Community art is artwork created by or with a group of people focussing on the sense of community formed or developed, each contributing to the final artwork through a shared creative experience.
Community Art Made Simple With Pattern Play: ‘Companionship’Community Art Made Simple With Pattern Play: ‘Conversation’Community Art Made Simple With Pattern Play: ‘Community’
Discover how community art projects for groups can be easy, engaging, and full of creative surprises using the Pattern Play method.
A relaxed way to bring people together through paint.
Community art can be powerful—but it doesn’t need to be complicated. Through the Pattern Play Collaborative Art method, I offer a way for people in schools, groups, and neighbourhoods to create something joyful together, no matter their background or skill.
All of the examples below come from the Art Story Community Art Project, created with 600 members of the public during my Artist in Residence program at Westfield Marion. Each artwork is 1m x 1m—a size chosen deliberately to invite movement, shared space, and creative play. This scale allows multiple people to paint at once, explore different sections, and experience the joy of creating something together. The impact was powerful: many visitors left inspired to start their own collaborative art projects, and several school and community groups have since created similar artworks after seeing how engaging and visually striking the results can be. These are all simple community art projects for groups that spark connection and creativity.
Community Art Made Simple With Pattern Play: ‘Companionship’
3 simple stages guide your spontaneous creativity with ease:
The three stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—help people connect without pressure. It starts with play, grows through pattern-making, and finishes with sparkle. The final canvas is shared, but the memories and marks belong to each person. Community art is simple and straightforward using the Pattern Play Collaborative Art Process.
Community Art Made Simple With Pattern Play: ‘Conversation’
Community Art Made Simple With Pattern Play: ‘Community’
Excited to try community art and make something beautiful with others?
Whether you’re a teacher, a facilitator, or simply someone who loves the idea of bringing people together through art, I’ve got everything you need to start:
Make art feel possible, playful, and pressure-free.
Accessible art means everyone can join in—and that’s exactly what the Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach is made for. At Painting Around, I’ve created a process that works whether you’re young, old, nervous, confident, verbal or nonverbal. Everyone adds something. Everyone matters.
Accessible art projects for beginners: ‘Growing Together’
3 simple stages guide your freeform creativity with ease:
The three stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—create a flexible path that lets people engage at their own pace. It’s hands-on, sensory, and simple to join in at any point. No special tools or skills needed—just curiosity and a shared surface. It’s designed to be accessible art – to all ages, abilities and groups.
These accessible art projects for beginners show how group creativity can thrive when the process is simple, inclusive, and engaging. ‘Voice’, created in one afternoon by a group of teenagers new to collaborative art, is a vibrant red and blue piece that celebrates their role as young carers. ‘Growing Together’ was painted in just one day by 30 primary school children using swirls of cool colours and playful, layered marks. And ‘Aspiring to Success’, a calming blend of greens, teals, blues, and gold, was created by 120 junior primary students in their very first group painting project over three sessions across three weeks. Each of these artworks proves that with the right approach, accessible art activities can work beautifully across ages and abilities. You can create artwork like these – always unique, always dynamic.
Accessible art projects for beginners: ‘Voice’
Curious how it works? Download the Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art: The Pattern Play Process or check out my About page to learn more about how I keep art accessible and fun.
Accessible art projects for beginners: ‘Aspiring to Success’
Ready to create accessible art with others, together?
Whether you’re a teacher, a facilitator, or simply someone who loves the idea of bringing people together through art, I’ve got everything you need to start:
Welcome to our DIY family art party adventure—where we turned a simple family activity into a colourful, collaborative experience using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach. Over a series of relaxed sessions at our kitchen table, my kids and I created twelve small artworks together for the 2023 Incognito Art Show. In this article, I’ll walk you through the three simple stages we followed: Messy Playing, Exploring, and finally Bling! Each phase encouraged creativity, connection, and just the right amount of chaos. The finished artworks were then sent off and sold at the Incognito Art Show in Sydney, New South Wales for $100 each, helping raise funds for studios supporting artists living with a disability.
