Creative confidence art includes projects and activities designed to help participants build self-assurance in their artistic abilities while enjoying the process of making. These ideas are suitable for people of all ages and skill levels, whether beginners, children, adults, or facilitators guiding a group.
This tag covers a wide range of activities, from playful painting exercises and pattern layering to collaborative small-scale murals. Each project encourages experimentation, self-expression, and personal decision-making, helping participants trust their creativity and take pride in their work. The focus is on the joy of creating rather than perfection, making art accessible, inclusive, and confidence-boosting.
Creative confidence art is perfect for home sessions, classrooms, group workshops, or community programs. Participants can explore colours, shapes, and patterns at their own pace, while connecting with others in a supportive, relaxed environment. These projects demonstrate that developing creative confidence is not just about skill, but about freedom, curiosity, and the pleasure of making art — showing that everyone can engage, enjoy, and succeed in the creative process.
All of these projects use my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach — a fun, inclusive process that encourages Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling to help participants of all abilities create expressive, collaborative artworks. Get your free guide to start.
The Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art, a free PDF gives art teachers the tools to run structured, engaging group projects in high school classrooms. Using Pattern Play Collaborative Art, students explore simple patterns and three-stage activities to create meaningful group artworks with confidence. With over 60 collaborative sessions under my belt, I’ll help you guide kids of all ages to create fun, meaningful artworks using my Pattern Play framework. Explore 200+ articles on this site for practical tips and inspiration.
Need easy collaborative art projects for high school students?
Your Pattern Play Art Activity for Kids PDF – What’s Inside
Inside the guide, you’ll find step-by-step instructions, Pattern Play prompts, and materials tips for high school classrooms. These projects are fun, inclusive, and designed to fit within typical class schedules, making group collaboration achievable for any teacher.
Get Your Free Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art
About this Free Group Art Guide:
My 25-page free Pattern Play Guide gives you everything you need to run fun, inclusive collaborative art sessions:
Step-by-step instructions for your first group painting
Beginner-friendly patterns and prompts
Simple materials list and setup tips
The three-stage approach: Messy Playing → Exploring → Bling!
Perfect for teachers, facilitators, families, or anyone wanting to bring a group together through art.
Step-by-Step Group Art Guide: Pattern Play Method
Follow the Step-by-Step Group Art Guide: Pattern Play Method to guide participants through Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling! stages. Each stage flows naturally, building confidence and visual richness, and is perfect for adapting to your group setting.
1. Messy Playing
Encourage free mark-making and experimental painting (examples are in the PDF)
Use large brushes, textured sponges, or sgraffito to create a playful base with big shapes and clusters of simple marks
No rules! The goal is fun, getting comfortable with materials, and moving around the artwork
2. Exploring
Introduce simple patterns — dots, spirals, waves, zig-zags — for participants to repeat or combine using the Pattern Play prompts in the Beginner’s Guide
Let painters choose from three colours, paint in different sizes, and embrace overlap, giving individuality within the group framework
This stage builds confidence and encourages creative exploration
3. Bling!
Add final details: highlights, embellishments, and decorations with paint pens or stick-on gems
Focus on finishing touches that make the artwork pop
Celebrate contributions by photographing or displaying the piece — hide first names as “secret details” in larger projects
Tip: Each stage flows naturally — don’t rush. Let participants enjoy the process and notice how the artwork evolves together. Think of it as slow creativity over three or more sessions (perfect for lesson planning and guiding students through a creative process).
Exploring and Bling can be repeated multiple times to build layers, visual richness, and sophistication.
See What’s Possible:
‘Growing Together’ – 30 students from R–6 created a vibrant 1×1m artwork in one day. ‘Find Your Courage’ – painted by 20 teenage girls using Pattern Play’s three fun stages. ‘Aspiring to Success’ – created by 120 junior school children in three sessions over three weeks (detail).
If they can do it, your students can too!
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.
Prefer not to join the email list?
You can get the stand-alone PDF edition for a small one-time fee.
High school students collaborating on “Conversation” during Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling as part of Art Class Group Projects for High School. Full guide at PaintingAroundisFun.com.
Looking for types of collaborative art projects that work for groups of all ages and abilities? I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school-based projects with more than 2,000 participants using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. In this post, you’ll discover practical ideas, step-by-step approaches, and tips to run fun, inclusive group art sessions—and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources. Followed by the transcript for Episode 30 of Easy Collaborative Art: “What types of collaborative art projects work best with groups?”
