Close-up of the community garden mural with layered patterns, gold accents, and vibrant colours.

Case Study: The Carer Support Community Garden Mural

Quick Takeaway

Community garden mural projects can bring people together to create something beautiful while having fun. In this post, you’ll see how I guided a Carer Support group to paint a collaborative mural using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school-based projects with more than 2,000 participants, and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources.


Our Carer Support Garden Mural

Project Overview of Our Community Garden Mural

Our Carer Support Garden Mural was a collaborative art project created with 8 participants at The Carer Support Centre at Glandore, South Australia. Over two sessions, we transformed a 2m high by 6m wide space on an adjacent boundary wall into a vibrant, themed mural.

Process of Our Community Garden Mural

This mural was created with a spontaneous, freeform creativity. I gave the participants simple directions to paint circles of different sizes, add spirals and concentric rings, add patterns and play with what was appearing on the wall! Using a mixed colour scheme, the group followed the Pattern Play Collaborative Art process:

🎨 Messy Playing – Adding many circles of different sizes, then spirals all in a variety of colours.
🔍 Exploring – Layers were added with patterns drawn from printed circle painting examples, stencils of hand-made and purchased stencils, stamps with items like corks and bubble wrap on the bases of cups. Responding to what each other were adding on the wall was at the heart of our spontaneous freeform creativity.
Bling – Accents in black and gold ranging across the surface were the unifying bling feature of this project.

Media Used: External Acrylic paints

Community Garden Mural Preparation:

I always start my projects with an underpainting as it frees people to begin (see the subtle visual prompts added) and gives a lovely background that emerges through to the final piece.

Community Garden Mural Messy Playing:

Add circles, spirals, concentric rings, and start adding decorations to the circles as everyone moves around and plays…

Community Garden Mural Exploring:

More and more layers are added – we used stencils and stamps to add more visual interest to paint on and around, working together and as individuals all over the mural.

Results of Our Community Garden Mural:


The Project was a Success!

Carer and Community SA

If you care for someone, we care for you.

With over 30 years’ experience in supporting carers and seniors, Carer and Community SA understands how to support you and your goals. We care for you.


The Power of Inclusive Social Art

This project demonstrates how collaborative art is non-competitive, stress-free, and confidence-building. The structured Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling approach helps participants of all ages feel successful and included. Every project is unique!

Happy Painting!

Charndra,

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.


FREE Guide + Mini Course: Learn the Easiest Way to Run a Collaborative Art Project

Sign up to get the Beginner’s Guide and a short email course that shows you how to plan, start, and guide your first Pattern Play project with confidence.

You’ll get weekly creative tips and group art ideas from me.

Bonus: You’ll also receive a special offer inside.

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Child painting with limited warm colours using Pattern Play Cards – creative confidence strategies in action.

About Building Creative Confidence – Simple Art Strategies that Work

Quick Takeaway

Creative confidence strategies can help anyone unlock their creativity and enjoy making art without fear. I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework to guide the process. In this post, you’ll discover practical tips and approaches — and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources.


This post is part of my “About Series,” where I share the story behind Painting Around is Fun and how Pattern Play Collaborative Art came to life. You can read the full About page here. Whether you’re new here or curious about how it all began, welcome!


How can creative confidence strategies help everyone succeed in art?

Real art by real people: Proof that confidence can be painted in…

Have you ever watched someone’s face light up when they realise they just made art?
That spark – the sudden belief that “Maybe I can do this” – is what my work is all about.

I help groups make art that feels free, fun, and connected — using small, thoughtful steps to build creative confidence.

Before I created Pattern Play Collaborative Art, I was a classroom art teacher.

For over a decade, I taught painting, drawing, sculpture, and more — helping students of all ages explore their creativity.

But my journey didn’t stop in the classroom.
It was what happened next that shaped everything I do now with collaborative art.


The Shift That Changed Everything

I had three children, and my second child was born with special needs.
That’s when everything I knew about creativity, confidence, and growth took on a whole new meaning.

I became one of his behaviour therapists, learning the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) – the science of learning that focuses on helping individuals succeed step by step.