DIY Family Art Party: Incognito Art Show Underpainting
Our underpainting stage – the colourful base of our family art party
We began our DIY Family Art Party with all twelve mini canvases taped together to form one big surface. Using a mix of brushes and sponges, we layered mottled blues across the whole panel, creating a calming base. Then we added random shapes and playful patterns over the top—nothing too planned—just a way to relax into the process. This was our underpainting stage, where we set the tone for the rest of the project and let go of expectations. Painting around is fun when there’s no pressure—just colour, movement, and curiosity. That’s my daughter, Mia.
DIY Family Art Party: Incognito Art Show Messy Playing
Messy Playing: where the fun begins!
Messy Playing Begins
Once the base was dry, we moved into the Messy Playing stage—our favourite part. We started by adding simple clusters of marks: a dot here, a swirl there, maybe a few arches in a row. We repeated the same shape or colour in three places, often overlapping the original A6 card outlines or spreading elements across different panels. This kept us moving, responding to what someone else had painted, and having fun without overthinking it. If anyone hesitated—worried they might ‘ruin’ something—I’d gently remind them to imagine it’s all blank. That simple mindset shift helps everyone, including the kids, relax and truly play.
DIY Family Art Party: Incognito Art Show Exploring
Exploring Together
In the Exploring stage, things began to slow down a little. We took more time to notice what was already on the canvas and respond to it. One of the images shows Maven deep in the zone, adding shapes and patterns to the evolving artwork. Unlike the Messy Playing stage—where I might suggest imagining the artwork as blank to help get past hesitation—here I encourage the opposite. Now it’s about seeing, noticing, and interacting with what’s already there. That might mean outlining a shape someone else painted, adding dashes or a fine line inside a thicker mark (what we call in-lining), or simply following a creative impulse sparked by one of our Pattern Play Cards. It’s collaborative and intuitive—each mark building on the last. We do a variety of layers for this stage – this artwork we alternated between cool and warm colours each layer. Three layers might do it, or simply continue on the rest of the term, or YEAR!
DIY Family Art Party: Incognito Art Show BLING!
Shiny finishing touches from the kids
Bling & Sending Them Off
For the final Bling stage, I carefully peeled off the blue tape holding the card panels together and handed out three pieces to each of us. With the panels now separated, it was time to make them truly our own. Using whatever paint pens took our fancy, we personalised each artwork—adding detail, highlights, and a few finishing flourishes. It’s amazing how much personality they took on at this stage! Once finished, everyone gave their pieces a name (the titles the kids come up with are always a highlight for me), then we popped them into protective sleeves and posted them off to Sydney for the Incognito exhibition. It’s such a thrill when collectors reach out through my Instagram to thank us—especially for the kids, who feel so proud seeing their work appreciated (though yes, they did ask if they get the money! 😂). Still, they’re genuinely happy knowing it goes to such a worthy cause.
DIY Family Art Party: In Conclusion
Our DIY family art party was more than just making art—it was about playing together, responding to each other’s ideas, and building something beautiful as a team. Starting with Messy Playing to get things flowing, then moving into Exploring to build depth, and finishing with some joyful Bling, we followed the same Pattern Play Collaborative Art process I use in my community projects. If you’re looking for a fun, creative way to connect with your kids (or friends!), try your own DIY family art party—you might be surprised where the paint takes you. We are currently doing our third collaborative Incognito Art Show, using the exact Printable Pattern Play Cards available in my collaborative art shop:
collaborative art patterns to print
Ready to try your own DIY family art party? Download my free guide, How to Start Your First Social Artwork at Home, for step-by-step instructions and printable Pattern Play resources to get you started. And if you give it a go, I’d love to see what you create—tag me on Instagram or send a photo my way! This simple 7 page guide 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.
Let’s Chat:
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.
Inclusive Art Activities: ‘Myriad in Harmony’Inclusive Art Activities: ‘Enhancing Voices’Inclusive Art Activities: ‘Sensory Garden Mural’
Inclusive Art Activities Using the Pattern Play Collaborative Process
A simple, joyful way to create art together—no experience needed.