Want to unlock the joy of painting something meaningful together?
Discover how with these different types of collaborative art projects all using the Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework!
Collaborative art projects bring people into a shared creative experience – no matter their age, skill level, or background.
These group-based art activities are easy to run, uplifting, and designed for inclusion. You’ll be amazed at what your group can create when everyone contributes.
The secret is layering the artwork over three sessions—so your group meets a few times to connect, reconnect, and share in the creative process. Each stage builds on the last, creating time for learning, growth, and plenty of “aha!” moments.
Let’s take a look at the different types of collaborative art projects you can explore—either with me in person (if you’re in Adelaide, South Australia) or on your own using my digital resources. These are the same tools and guides I’ve used with more than 2,000 people across 60+ projects—from two friends painting together to 600 members of the public adding their marks to shared canvases.
1. DIY Collaborative Art Projects
Use digital, printable resources to create your own beginner-friendly collaborative art project at home, in a classroom, or with a community group.
This option is perfect for those who want to bring a creative activity to life without needing me to be physically there. With my Pattern Play guides, printable cards, and step-by-step eBooks, you’ll have everything you need to guide a meaningful group art experience.
Best for: teachers, facilitators, home groups, family events, or anyone who loves a project
Format: small-group canvas projects (e.g. 30cm square to start) or combined panels
Style: Messy Playing, Pattern Play, and Bling! stages
Create a shared canvas with your group where everyone adds to one beautiful artwork.
This is a popular, beginner-friendly option where a group paints together on a single canvas. It’s fun, inclusive, and layered with simple stages that build confidence and creativity.
Best for: workshops, classrooms, team bonding, wellbeing groups
Size: typically 1m x 1m canvas
See Real-Life Collaborative Group Artworks:
These accessible projects show how collaborative art can bring people of all ages and abilities together. Whether created in schools, during exhibitions, or in community workshops, each artwork reflects the joy, confidence, and connection that emerge when people paint together.
3. Joint Collaborative Artworks
Paint together on a set of smaller canvases that form one large artwork—then take them home!
This playful format is perfect for a paint party, celebration, or special event. Everyone paints as a group across connected canvases, which are separated in the final stage—when each person personalises their piece with glitter glue, sticker gems, or little painted details using paint pens.
Best for: birthdays, family groups, smaller events, team socials
Style: Shared base → split → personalised “Bling” stage
Outcome: everyone takes home a piece of the group artwork
See Real-Life Joint Collaborative Artworks
These examples show one type of collaborative art project — joint artworks made from multiple panels painted together as a group. Each participant contributes to the shared design and then finishes one panel to take home, creating both a collective and individual artwork:
4. Collaborative Group Murals
Design and paint a mural together, one mark or pattern at a time.
This style transforms a wall or board into a colourful expression of your group’s creativity. Every participant adds marks, shapes, and patterns in stages that build towards a final mural—all without the need for ladders or fine art skills!
Best for: schools, OSHC programs, children’s centres, longer residencies
Size: small-scale murals under 2m high (no ladders required)
See Real-Life Collaborative Mural Projects
These small-scale collaborative murals are another type of group art project created with Pattern Play Collaborative Art. Each one is painted by regular people—students, staff, or community members—using accessible methods and no ladders or steps, making the experience safe, inclusive, and fun for everyone involved.
5. Custom Collaborative Projects
Co-create something unique—on fabric, paper, banners, or panels—to suit your space and community.
Not all projects are on canvas or walls! Some groups work together on a painted fabric banner, a long roll of kraft paper, or on large watercolour pages for their projects. I’ll help design an experience to fit your goals, space, and participants.
Best for: wellbeing programs, community festivals, aged care, public events
Surfaces: watercolour paper, fabric, card, kraft paper, etc.
See Real-Life Custom Collaborative Projects:
These custom projects highlight how flexible collaborative art can be — from fabric banners to collaged creatures — each one showing how Pattern Play techniques adapt to different themes, materials, and groups.
Why Collaborative Art Works So Well
No experience needed – anyone can join in
Connection first – builds group trust and bonding
Inclusive by design – activities are layered and adaptive
Creative confidence – participants often say, “I didn’t know I could do this!”
Collaborative art creates space for self-expression, play, and togetherness. Each person’s contribution matters.
Happy Painting!
Charndra
Your Inclusive Social Art Guide
P.S. 🎧 This post has been adapted into Episode 31 of the Easy Collaborative Art Podcast — “What types of collaborative art projects work best with groups?” You can listen via the link below or search Easy Collaborative Art on your podcast player.