Through that work, I saw firsthand how success builds confidence, and how simple, thoughtful strategies can unlock real progress. These are known as Success Strategies, and they’ve shaped the way I design every stage of Pattern Play Collaborative Art.

What works in therapy also works in creativity: when people feel safe, supported, and successful, their confidence grows – and so does their willingness to explore, express, and enjoy the process.


What exactly are Success Strategies?

“Success Strategies” aren’t complicated tricks. They’re the small, repeatable actions that set people up to win:

  • Break tasks into bite‑sized steps
  • Model the mark first, then invite others to try
  • Provide instant, genuine appreciation for effort
  • Give clear choices rather than open‑ended pressure
  • Celebrate every visible improvement – no matter how tiny
  • Painting together! Community is energising and encouraging

Those ABA roots mean each session is built like a staircase: one low step at a time, everyone rising together. I use success strategies at the core of everything.


Weaving success into Pattern Play Collaborative Art

Pattern Play’s creative confidence strategies show up everywhere:

  • Underpainting to take away the shock of the blank canvas, paired with priming patterns
  • Starter Marks – easy mark clusters, circles, arches, dots and spirals that anyone can copy
  • Limited Colour Palettes – warm, joyful hues so every layer looks cohesive
  • Layer‑by‑Layer ProgressMessy Playing → Exploring → Bling!
  • Visual References – simple Pattern Play cards or Easy Pattern Play Pages at every table
  • Shared Wins“Look at our artwork. Give each other a clap. Give yourself a clap – you did this!”

Because every painter experiences success quickly, they relax, take risks and – before they know it – start experimenting with their own ideas as they move around the canvas interacting with what the other painters are doing.

Warm underpainting with simple mark-making prompts to encourage confident painting.
“Underpainting Prompts” – a success strategy to encourage painters to start with confidence.

The images on this page highlight three of the core success strategies that shape my Pattern Play style of Collaborative Art. Each one is designed to help people feel confident from the very start. Underpainting Prompts ease painters into the process by removing the fear of the blank canvas – a few gentle marks and warm base colours are all it takes to get started. Limited Colours ensure that every layer feels harmonious and encouraging, helping painters avoid overwhelm and muddy results. And in Painting Together, the energy of a shared creative space lifts everyone’s confidence – painters are inspired by each other, supported by visual references, and encouraged to explore in their own time and style. Together, these strategies create a positive, low-pressure environment where creative confidence can flourish.

Children painting collaboratively using only warm colours to create a cohesive first layer.
“Limited Colours” – children creating a joint collaborative artwork using just warm colours for the layer – makes for confident painting as they cannot make a brown muddy mess.
Adults in a community group joyfully painting together in the final ‘Bling’ stage with paint pens and Pattern Play Cards.
“Painting Together” – painting around each other is energising as we are social beings. It’s FUN. Shows adults in a community group using Pattern Play Cards for inspiration.

Why creative confidence matters

When people believe they’re creative, everything changes. They:

  • Speak up with ideas at school, work or play
  • Tackle tricky problems with a playful mindset
  • Start to see creative solutions for all sorts of problems and issues
  • Say “yes” to new experiences instead of sitting on the sidelines

And that confidence can start with something as straightforward as painting a few dots in a circle.


Try these simple art strategies today

Grab a spare bit of cardboard, three favourite colours and a round brush, then…

  1. Paint overlapping dots across the surface – aim for 30 seconds, no judging.
  2. Add arches over some dots using colour #2.
  3. Finish with tiny spirals in colour #3.
  4. Step back and notice one thing you like – say it out loud.
  5. Find something unique – no one has ever seen this before – your marks are unique to you.

Congratulations! You’ve just practised a Success Strategy: short, supported, specific.

Happy Painting!

Charndra,

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.


FREE Guide + Mini Course: Learn the Easiest Way to Run a Collaborative Art Project

Sign up to get the Beginner’s Guide and a short email course that shows you how to plan, start, and guide your first Pattern Play project with confidence.

You’ll get weekly creative tips and group art ideas from me.

Bonus: You’ll also receive a special offer inside.