Inclusive art is at the heart of everything I share through Painting Around. My Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach makes it easy for groups of all ages and abilities to paint together—no pressure, no perfection, just connection through creativity.
Inclusive Art Activities: ‘Suneden Sensory Garden Mural’
3 simple stages guide your spontaneous creativity with ease:
The Pattern Play process flows through three flexible stages: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. First, everyone adds big playful marks. Then we slow down to layer shapes and patterns. Finally, we add highlights, shine, and finishing touches. This way of painting keeps things inclusive, intuitive, and fun from start to finish.
All the artworks featured on this page were created through inclusive art activities with mixed-ability groups—children and adults living with intellectual or physical disabilities. These projects show that with the right strategies, techniques, and inclusive approaches, disability is not a barrier to creativity—it’s simply a different way of engaging. Inclusive art activities like these allow people to create together, learning through observation, demonstration, and modelling. This shared process builds confidence, skills, and a genuine sense of belonging.
Inclusive Art Activities: ‘Enhancing Voices’
Want to try it yourself? Download the Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art: The Pattern Play Way or head to the homepage to discover more about this easy, expressive group art style. Download the Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art or visit my About page for more information on the origin of this Pattern Play Collaborative Art Process.
Inclusive Art Activities: ‘Myriad in Harmony’ (detail)
Ready to get started and create your first inclusive art project?
Whether you’re a teacher, a facilitator, or simply someone who loves the idea of bringing people together through art, I’ve got everything you need to start:
If you’re looking for unique collaborative art projects that are joyful, inclusive, and accessible for all ages and abilities, Pattern Play Collaborative Art is a great place to start. This playful, layered approach unfolds in three simple stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—making it easy for anyone to join in, no matter their experience level. The projects below show how this process can come to life in all kinds of settings, from schools and libraries to the kitchen table at home.
Unique collaborative art projects #1: Growing Together
“Growing Together” – a unique collaborative art project by 30 children.
On a scorching 40-degree day in Adelaide, thirty kids aged 4 to 12 came together during a school holiday program to create a unique collaborative art project called Growing Together. None of them had worked with me before, but over three joyful sessions, they layered patterns, marks, and colours using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach. The fast-drying summer heat meant each stage could be completed in a single day. By the end, their sense of pride was clear—one child even exclaimed, “The Mona Lisa is number one, THIS is number two!”
Unique collaborative art projects #2: Myriad in Harmony
“Myriad in Harmony” – 80 visitors contributed to this unique collaborative art project.
In contrast, Myriad in Harmony unfolded over three days at the State Library of South Australia during the annual Myriad exhibition, which celebrates the work of artists living with disability across the state. Across three sessions, I invited 80 visitors—from toddlers to older adults, including exhibiting artists themselves—to take part in another unique collaborative art project. With gentle guidance, they added their own marks, patterns, and creative energy to a shared canvas. The result was a joyful mix of colour and texture that reflected the diversity and spontaneity of everyone who participated.
We used my Printable Pattern Play Cards exclusively for this project – simple, accessible patterns scattered around the canvas for the painters to take inspiration from or copy in different sizes, colours and combinations to create the wonderful artwork above. Click on the image below to buy these ready to print and use resources:
collaborative art patterns to print
Unique collaborative art projects #3: Incognito Art Show
Our third unique collaborative art project took shape as part of the 2023 Incognito Art Show, a national initiative based in Sydney that raises funds to support artists living with disability through dedicated studio programs. The show invites creatives of all ages and experience levels to anonymously contribute three small A6 artworks in any medium. Above are three of the 12 artworks submitted, For the first time, my kids and I worked on our entries together. We began by taping all the cards into one big canvas for a shared session of Messy Playing and Exploring Patterns, using our favourite collaborative methods. Later, we separated them and each added our own BLING stage with paint pens—three individual pieces apiece, filled with colour, energy, and love. The finished cards were sent back to Sydney where buyers had no idea if they were collecting a child’s first artwork or a piece by an Archibald Prize winner!