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.
Explore More Collaborative Art Resources
If you’re curious about different types of collaborative art projects and how they can bring groups together, you might also enjoy these helpful guides:
Transcript for Easy Collaborative Art Episode 31: What types of collaborative art projects work best with groups?
Episode Summary
In this episode of Easy Collaborative Art, I share three types of collaborative art projects that consistently work well with groups of all ages and abilities, and explain when to use each one.
Episode Highlights
One large shared artwork builds connection quickly.
Joint collaborative artworks give a shared experience and a take-home piece.
Collaborative murals work beautifully for ongoing groups.
Introduction
In this episode, I’m exploring different types of collaborative art projects and which ones work best depending on your group and setting. If you’ve ever wondered what kind of collaborative art you could realistically run, this will give you clear, simple options to start with.
Idea 1 – One Large Shared Artwork
One of the simplest and most effective formats is creating one large collaborative artwork together. Everyone paints on the same canvas, sharing materials, ideas, and space.
Using a large square canvas allows people to move around, respond to each other’s marks, and either work quietly in a corner or engage more actively. Moving through the Pattern Play stages together — Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling — helps the group relax and build confidence.
This format works especially well for building connection quickly, and revisiting the same artwork over several sessions strengthens shared ownership.
Idea 2 – Joint Collaborative Artworks
A joint collaborative artwork involves several canvases pushed together and painted as one surface. At the beginning, no one owns a single panel — everyone works across the whole space.
Later, during the Bling stage, the canvases are separated and each participant finishes one panel to take home. This works beautifully with primary school groups and parties because participants get both a shared creative experience and something personal to keep.
The key is guiding finishing details so they enhance the design rather than disappearing visually.
Idea 3 – Collaborative Murals
Collaborative murals are ideal for ongoing groups. These are small-scale, accessible wall projects built up in layers over multiple sessions.
Participants add marks and patterns over time using the same Pattern Play framework. Because the mural remains visible, painters can see their contribution grow and feel proud each time they walk past it.
For groups that meet regularly, a mural becomes a shared story on the wall.
Recap of Highlights
One large shared artwork builds connection fast.
Joint collaborative artworks combine shared creation with a take-home piece.
Collaborative murals are perfect for ongoing groups.
Encouragement
If you’re thinking this sounds good but you’re not an artist, remember that collaborative art is about structure and connection, not technical skill. With a simple framework like Pattern Play, you can confidently guide a group through a fun, inclusive creative experience.
Outro
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is my three-stage framework for creating art together: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. It’s beginner-friendly, flexible, and designed to make collaborative art easy and accessible for everyone.
Painted by 30 children on fabric to celebrate Jaipur’s Painted Elephant Festival, this collaborative artwork used economical materials and bright patterns.
Painted by 100 staff and students at Suneden, this sensory garden mural layers cool and warm colours using Pattern Play Collaborative Art.
Painted by 80 visitors to an art exhibition over three days, “Myriad in Harmony” blends warm and cool colours to symbolise connection through creativity.
A cool-toned collaborative artwork with pink and orange accents, painted by a family group and later exhibited in Sydney to raise funds for artists with special needs.
A collaborative mural created by primary students from Reception to Year 7, designed as a bright tennis hitting wall using Pattern Play Collaborative Art.
Created by 18 teenagers, this Galaxy-themed mural used Pattern Play Collaborative Art to explore courage, colour, and connection.
Painted by 16 participants of mixed ages and abilities, “Self Advocacy” uses warm colours and touches of gold leaf to represent inner strength and resilience.
A warm-toned Pattern Play Collaborative Art project inspired by cooling lava, created as a family group for the Incognito Art Show.
Created by 30 children aged 5–12 using the cool Forest colour scheme, “Growing Together” celebrates growth and creativity through layers of pattern and play.
A vibrant warm-toned circle painting created by 20 primary and elementary students working together using Pattern Play Collaborative Art.
Painted by 30 primary students over three sessions, this three-panel “messy” mandala explores off-centre loops and layered patterns.
Created by 30 primary students in a holiday care program, “King Leo” combines painted papers and layered patterns to form a bright, friendly lion collage.
This quick start guide to group art PDF gives you simple, step-by-step instructions to confidently lead group art sessions. Using my Pattern Play framework, you can create fun, meaningful collaborative artworks with students or community groups in no time. With over 60 collaborative sessions under my belt, I’ll help you guide kids of all ages to create fun, meaningful artworks using my Pattern Play framework. Explore 200+ articles on this site for practical tips and inspiration.