Your guide arrives instantly after you confirm your email.
Unsubscribe anytime.


How to make a collective artwork using the ‘Find Your Courage’ mural as a step-by-step creative guide with collaborative art techniques.

How to Make a Collective Artwork: A Step-by-Step Guide Using the ‘Find Your Courage’ Mural

Quick Takeaway

Curious about how to make a collective artwork? In this post, you’ll see step-by-step how the Find Your Courage mural was created using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework.

This is the same process I use in my collaborative school murals, guiding over 60 community and school-based projects with more than 2,000 participants.

You’ll learn simple, practical ways to involve everyone and create a shared artwork that shines — for murals and smaller group art projects.


Pattern Play Collaborative Art is a FUN, beginner-friendly way to bring people together through painting. It’s my signature method for guiding collective visual art projects, and it’s built around three simple, creative stages: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling.

This step-by-step guide shares exactly how to make a collective artwork using that process — including tips, examples, and real-life insight from the Find Your Courage mural.

That mural — 2 metres high and 7 metres wide — was created over five weeks by 20 teen girls aged 15-17. Through shared painting sessions, layered textures, and shimmering details, we built something magnificent and meaningful together.

If you’re curious about how to create a collective artwork that’s inclusive, expressive, and engaging for all skill levels, this is for you.

How To Make A Collective Artwork: Planning

Every successful collective visual art project begins with a clear intention and a flexible plan. That’s the heart of my method, called Pattern Play Collaborative Art.

In this approach, flexibility is built in — but the clear intention is always to give participants ownership, agency, and ultimately, the courage to try new things. When people help create a mural together in public, they often walk away with a new sense of creative confidence.

Pattern Play Collaborative Art unfolds in three simple stages: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. These stages guide painters of all ages and abilities to build up layers, follow their instincts, and contribute freely, without fear of doing it “wrong.”

In the case of the Find Your Courage mural — a large-scale collective painting project with 20 teenaged girls — the plan was simple:

  • Start with a unifying underpainting – primer over the old mural then tinted primer as our second coat.
  • Invite playful mark-making through guided collective painting activities – Messy Playing with marks and circles.
  • Encourage pattern repetition and experimentation with Pattern Play Exploration.
  • Finish with highlights, shimmer, and detailed ornamentation in the BLING stage.

This kind of planning isn’t rigid — it’s a loose framework designed to welcome all kinds of participation. If you’re wondering how to create a collective artwork that feels inclusive, empowering, and joyful, starting with these three stages gives you a strong foundation.

How To Make A Collective Artwork: Underpainting

How To Make A Collective Artwork: Underpainting

Before the fun begins, we create an underpainting — a base layer that helps unify the final piece.

For the ‘Find Your Courage’ mural, we painted the whole wall with white primer using rollers and house brushes. This gives the girls ownership of the entire process from preparation to final bling layers.

Then we painted soft gradients using large brushes and sponges in shades of light blue, light violet, and a charcoal meandering line representing the milky way’s depths. This formed the cosmic background on which all the later layers would shine with our ‘Galaxy’ colour scheme.

Collective painting lessons often emphasise this step as a great way to build confidence — everyone contributes in a loose, abstract way without needing to “get it right.” It’s relaxing and gives the whole piece a beautiful, blended foundation.

How To Make A Collective Artwork: Messy Playing

Messy Playing is all about letting go of perfection and enjoying the process. In this phase of the mural, the girls painted swirls, splashes, circles, and arches in lighter galaxy tones — pinks, teals, purples and blues— layering marks to create texture and energy. I primed the surface with large chalk circles and arches to get them started – this session was called our “Go BIG and Make Your Mark” day. The goal of this was to encourage the girls to really get into the creativity and power of painting out in public on a large artwork. To find their courage!

These kinds of collective painting activities are ideal for getting everyone involved, especially those new to art. They allow for freedom, expression, and a sense of playful exploration.

Everyone’s contribution matters, and because the marks overlap and blend, the artwork feels unified from the beginning.