Unique collaborative art projects: In conclusion
From a holiday care program in Adelaide to a public exhibition at the State Library, and even a national art show in Sydney, these unique collaborative art projects show how creativity can bring people together in the most joyful and unexpected ways. Whether it’s kids layering colours in the sun, strangers adding their mark to a shared canvas, or families working side-by-side on tiny artworks, each project celebrates connection, expression, and the simple joy of painting around together.
Discover simple tips about how unique collaborative art projects like these can be painted by YOU. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art: The Pattern Play Collaborative Art Method”, 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.
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! Reply to an email and say “Hi!”.
From Art Teacher to Group Art Facilitator: Why Art Is for Everyone
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 more about the person behind the paint in the full About page here. Whether you’re new here or curious about how it all began, welcome!Every artwork you see on this page were created by a mixed-ability groups of people of all ages.
The beginning — Teaching art in classrooms
I began my creative career as a secondary school Art Teacher, working across metro and country schools for over 12 years. I taught everyone from Year 6 students to adults in local TAFE Leisure Courses — and just about every year level in between. It was fun, challenging, creative, and frustrating — all the things.
Like all school-based art educators, I was a generalist. My days were filled with drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, design, and sculpture — along with the endless juggling that comes with preparing for all of them! Teaching kept me creatively sharp, but it also gave me a front-row seat to how students respond to pressure, comparison, and perfectionism.
Like most teachers, I disliked having to judge student work — all we really want is to help them build new skills, take risks, and enjoy learning.
Early signs — Why group art felt different
Every now and then, I got the chance to create murals with kids — and those sessions always stood out. They felt looser, lighter, and more fun. I started to notice something important: when we painted together as a group, students were more relaxed, more playful, and more connected.
Something shifted when the focus moved from the individual to the collective. The art still mattered — but the pressure didn’t. And that made all the difference.
The shift — Discovering the power of group art
Looking back, I realised my favourite teaching moments weren’t really about technique — they were about transformation. When people create together, the energy in the room changes. It frees them up. They laugh more. They take risks. They stop worrying about whether what they’re doing is “good enough.”
The silent audience is real — especially for kids. That internal pressure of “who’s watching?” or “what if it’s wrong?” can cause them to give up creative subjects before they’re ready. And yet, we all need creative outlets. Painting together is empowering. It takes the focus off perfection and puts it on connection.
Becoming a group art facilitator
In collaborative art, no one has to carry the whole picture. What you add becomes part of something bigger. The final artwork always looks amazing — not because it’s polished, but because it’s shared. This kind of process builds creative confidence through play, participation, and shared purpose.
Over time, I moved away from step-by-step instruction and towards something more dynamic. Now, as a group art facilitator, my role is to create the conditions for creativity to flourish in a shared space. I design guided structures that invite spontaneity, encourage contribution, and reduce pressure — all while keeping it simple and fun.
If you’re laughing, you’re learning. And when you’re painting with others, you’re in the zone. That’s the sweet spot where creativity lives. Maybe that’s why my projects always seem to work — you simply add another playful layer, and something wonderful emerges.
The now — Collaborative art for everyone
These days, I guide all kinds of groups in creating spontaneous, joy-filled artworks together. As a group art facilitator, I work in schools, community centres, vacation care programs, and at special events — anywhere people are open to connection through creativity.
Designing for inclusion
I embrace the principles of universal design — creating processes that work for everyone, right from the start. Universal design is about making environments, products, and experiences accessible to as many people as possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised support.
In collaborative art, this means designing with people who have additional needs in mind — because when we plan for access, we make things better for everyone. I truly believe that disability is not inability. Some of us simply need a different way in — more time, clearer steps, or extra support to create successfully and joyfully.