Need a quick start guide to lead your first collaborative art session?
Quick Start Guide to Group Art – Free Collaborative Art PDF – What’s Inside
This free PDF includes a Quick Start Guide, beginner-friendly patterns, and instructions for running group painting activities. It’s perfect for teachers, facilitators, or families who want to create collaborative artworks with minimal preparation and maximum fun.
Get Your Free Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art
About this Free Group Art Guide:
My 25-page free Pattern Play Guide gives you everything you need to run fun, inclusive collaborative art sessions:
Step-by-step instructions for your first group painting
Beginner-friendly patterns and prompts
Simple materials list and setup tips
The three-stage approach: Messy Playing → Exploring → Bling!
Perfect for teachers, facilitators, families, or anyone wanting to bring a group together through art.
Step-by-Step Group Art Guide: Pattern Play Method
Follow the Step-by-Step Group Art Guide: Pattern Play Method to guide participants through Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling! stages. Each stage flows naturally, building confidence and visual richness, and is perfect for adapting to your group setting.
1. Messy Playing
Encourage free mark-making and experimental painting (examples are in the PDF)
Use large brushes, textured sponges, or sgraffito to create a playful base with big shapes and clusters of simple marks
No rules! The goal is fun, getting comfortable with materials, and moving around the artwork
2. Exploring
Introduce simple patterns — dots, spirals, waves, zig-zags — for participants to repeat or combine using the Pattern Play prompts in the Beginner’s Guide
Let painters choose from three colours, paint in different sizes, and embrace overlap, giving individuality within the group framework
This stage builds confidence and encourages creative exploration
3. Bling!
Add final details: highlights, embellishments, and decorations with paint pens or stick-on gems
Focus on finishing touches that make the artwork pop
Celebrate contributions by photographing or displaying the piece — hide first names as “secret details” in larger projects
Tip: Each stage flows naturally — don’t rush. Let participants enjoy the process and notice how the artwork evolves together. Think of it as slow creativity over three or more sessions (perfect for lesson planning and guiding students through a creative process).
Exploring and Bling can be repeated multiple times to build layers, visual richness, and sophistication
See What’s Possible:
‘Growing Together’ – 30 students from R–6 created a vibrant 1×1m artwork in one session. ‘Find Your Courage’ – painted by 20 teenage girls using Pattern Play’s three fun stages. ‘Aspiring to Success’ – created by 120 junior school children in three sessions over three weeks (detail).
If they can do it, your students can too!
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.
Prefer not to join the email list?
You can get the stand-alone PDF edition for a small one-time fee.
Close-up of the Quick Start Guide page showing Messy Playing, Exploring and Bling from the Pattern Play Collaborative Art Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art at PaintingAroundisFun.com.
Looking for some how-to examples for collaborative art? I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. In this post, you’ll discover practical tips, step-by-step guidance, and inspiring examples from these 8 round up posts – and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources. Followed by the transcript for episode 30: What Do Real-Life Collaborative Art Projects Look Like? and including a brief step by step guide to painting a vibrant group painting using warm colours with my Pattern Play Pages.
Step into the world of collaborative art with expert tips, step-by-step guides, and inspiring examples from real projects.
Ready to roll up your sleeves and create? These posts offer clear, practical guidance on how to plan, facilitate, and enjoy collaborative art projects — whether you’re new to group painting or looking to refine your skills. You’ll also find inspiring examples of successful artworks to spark your imagination.
Create a vibrant group painting using warm colours and Pattern Play Pages:
Messy Playing – Use big brushes to explore arches, spirals, and clusters of playful marks in red, orange, pink, coral, and yellow. Relax into the creative flow.
Exploring – Pick a Pattern Play Page and try some of its 5 inclusive patterns in different sizes and placements, using medium and small brushes. Layering patterns builds visual rhythm and creative momentum.
Bling! – Add decorative sparkle with outlining and simple doodles with paint pens. Use gold leaf, gem stickers, glitter glue bursts or even nail polish dots to celebrate the final artwork with pride.
Conclusion: Armed with these guides and examples, you’re ready to create meaningful and fun collaborative artworks. Whether you’re leading a workshop, hosting a family gathering, or working with community groups, these tips will help you make the process smooth and rewarding. Let your creative journey begin!
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.
