Quick takeaway: Social painting examples
Social painting brings people together to create collaborative artworks through shared painting activities. My Pattern Play Collaborative Art method uses three stages: Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling! I’ve used this approach with school groups, teenage girls and young carers to create everything from large public murals to ongoing canvas paintings.
To get started: Choose a canvas or wall, offer a simple colour scheme, and let everyone contribute marks, shapes and patterns. Build the painting in layers, then add decorative details together.
Looking for social painting examples to inspire your group?
Social painting brings people together to create art, share ideas and enjoy a creative experience. You don’t need everyone to have painting experience, and each person can contribute in their own way.
These examples showcase Pattern Play Collaborative Art in action, from large school murals created by teenage girls to ongoing canvas paintings with young carers.
My Pattern Play method uses three main stages: Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling! Participants begin by experimenting with paint and colour, develop the artwork with patterns, and finish with decorative details. The step-by-step process makes collaborative painting accessible to a wide range of groups and abilities.
Social painting example: Find Your Confidence mural
The Find Your Confidence mural was created over five weeks by a group of Year 10 and Year 11 girls at Aberfoyle Park High School.
We began with the Messy Playing stage, using rollers to apply a generous coat of white primer to the old grey wall. We then added a second coat of primer tinted with cool blues and greens, mixed into aqua shades. Sponging created texture and variation across the background.
This first stage gave the girls a relaxed, playful way to get involved. They could experiment with colour and make a visible difference to a public space without worrying about getting everything right.
Next, we added large circles and began exploring marks and patterns. We introduced warm colours from my Vibrant colour scheme, using white to create variations. Limiting the colours available during each session helped keep the artwork visually connected. We also incorporated burgundy to link the mural with the school’s uniform and logo.
Over the following sessions, the girls developed the patterns and details. In the final Bling! stage, they used paint pens to embellish the mural. They also experimented with nail polish and glitter glue, adding unexpected details and having fun trying something different. The glitter was unlikely to last outdoors, but the experimentation was part of the experience. Painting dots with nail polish turned out to be an unexpected highlight!
The finished mural transformed an old wall into a bold, colourful artwork created by the girls themselves.
Social painting example: Find Your Courage mural
The Find Your Confidence project had such a positive impact on the girls that I returned the following year to create another mural with almost 20 participants. We called it Find Your Courage.
This project was part of a SACE Stage 1 program. SACE stands for the South Australian Certificate of Education, the qualification students work towards during Years 11 and 12. The project contributed 10 credits towards the students’ SACE.
For this mural, we used my popular Galaxy colour scheme. We followed the same Pattern Play Collaborative Art process of Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling!
Starting with a playful approach to paint and colour gave everyone a way to contribute. We then developed the mural through large shapes, marks and patterns, before adding decorative details in the final stage.
Working together, the girls transformed a large wall into a bold, colourful artwork. The finished mural now decorates the school’s canteen, providing a lasting reminder of what the group created together.
Social painting example: Girl Power artworks in progress
My daughter is a young carer, providing support to her sibling with complex needs. While caring can help young people develop valuable skills and empathy, it can also bring challenges for their education and wellbeing.
In my parent carer group, we regularly bring the girls together to chat and spend time with each other. During gatherings at my home, I set out two canvases for them to paint collaboratively. Each time we meet, the girls add another layer to the artworks.
These ongoing paintings are a relaxed, creative activity that grows with the group. The image above shows one stage of the process, with eight girls contributing their own marks and ideas.
For these sessions, I use a cool colour scheme, keeping warm colours separate so the artwork develops a cohesive look. I offer three colours plus white, along with brushes suited to the activity. Some of my Pattern Play resources are also available for the girls to explore as they experiment with patterns and marks.
We keep adding layers until the paintings feel ready for the final Bling! stage. Then we’ll use paint pens to add decorative details and bring the artworks together.
That’s one of the things I love about Pattern Play Collaborative Art. Everyone can contribute at their own pace, and there’s no pressure to produce a particular result or compare their work with anyone else’s. The group spends time together, experiments with colour and patterns, and gradually creates something visually rich and unique.
You can try this approach at home, too. Start with a canvas, three related paint colours and white. Provide a selection of synthetic brushes from your local art or variety store, and let everyone experiment with adding marks and layers. You can introduce patterns as the painting develops, then finish with paint pens when the group is ready.
A simple, shared painting activity can give family and friends a way to create together.
Social painting examples: In conclusion
These social painting examples show how collaborative art can bring people together to create something meaningful. From the Find Your Confidence and Find Your Courage school murals to the ongoing Girl Power canvases, each project grew through shared experimentation, colour and pattern.
My Pattern Play Collaborative Art method offers a simple, three-stage process: Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling! Participants contribute their own marks and ideas, build layers together and add finishing details to create a unique group artwork.
You can use this approach with your family, friends, school or community group. Start with a few colours, some brushes and a shared canvas, then enjoy seeing what develops.
Ready to try collaborative painting with your own group? Get my free guide to the Pattern Play method and discover how to get started.
Happy Painting!
Charndra
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