A simple, inclusive approach
My approach is inclusive, accessible, and beginner-friendly — designed to reduce pressure, spark curiosity, and celebrate contribution over perfection. Whether it’s a one-hour session with preschoolers painting a giant cardboard box, a large wall mural with teenagers over several weeks, or a multi-session artwork on canvas with adults of all abilities, each session is tailored to make participation easy and meaningful.
I don’t call myself an “artist” — I call myself a social artist or inclusive social art guide. A social artist is someone who uses creative skills to bring people together and foster positive change. I love painting with others. That’s why I always join in — because the artwork isn’t mine. It’s ours.
And I don’t believe in “talent” as a prerequisite. What many call talent is usually just skill built through time, effort, and encouragement. Anyone can learn. Anyone can create. That’s why I say: art is for everyone — not just for ‘artists.’
What’s next? Try the Pattern Play method for yourself
If the idea of collaborative art excites you, I’ve created a free resource to help you get started. The Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art: The Pattern Play Method walks you through a simple, 10-step process designed to spark creativity and connection — perfect for groups of any age or ability. Whether you’re leading a workshop, working with students, or gathering friends for a creative session, this guide gives you everything you need to get going with confidence.
You can also explore the Pattern Play resources in my shop — full of simple visual prompts and ideas that make it easy for anyone to facilitate group art, even if you’ve never led a creative project before.
Whether you’re an educator, a community leader, or someone looking to bring more creativity into your circle, I hope my journey shows just how accessible and joyful collaborative art can be — and how it’s possible for you to become a group art facilitator too.
Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.
✨ Let’s Chat:
Pattern Play Collaborative Art makes it easy to create something beautiful—together. No fancy skills needed—just a few simple resources and a willingness to play.
If you’re thinking of starting a project, I’d love to cheer you on! Reply to one of my emails or get in touch via the Contact page and tell me what you’re dreaming up.
How to Make a Team Artwork – Using Pattern Play Collaborative Art to connect a group.How to Make a Team Artwork – Using Pattern Play Collaborative Art to connect a group.
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
How to Make a Team Artwork – Painting Around is Fun!How to Make a Team Artwork – Bringing people together through creative expression.
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
How to Make a Team Artwork – Using Pattern Play Collaborative Art to connect a group.How to Make a Team Artwork – A collaborative painting process in action.
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
How to Make a Team Artwork – Using Pattern Play Collaborative Art to connect a group.How to Make a Team Artwork – A collaborative painting process in action.
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:
inclusive pattern art prompts
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.
Let’s Chat:
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!
Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!
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!
Your Collaborative Art Guide to Creating Inclusive Group Paintings
Discover how creativity connects people of all abilities
Have you ever wished creativity could feel more welcoming, more shared, and less intimidating? Inclusive collaborative art might be just what you’re looking for. It’s more than a buzzword — it’s a way of making art that connects people, encourages expression, and includes everyone, no matter their age or ability. Whether you’re looking for collaborative art projects for school, home, or your workplace, this guide will help you get started with confidence.
‘Peer Support’ — a collaborative painting created by people of all ages and abilities using cool colours and shared creativity.
Discover the power of painting together!
Hi, I’m Charndra — the artist and guide behind Pattern Play Collaborative Art, a simple, inclusive way to create shared artwork that brings people together.
Years ago, I saw how powerful it could be when people of all ages and skill levels added their marks to a canvas — from toddlers to teachers, kids to carers. That spark eventually became the Pattern Play Collaborative Art Method: a structure that makes it easy for you to run a creative group painting session — no art degree or teaching experience needed. Just a love of colour, creativity, and people.
‘Conversation’ — one of three public artworks made with 600 participants using the collaborative art guide approach.
As your collaborative art guide, I’ve helped groups of all kinds discover how joyful and bonding it is to paint together. Whether you’re in a school, a playgroup, a team workshop, or around the kitchen table, inclusive group painting invites everyone in. It’s creative connection made simple.
Six shared canvases from the ‘Utopia’ series, created in the Exploring stage with aqua, purple, yellow, light green and burgundy.
It walks you through a fun, beginner-friendly process you can try at home, at school, or in your community. Perfect for collaborative art projects with family, students, or team members.