🎧 This post has been adapted into Episode 30 of the Easy Collaborative Art Podcast “What Do Real-Life Collaborative Art Projects Look Like?” You can listen via the link below or search Easy Collaborative Art on your podcast player.
Transcript for Easy Collaborative Art Episode 30: What Do Real-Life Collaborative Art Projects Look Like?
Episode Summary
In this episode of Easy Collaborative Art, I share how-to examples of real-life collaborative art you can actually try with a group. These projects use my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework and focus on creativity, connection, and helping people feel confident joining in — even if they don’t see themselves as “creative.”
Episode Highlights
Why starting together with loose, shared mark-making helps groups relax and participate
How simple, repeatable patterns build confidence without limiting creativity
Why finishing touches are about celebration and connection, not perfection
Introduction
Collaborative art can feel intimidating if you’ve never run a group project before. In this episode, I’m sharing three real-life collaborative art examples to show what this kind of painting actually looks like in practice. These projects aren’t just about the finished artwork — they’re about creativity, connection, and helping people feel comfortable joining in, even if they don’t think of themselves as creative.
Idea 1 – Start together with loose, shared mark-making
Collaborative art really opens up when the first stage is big, messy, and shared. In all of my projects — from large community paintings to murals with groups of teenagers — we begin with Messy Playing.
We use big brushes, three colours, and simple marks like arches, spirals, clusters of dots, and cat’s ears. Once the paint starts moving, the pressure drops. People realise there’s no right way to start, and participation rises quickly. That shared beginning sets the tone for the entire project.
Idea 2 – Simple patterns build confidence without limiting creativity
Once the background is alive, it can look finished — but this is where Exploring begins. Using a small set of inclusive patterns gives people a starting point without telling them exactly what to paint.
People choose a pattern, repeat it in different sizes, and work with three colours. This creates rhythm and movement across the artwork. I’ve seen this work with kids, adults, teachers, and first-time facilitators alike. In large community projects, these repeated patterns are what visually tie everything together.
Idea 3 – Finishing touches celebrate the group, not perfection
The final stage — Bling! — is about slowing down and enjoying the process. Outlining shapes, adding patterns along edges, clustering small marks, or adding subtle gold highlights all help people feel a sense of completion.
This stage isn’t about perfect detail. It’s about pride, ownership, and recognising that the artwork was made together. That’s something I see again and again in strong collaborative art how-to examples.
Recap of Highlights
Start together with loose, shared mark-making to reduce pressure and build energy
Use simple, repeatable patterns to support confidence and creativity
Finish with playful details that celebrate the group effort
Encouragement
If you’re a teacher, facilitator, parent, or community organiser, I want you to hear this clearly: collaborative art doesn’t need fancy materials or perfect planning. With a simple structure, people of all ages and abilities can take part and enjoy the process.
If you’d like to see these projects in action, with visuals and step-by-step guidance, head to the blog post linked with this episode. You can also sign up for my free Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art to learn how to use Pattern Play from start to finish.
Outro
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is my simple three-stage framework for creating art together — Messy Playing to loosen up, Exploring to layer playful patterns, and Bling for those fun finishing touches. And I can’t wait for you to try one of these collaborative art ideas yourself.
Creating collaborative art pieces can bring people of all ages and abilities together, creating meaningful, shared experiences. I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school-based projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework to make creativity accessible and fun. In this post, you’ll discover inspiring examples and practical ideas to help your group start painting together with confidence.
Think you’re not “creative”? Think again.
Below are 12 collaborative art pieces I’ve had the thrill of creating (and in some cases, we’re still adding to them!) with schools, families, and community groups of all kinds. They show just how accessible, expressive, and fun group painting can be.
Each of these projects was painted with real people—children, parents, and even passers-by at public events—most with no prior art experience at all. Using simple tools, a few guiding prompts, and a layered approach, we made something truly special together.
This is what I call Pattern Play Collaborative Art—a process that makes creativity easy and enjoyable for every age and ability. I’d love for you to explore it, fall in love with the process, and create your own bold, beautiful group paintings.
Each time I finish a new project, I think, “This one’s my favourite.” Until the next one comes along. I’d love to help you feel the same.
🎨 Inclusive Collaborative Art: How It Works for All Abilities
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is designed to bring people together – no matter their experience, background, or confidence with art. It’s perfect for groups where connection and relaxation matter most.
Stage 1: Messy Playing
Start with big brushes and playful marks like circles, spirals, arches, and dots. Everyone relaxes as they explore colour and movement together.