How To Make A Collective Artwork: Exploring

After the first layers are down, it’s time to start playing with more patterns and circles! We did two weeks of circle and pattern play, using the Easy Pattern Play Pages that I have developed to give hesitant painters easy creative confidence. During this stage, the group explored ways to connect shapes, repeat patterns, and build clusters of marks. They ranged across the surface, changing colours and shapes, doing individual or group combinations. It was like they all did a dozen artworks, super-charging their confidence as they created together!


Using inspiration from collective painting examples, we encouraged the girls to try new things — like layering spirals over smudges, or repeating a pattern in different sizes and colours, up high and down low.

This is where creative confidence grows. Participants start to trust their instincts, add more meaningful details, exploring their own creative flair. Collective art activities like these go beyond just painting as participants have the opportunity to experiment within the safety of an immense artwork and the safety of a group.

How To Make A Collective Artwork: Bling

The final stage — what we call Bling! — is where everything comes to life.

For this mural, the group added highlights with paint pens, including fine metallic paint pens, adding subtle glitter accents. They outlined shapes, added fine detailed versions of the patterns used in the other stages, and created bursts of detail all across the mural.

This part of the process makes the whole mural shine — both literally and emotionally. It gives participants a chance to finesse details and add their signature touches to the piece.

All of my collective painting workshops end with a Bling session, as it helps people feel extra proud of what they’ve helped create, as it’s so much fun adding decorative details.

How To Make A Collective Artwork: In Conclusion

Making a collective artwork isn’t about perfection — it’s about connection, contribution, and creative joy. Whether you’re leading collective painting sessions or simply looking for inspiration to try your first group mural, the process can be magical.

The ‘Find Your Courage’ mural is just one example of what can happen when you invite people to create together. With some thoughtful planning, guided phases, and playful activities, you can create something meaningful that everyone is proud of.

So grab my Pattern Play Pages (the ones I used with the kids for this project) or my Pattern Play Cards, collect your brushes and external paints, gather your group, and start painting – together.

Happy Painting!

Charndra,

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.


Discover simple tips about how to make a collective artwork like this beautiful mural:

FREE Guide + Mini Course: Learn the Easiest Way to Run a Collaborative Art Project

Sign up to get the Beginner’s Guide and a short email course that shows you how to plan, start, and guide your first Pattern Play project with confidence.

You’ll get weekly creative tips and group art ideas from me.

Bonus: You’ll also receive a special offer inside.

Your guide arrives instantly after you confirm your email.
Unsubscribe anytime.


For schools in Adelaide

If you’re based in Adelaide and would love to bring a collaborative mural to your school, you can learn more about my school mural projects here → Collaborative Murals for Schools

Explore more collaborative murals for schools:

How to make a collective artwork using the ‘Find Your Courage’ mural as a step-by-step creative guide with collaborative art techniques.
How to make a collective artwork with your group – the ‘Find Your Courage’ mural painted in Adelaide, South Australia using the Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework.
3 Group Art Mural Paintings to Inspire You!

3 Group Art Mural Paintings to Inspire You!

Quick Takeaway

Group art mural paintings bring people together to create something meaningful, colourful, and shared. In this post, you’ll learn how to plan and run inclusive mural projects using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework, shaped by over 60 community and school-based projects with more than 2,000 participants. I want to help you do the same with clear guidance and helpful digital resources that make group murals achievable and fun.


How Do Group Art Mural Paintings Work in Real-Life Settings?

Group Art Mural Paintings are a powerful way to bring people together, inspire creativity, and build community. I call my unique approach Pattern Play Collaborative Art. It guides participants of all ages and abilities through three simple stages. The stages are Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. These stages encourage spontaneous mark-making, layering of patterns, and adding final details that bring the artwork to life. These collaborative projects empower teenagers to find their courage. They offer young people who may be struggling with finding their place in the world a space to explore a different side and connect with their peers in a novel way. They also foster teamwork among these young adults who crave connection and making a mark, yet hate the limelight pointing on them. Murals created in this way, with layered, structured spontaneity become a showcase for the transformational power of shared creativity. Plus, they’re a lot of fun!

