Creating a shared artwork is more than just painting together—it’s about transforming a group into a team through creativity. In this article, we’ll explore how to make a team artwork. We will look through two collaborative paintings, VOICE and SAFETY. These were made by young carers during a Media Training Day. Using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach, we followed three simple stages. Messy Playing helped break the ice and build energy. Exploring helped develop patterns and personal contributions. Finally, Bling brought the final details together. With the help of an underpainting, participants eased the fear of a blank canvas. They quickly connected and layered their ideas. Through collaboration, they co-created something truly meaningful. Individual expressions were turned into a unified team artwork.
How to Make a Team Artwork: Underpainting to Prompt Confidence
When learning how to make a team artwork, starting with an underpainting can be a game-changer—especially in short sessions. For the VOICE and SAFETY artworks, I prepared the surfaces in advance. I used a base layer of colour. This was based on the shapes and colors of Carers SA. Carers SA supports the Young Carer’s Collective. This step served three key purposes. It provided a background to build on. This reduced the daunting feeling of a blank canvas. It also helped the young carers dive in without hesitation. Additionally, it acted as a visual prompt, sparking ideas and giving them confidence to start quickly. This simple step made a noticeable difference, creating a sense of flow from the start. By laying this foundation, the canvases instantly became inviting, collaborative spaces where participants explored their creativity with ease.
How to Make a Team Artwork: Voice
The VOICE artwork was all about self-expression and the importance of young carers being heard. We used the Carers SA logo colours—grey, blue, and coral. We began with ‘Messy Play.’ The canvas was filled with circles in various sizes. These transformed into eggs, doughnuts, links in a chain, and spirals. As the group relaxed into the process, they added decorative patterns, using post-it note inspirations to either copy or adapt. Small brushes were used to build layers of overlapping details. The final touch was a border of affirmations about the power of a young carer’s voice. Each painter’s name was subtly incorporated into the piece. This step-by-step process is a wonderful guide. It shows how to make a team artwork. It blends individual contributions into a cohesive whole.
How to Make a Team Artwork: Safety
The SAFETY artwork explored what makes young carers feel safe within Carers SA. Sticking to cool, calming tones, the group built up layers of circles, ovals, and spirals, moving fluidly across the canvas. Like in VOICE, they added decorations and overlapping patterns, drawing inspiration from post-it notes. Words representing safety were developed earlier in the workshop. These words were featured in the day’s videos. They were integrated as text-based elements in the final design. Again, each participant’s name was woven into the artwork, making it a truly collective piece. By using this process, the group learned to create a team artwork. This artwork reflects shared meaning and a sense of belonging.
My Easy Pattern Play Resources downloadable .pdf is full of the types of simplified patterns you can use to create an artwork like this with your friends, family, students, group, team or clients:
How to Make a Team Artwork: In Conclusion
These two projects, VOICE and SAFETY, highlight how to make a team artwork that is both meaningful and engaging. By starting with an underpainting, we created an inviting space where young carers could confidently express themselves. The step-by-step process began with Messy Play. Then, patterns and decorations were added. Finally, text-based elements were incorporated. This approach helped transform individual contributions into a cohesive, collaborative piece. These artworks show that a group can unite through the right approach. This unity emerges from preparation steps to the addition of final details. They can create something powerful together. Whether focusing on self-expression or a shared theme, a team artwork begins with a strong foundation. It also requires an open, inclusive process.
Discover simple tips about how to make a team artwork just like these. 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.
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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!
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