Are you wondering how to start a simple collaborative art project at home?
My Pattern Play Collaborative Art style makes it fun and easy to get started. Using just three stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—you can create vibrant, layered artworks with family or friends. For example, our recent entry for the Incognito Art Show 2024 followed this process, bringing together everyone’s unique ideas into a cohesive and exciting piece. The kids had a hands-on experience in creating and exhibiting their art, making the project both playful and memorable.
How to start collaborative art projects at home 1: Messy Playing
Our family project for the Incognito Art Show was a joint creation with my kids. After registering, we received three A6 cardboard panels, but instead of working on them separately, we taped the backs together with blue tape to form one large piece. I started by creating a blue-and-white marbled background, and then we jumped into the Messy Playing stage together.
Using black conte crayons, we all added gestural drawings across the panels. With big brushes in hand, we layered large, repeating shapes over the drawings, working as a team. I encouraged everyone to contribute to each section with every layer, overlapping edges to connect all parts of our artwork. It was a fun, spontaneous process that brought our creativity together and made the piece feel truly collaborative.
How to start collaborative art projects at home 2: Exploring
During the Exploring stage, we each added new layers, using a different colour and pattern with every pass. My son was particularly drawn to the infinity symbol, boldly incorporating it into every panel, where it became a central motif. We worked with a limited colour scheme of blue, orange, and pink, adding pops of black for contrast and mixing in white to create subtle variations. Each layer became more dynamic, building depth and richness into the patterns while keeping the collaborative energy flowing.
How to start collaborative art projects at home 3: Bling!
For the final Bling stage, we each took one of the three panels and personalised them with paint pens and fine liners. Everyone brought their own ideas to life, adding unique details and patterns, which made it exciting to see how differently each of us approached this stage. Once finished, we named our artworks based on what emerged from the designs, making the process even more fun and meaningful. After completing the backs and adding our details, we uploaded the information to the website and sent our entries back to Sydney, New South Wales, for the exhibition.
How to start collaborative art projects at home : In Conclusion
Starting collaborative art projects at home is as simple as gathering a few materials and letting your creativity flow. Our family’s entry for the Incognito Art Show was a perfect example. At the show, each artwork sells for $100, and the artist remains anonymous until after purchase. We began with the Messy Playing stage, adding gestural drawings and large shapes, then moved to the Exploring stage, layering colours and patterns. Finally, in the Bling stage, we each personalised a piece using colourful paint pens within the same colour scheme. The entire process was fun, meaningful, and inspiring. Profits from the sales support studios like Studio A, which provides opportunities for artists living with disabilities. It’s always exciting to hear from the collectors who purchased our works, and the kids loved creating, exhibiting, and selling their art within the safety of a family project.
Happy Painting!
Charndra,
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