Group art mural paintings example 1: Find Your Courage

3 Group Art Mural Paintings to Inspire You! Showing "Find Your Courage", a large mural created by 18 teenaged girls.
Group Art Mural Paintings Inspire Teenagers!

The “Find Your Courage” mural stands as a vibrant example of the power of collaborative creativity, especially among teenagers. This student-driven project encouraged participants to step out of their comfort zones. They worked together in a public space. This fostered a sense of confidence and cooperation. Through painting side by side, the teenagers discovered the joy of creating something larger than themselves. They expressed their individuality within a shared and spontaneous vision. The resulting mural became a symbol of empowerment. It reminds participants of the courage it takes to create and connect. It inspires onlookers with its message of bravery.

Group art mural paintings example 2: Carer Support Garden Mural

3 Group Art Mural Paintings to Inspire You! Showing the Carer Support Garden Mural created by a group of parent carers.
Group Art Mural Paintings Bring Adults Together

The Carer Support Garden Mural brought together a group of parent carers. They created a serene and uplifting artwork. It reflected their shared experiences and the importance of sharing those ideas to help each other. This group art mural project provided a space for participants to unwind, connect, and express themselves through collaborative creativity. The mural, inspired by it’s garden setting, came to symbolise growth, resilience, and the nurturing roles of carers. Each individual contributed their unique touch, yet the collective effort resulted in a cohesive and harmonious design. The mural serves as a lasting reminder of the importance of community and the healing power of art.

Group art mural paintings example 3: Soccer Mural

3 Group Art Mural Paintings to Inspire You! Showing the Soccer Mural created with warm colours by over 30 primary school students.
Group Art Mural Paintings Connect Kids

The Soccer ‘Hitting Wall’ Mural at Ascot Park Primary School demonstrates how collaborative art can unite and inspire young athletes. The project was created in 2020 by 26 primary-aged children from the school’s Specialist Soccer Team. It transformed a plain practice wall into a vibrant celebration of teamwork and creativity. The students were guided through multiple sessions. They layered techniques including stamping, stenciling, sponging, and fine brushwork. These techniques helped to craft a visually captivating mural in warm, attention-grabbing colours. Each participant contributed across the mural, fostering a sense of pride and personal ownership. The final artwork showcases their individual and collective creativity. It serves as a daily reminder of the importance of collaboration. This Vince Lombardi quote reflects the project: “Individual commitment to a group effort makes a team work. It makes a company work. It makes a society work. It makes a civilization work.”

Group art mural paintings: In Conclusion

Group Art Mural Paintings beautifully illustrate the magic of collaboration, creativity, and community. The empowering “Find Your Courage” mural inspired teenagers to embrace bravery and connection. The reflective Carer Support Garden Mural symbolizes resilience and shared growth. The vibrant Soccer ‘Hitting Wall’ Mural unites young athletes through teamwork. Each project highlights the transformational potential of collaborative art. By using the Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling stages within the Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach, these murals become dynamic creations. They represent more than just artwork. Murals become vibrant expressions of collective effort. They are lasting symbols of unity, creativity, and the joy of working together.

Happy Painting!

Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.


FREE Guide + Mini Course: Learn the Easiest Way to Run a Collaborative Art Project

Sign up to get the Beginner’s Guide and a short email course that shows you how to plan, start, and guide your first Pattern Play project with confidence.

You’ll get weekly creative tips and group art ideas from me.

Bonus: You’ll also receive a special offer inside.

Your guide arrives instantly after you confirm your email.
Unsubscribe anytime.


For schools in Adelaide

If you’re based in Adelaide and would love to bring a collaborative mural to your school, you can learn more about my school mural projects here → Collaborative Murals for Schools


Explore more collaborative murals for schools:

3 Group Art Mural Paintings to Inspire You!
3 Group Art Mural Paintings to Inspire You!
New Article: Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural (detail) Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)

Group Mural Creation Ideas for Kids

Quick Takeaway

Group Mural Creation can be simple, inclusive, and genuinely fun for kids when you have the right structure. In this post, you’ll discover practical group mural creation ideas drawn from my experience facilitating over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. I want to help you do the same with clear guidance and helpful digital resources that make group murals easier to plan and lead with confidence.