Learn how to lead your own inclusive group painting session with the Pattern Play Collaborative Art Guide.
Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.
Let’s Chat:
Pattern Play Collaborative Art makes it easy to create something beautiful—together. No fancy skills needed—just a few simple resources and a willingness to play.
If you’re thinking of starting a project, I’d love to cheer you on! Reply to one of my emails or get in touch via the Contact page and tell me what you’re dreaming up.
Effective Collaborative Art ProjectsEffective Collaborative Art ProjectsEffective Collaborative Art Projects
Effective collaborative art projects bring people together through creativity, making art accessible, engaging, and fun. In Pattern Play Collaborative Art, we follow three simple stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—to create vibrant, layered artworks. Growing Together, Messy Mandala, and King Leo are examples where primary school children advanced through these stages. They used cool colour schemes and painted papers. Playful techniques like masking, collage, and paint pens were also utilized. Each project transformed ordinary materials into something unique and meaningful, proving that collaboration makes art more powerful and rewarding.
Effective Collaborative Art Projects: King Leo
Effective Collaborative Art Projects
King Leo is another standout example of effective collaborative art projects. It engages primary school children in a playful, multi-stage creative process. In the first session, students painted papers before cutting them into strips and circles. The next session introduced a fun transformation. Each circle was cut into a spiral with guided prompts. This ensured success for every child. They then assembled King Leo’s magnificent mane. First, they attached the blue strips radially. Next, they added the spirals to frame the painted lion’s face (which I completed in between sessions). In the final stage, children added expressive details with paint pens in varying sizes, a favourite finishing touch. Now, King Leo hangs proudly in the OSHC rooms, watching over his pride—a celebration of teamwork and creativity.
Effective Collaborative Art Projects: Messy Mandala
Effective Collaborative Art Projects
Another inspiring example of effective collaborative art projects is Messy Mandala. It is a three-week artwork created with primary school students in OSHC. This project is rooted in the mandala’s symbolic representation of the universe. It featured off-centred circles layered in cool colours. There are small masked-out windows revealing glimpses of earlier layers, reminiscent of planets. In the second week, children added vibrancy by collaging painted and printed papers into the spaces. In the third week, they brought it to life with paint pens. These pens are a favourite creative tool. The final artwork is a repurposed three-panel screen from a discount store. It now brightens the school library. This masterpiece was transformed into something beautiful and unique through collective effort.
Effective Collaborative Art Projects: Growing Together
Effective Collaborative Art Projects
One example of effective collaborative art projects in action is Growing Together. This vibrant artwork was created by 30 primary-aged children (5–12 years old). Using my ‘Forest’ colour scheme—an inviting mix of greens, purples, and blues—each child explored layering techniques. They blended with white for brightness and added depth with occasional deep blue accents. This inclusive process encouraged creativity while ensuring that every contribution harmonized within the larger piece. The result was a visually rich, collaborative artwork. It reflected individuality and collective effort. This work embodied the essence of accessible and engaging group art-making.
We used such resources as my Printable Pattern Play Cards for this project – simple, accessible patterns scattered around the canvas for the painters to take inspiration from or copy in different sizes, colours and combinations to create the wonderful artwork above. Click on the image below to buy these ready to print and use resources:
collaborative art patterns to print
Effective Collaborative Art Projects: In conclusion
Effective collaborative art projects inspire creativity, teamwork, and inclusivity. Pattern Play Collaborative Art consists of Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling stages. Projects like Growing Together, Messy Mandala, and King Leo show how simple materials can be used effectively. Guided techniques enhance the process. Collective effort ensures the creation of stunning and meaningful artworks. These artworks bring people together through shared creativity.
Discover simple tips about how effective collaborative art projects like these can be painted by YOU. 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.
Let’s Chat:
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!
Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!
Adding shimmer and polish in the Bling stage.Finished with fun, colour, and sparkles.Spirals and colour bursts in our collaborative homeschool art.
