final touches made the mural truly shine. It was not just an artwork. It was a reflection of the students’ hard work, collaboration, and team spirit. They were so proud as they had ownership of the entire creative process.
Group Mural Creation: In Conclusion
This group mural creation at Ascot Park Primary School not only brought the students together. They created a stunning work of art. It also transformed the “Hitting Wall,” a space they use daily for soccer practice. The mural now serves as a constant reminder of their teamwork and creativity as they play. One of the most rewarding moments was hearing the kids run around the corner at recess. They squealed with joy and amazement when they saw the mural taking shape. The students engaged the stages Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. Through this process, they embraced Pattern Play Collaborative Art. This approach helped them create a vibrant, layered mural. It will be enjoyed for years to come.
Learn easy tips to develop group mural creation ideas on your own: Join my Inner Circle email list. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”. It’s 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.
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What are your favorite group mural creation ideas for bringing people together through art?