How can group mural creation inspire teamwork and creativity in children?

At Ascot Park Primary School, we embarked on a group mural creation with the Specialist Soccer Team. Twenty-six students came together to transform their soccer practice “Hitting Wall” into a vibrant mural celebrating teamwork.

Using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach, the students were guided through three simple stages:

  • Messy Playing – creativity flowed freely with big brushes and spontaneous marks.
  • Exploring – detailed layers were added to build depth and texture.
  • Bling – intricate finishing touches brought the mural to life.

The result is a stunning, multi-layered mural that the school community enjoys daily, reflecting both creativity and collaboration.

Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)
Group mural creation with primary school children: doing the primer underpainting

Group mural creation 1: underpainting – setting the foundation

The project began with a vibrant underpainting that served as the base layer for the mural. Students used large brushes and rollers to apply broad strokes of primer mixed with colour to the wall, creating a solid backdrop.

We focused on warm tones like red, orange, and yellow. These colours brought a sense of energy and motion and set the stage for what was to come. The underpainting not only helped unify the mural, but it also gave students the confidence to start creating without worrying about perfection.

This stage was all about getting the first layer down and warming up the space for further creative exploration.

Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)
Group mural creation with elementary school children – The Messy Play stage adding visual texture.
Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)
Group mural creation with school kids – adding big circles, using templates too.

Group mural creation 2: messy playing – freeing the creativity

In this phase, 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.

The 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 allowed their ideas to flow naturally, giving the artwork an organic, fluid feeling—much like how a soccer team works together dynamically on the field.

Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)
Group mural creation with younger children – starting to add patterns.

Group mural creation 3: exploring – building layers of detail

With the playful base established, students began to explore more intentional techniques. The goal was to bring depth and complexity to the mural.

They used finer brushes and simple patterns, layering these designs on top of the earlier marks to create intricate areas. Subtle details in similar colours helped the patterns achieve a sense of unity across the mural.

The patterns used were an early version of my Pattern Play visual resources, which I now use for every project and offer for sale in my online shop. For this project, I laminated simple hand-painted pattern ideas into A4 sheets and scattered them around as inspiration. Some sheets were also stuck up to give students examples to copy.

This scattered approach encouraged creativity while allowing students to add their own ideas. Every contribution was guided and celebrated, and each layer added more visual interest.

This phase gave the mural its distinctive character, as students worked in sync, painting around each other’s contributions to create a cohesive design that reflected their teamwork.

Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)
Group mural creation with school kids starting to add our final layer with pops of deep crimson.

Group mural creation 4: Bling – adding the final touches

The finishing stage was all about adding extra sparkle and final polish to the mural. Using a dark crimson for pops of accent colour, along with fine detailing, we added the “bling.”

This stage helped emphasise focal points and gave a sense of completion to the mural. Each student’s name was incorporated into the design, creating a personal connection to the finished piece.

The final touches made the mural truly shine. It was more than just an artwork—it reflected the students’ hard work, collaboration, and team spirit. They were incredibly proud, having ownership of the entire creative process.

Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)
Group mural creation with School Kids ages 5- 13.

Group mural creation: in conclusion

This group mural creation at Ascot Park Primary School not only brought the students together, but also resulted in a stunning work of art. It transformed the “Hitting Wall”, a space they use daily for soccer practice, into a vibrant reminder of teamwork and creativity.

One of the most rewarding moments was hearing the kids run around the corner at recess, squealing with joy and amazement as they saw the mural taking shape. The students engaged in the three stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—embracing Pattern Play Collaborative Art.

Through this process, they created a layered, dynamic mural that will be enjoyed for years to come, celebrating both their creativity and collaboration.

Happy Painting!

Charndra,

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide


FREE Guide + Mini Course: Learn the Easiest Way to Run a Collaborative Art Project

Sign up to get the Beginner’s Guide and a short email course that shows you how to plan, start, and guide your first Pattern Play project with confidence.

You’ll get weekly creative tips and group art ideas from me.

Bonus: You’ll also receive a special offer inside.