Looking for meaningful, creative ways to connect as a homeschooling family or group? Collaborative art projects for homeschooling are a wonderful way to build people skills, develop fine and gross motor coordination, and grow creative confidence—together. In this article, we’ll explore a real-life example called the Utopia Painting, part of a six-artwork series created with my kids during school holidays.
Using a calming, cohesive colour scheme we call Utopia, this project follows the accessible and engaging process of Pattern Play Collaborative Art—my signature style designed for all ages and abilities. The steps are simple and fun:
Messy Playing (mark-making and layering),
Exploring (adding patterns and playful details), and
Bling (final touches and colour pops).
Whether you’re a seasoned art-loving parent or a complete beginner, this guide will show how collaborative art can be a joyful, shared experience at home.
Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: Utopia Underpainting
Underpainting stage of our collaborative art project.
We began by pushing the six square canvases together to create one large surface, then loosely brushed on amorphous blobs of colour in light blue and burgundy, flowing across the canvases as if they were one piece. This underpainting stage helps to get rid of the white space, unifying the background and setting the tone for what’s to come. Small glimpses of these base colours often peek through to the final layer, adding depth and texture. At this stage, I also like to add a few visual prompts to guide the group: a large circle, a spiral, a meandering line, or an arch starting from an edge—each one overlapping across several canvases to encourage connection and movement across the whole artwork.
Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: Utopia Messy Playing
Fun and freedom during the Messy Playing stage.
In the next session, we moved into the Messy Playing stage—starting with just one colour: yellow. Using big brushes, we added circles, spirals, and playful marks right over the underpainting, treating the surface as if it were a blank canvas. This stage is all about loosening up, responding to what’s already there, and embracing the joy of overlapping. That was it for the day—a short, energising group activity that left the canvases glowing with motion and possibility. In the following session, we chose green and repeated the same process, layering new shapes and patterns over the yellow and underpainting below. Each layer adds richness and connection, and no single part is too precious—everything is part of the evolving whole.
Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: Utopia Exploring
The Exploring stage adds structure and intention.Discovering shapes and patterns together.The full collection of our Utopia Paintings.
As we moved into the Exploring stage, the artworks really began to come alive. Each session, we chose just one colour to add new layers of simple patterns, shapes, and marks—building depth and a sense of quiet complexity. This stage is about responding rather than planning. The canvases are now mixed up and placed in a random order, so painters can’t focus on “their” section—they’re invited to see the whole artwork as shared space. Painters begin to outline interesting shapes they notice, or continue to overlap with fresh marks. They’re encouraged to add something to each canvas every session, to echo one another’s ideas in a different size or colour, and to experiment freely. Over time, the layers build and a lovely visual rhythm emerges, full of connection and surprise. This stage can go for as many layers as you like, the brushes getting smaller over the layers works well.
Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: Utopia Bling
Adding shimmer and polish in the Bling stage.Spirals and colour bursts in our collaborative homeschool art.Finished with fun, colour, and sparkles.
Finally, we arrive at the Bling stage—where the magic really starts to sparkle. We bring out paint pens in the colours of our Utopia scheme, starting with regular-sized tips and later switching to finer ones for extra detail. This is the time for ornamentation and decoration—outlining shapes, adding tiny patterns in rows or clusters, and playing with accents both inside and around existing marks. It’s a slower, more intentional stage that invites focus and care, while still being playful and collaborative. This is where we’re up to right now, and we’ll continue adding these final touches in the next school holidays. I can’t wait to see the finished artworks come together—this colour scheme is one of my absolute favourites at the moment!
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:
inclusive pattern art prompts
Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: In Conclusion
If you’re creating a series of artworks like our Utopia themed set of joint collaborative artworks, such collaborative art projects for homeschooling offer a rich and rewarding way to learn through play. By moving through the stages of Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling, kids (and adults!) build creative confidence, people skills, and shared memories—one layer at a time.
Discover simple tips about how collaborative art projects like these can be painted by YOU for your homeschooling needs. 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.
Let’s Chat:
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.
Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!