Your guide arrives instantly after you confirm your email.
Unsubscribe anytime.


For schools in Adelaide

If you’re based in Adelaide and would love to bring a collaborative mural to your school, you can learn more about my school mural projects here → Collaborative Murals for Schools


Explore more collaborative murals for schools:

New Article: Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural (detail) Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)
Group mural creation with School Kids ages 5- 13.
Group Art Mural Examples: The Find Your Courage and Find Your Courage Murals by Painting Around is Fun!

Creative Teamwork in Group Art Murals: 2 Success Stories

Quick Takeaway

Looking for inspiring group art mural examples? I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. In this post, you’ll see two success stories that show how teams of all ages can create colourful, fun murals—and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources.


What can we learn from two inspiring group art mural examples?

Collaborative art projects offer a unique and empowering experience, especially for young people who may not yet realise their creative potential. At Aberfoyle Park High School, two recent group art murals demonstrate this perfectly. Find Your Confidence focused on fostering confidence among Year 10 and 11 girls, while Find Your Courage aimed to develop courage and teamwork in another, larger group of Year 10 and 11 girls. These large-scale murals transformed blank walls into vibrant expressions of creativity and encouraged students to embrace the collaborative process. Through these projects, the students achieved something truly remarkable.

Group Art Mural Examples: The Find Your Confidence Mural Created by Teenagers showing the work in progress.
A Group Art Mural Example: The ‘Find Your Confidence’ Mural

A group art mural example: The ‘Find Your Confidence’ mural

The Find Your Confidence group art mural at Aberfoyle Park High School was created by a group of Year 10 and 11 girls as part of a collaborative art project. The goal was to boost confidence through public art. The process began with Messy Playing, using large brushes and sponges to prime the wall. Participants then added vibrant circles and patterns in warm colours. As the mural evolved, they layered accessible patterns and finished with a final Bling stage, using paint pens, glitter, and even nail polish. The completed mural became a colorful and inspiring focal point in the school, reminding students of the power of teamwork and encouraging them to try something new. It shows that they can achieve more than they think is possible.

Group Art Mural Examples: The Find Your Courage Mural Created by Teenagers showing the work in progress.
A Group Art Mural Example: The ‘Find Your Courage’ Mural

Another group art mural example: The ‘Find Your Courage’ mural

The Find Your Courage group art mural at Aberfoyle Park High School involved 18 Year 10 and 11 girls, created to build confidence through a public art project. The process began with Messy Playing, using large brushes and rollers to prime the wall. The students then painted circles, blended colours, and added spirals and patterns. Layers of accessible patterns were added to enhance visual interest, focusing on overlapping and refining details. The final Bling stage included intricate designs with paint pens, with each student’s name hidden within the mural.

The finished mural became an inspiring centerpiece at the school, symbolizing courage and collaboration. Students admire it daily as they walk past the canteen. As part of the program, the girls also earned 10 SACE points toward their High School Diploma, alongside other community-based activities.

A brief summary of these group art mural examples

Both Find Your Confidence and Find Your Courage are inspiring group art mural examples that showcase the power of collaboration and creativity in public spaces. These projects gave students the opportunity to explore their artistic abilities while learning the value of teamwork and self-expression. The resulting murals have become lasting symbols of courage and confidence within the school, reminding everyone that working together can lead to truly remarkable results.

Happy Painting!

Charndra,

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide


Start Your Collaborative Art Journey – Free Guide + Mini Course

Sign up to get the Beginner’s Guide and a short email course that shows you how to plan, start, and guide your first Pattern Play project with confidence.

You’ll get weekly creative tips and group art ideas from me.

Bonus: You’ll also receive a special offer inside.

Your free guide arrives instantly after you confirm your email.
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For schools in Adelaide

If you’re based in Adelaide and would love to bring a collaborative mural to your school, you can learn more about my school mural projects here → Collaborative Murals for Schools


Explore more collaborative murals for schools:

Group Art Mural Examples: The Find Your Courage and Find Your Courage Murals by Painting Around is Fun!
A Group Art Mural Example: The Find Your Courage Mural