Teacher Tip: Use smaller brushes as the layers rise to create depth and visual sophistication.
Stage 3: Bling!
Finish with fun details like outlining and decorating using patterns with paint pens and adding stick on gems and dot stickers. This stage celebrates the group’s shared artwork and leaves everyone with a sense of pride.
✨ It’s a fun, accessible way to create something amazing together.
🎧 This post has been adapted into Episode 28 of the Easy Collaborative Art Podcast — “How to Inspire Your Group with Collaborative Art Pieces.” You can listen via the link below or search Easy Collaborative Art on your favourite podcast player. The full transcript is included belowthe round up.
Looking for collaborative art inspiration?
Scroll through these vibrant artworks and remember – each one was created by everyday people.
Children, students, teens, adults, and seniors of all ages and abilities contributed to these pieces—many of them hadn’t picked up a paintbrush in years… or ever!
Collaborative Art Piece: Our Painted Elephant
Our Painted Elephant was a fun collaborative art piece created with primary school children, painting together on fabric banners — a wonderfully budget-friendly material. Inspired by India’s painted elephant festivals, the artwork came to life through simple mark-making, masking, and brushwork, as each painter helped reveal the playful elephant form layer by layer.
Collaborative Art Piece: Growing Together
Growing Together is a vibrant collaborative art piece created by over 30 children and staff in a school vacation care program. Across one day and three creative sessions, the group explored my Pattern Play process — from Messy Playing to expressive layering — to celebrate how they grow together through their years in OSHC, Vacation, and Holiday Care.
Collaborative Art Piece: Our Fiery Circle Paintings
Fiery Circle Paintings is a lively collaborative art piece created through layered circle painting in warm reds, oranges, and yellows, with bold pops of black. Twenty children aged 5 to 12 explored flow, rhythm, and connection using a guided freeform approach. Across three creative sessions, they built a unified artwork of 20 canvases — one for each child to take home from this fun shared collaboration.
Collaborative Art Piece: We Talk Together Group Artwork
We Talk Together is a layered collaborative art piece created by adults in a community group setting. Painters alternated between cool and warm colours to build visual depth and expression. This shared creative experience resulted in a vibrant artwork — and a growing sense of confidence and pride in what they could achieve together.
Collaborative Art Piece: Peer Support
Peer Support is a warm, vibrant collaborative art piece created by a community group of people living with intellectual disability, alongside their support team and friends. Made to celebrate the UN International Day for Persons with Disabilities, it’s a powerful reminder that disability is not inability.
Collaborative Art Piece: King Leo
King Leo is a colourful collaborative art piece created over three sessions with 30 primary-aged children in a vacation care program. Students painted papers that were cut into spirals and collaged around Leo’s face, then brought together in the Bling stage with delicate and bold patterns. Now complete, King Leo stands proudly on display, radiating regal charm.
Myriad in Harmony is a vibrant collaborative art piece created during the “Myriad” exhibition by Community Living Australia, celebrating people living with disability across South Australia. Across three sessions in three days, 80 visitors and artists worked together, bringing the artwork to life with connection, diversity, and shared creativity.
Collaborative Art Piece: Incognito Mermaid
Incognito Mermaid is a collaborative art piece where multiple elements were created together, then personalized individually in the final stage. Using the ‘Mermaid’ colour scheme from my ‘7 Group Art Colour Schemes‘ collection, the process keeps colour choices easy and stress-free.
Collaborative Art Piece: Community
Community is a collaborative art piece created during my Artist in Residence program at Westfield Marion over two weeks. Six hundred members of the public contributed to this 1m x 1m artwork, adding layers of fun patterns from my Pattern Play Pages, and alternating warm and cool colour families for an easy, engaging group painting experience.
Collaborative Art Piece: Utopia
Utopia is an ongoing collaborative art piece created with my three children, aged 10 to 18. Using the vibrant Utopia colour scheme, we take a slow, mindful approach—sometimes painting one colour per layer in short sessions during school holidays—embracing the gradual, playful process of making art together.
Collaborative Art Piece: Aspiring to Excellence
Aspiring to Excellence is a collaborative art piece created by 120 junior primary students, each completing one stage of the Pattern Play process. Together, they made two horizontal artworks in a cool colour scheme with gold accents, now brightening their school hallways and inspiring everyone who passes by.
Collaborative Art Piece: Margarita
Margarita is a work-in-progress collaborative art piece using the vibrant Mirage colour scheme, as seen in the Myriad exhibition. This image shows the Exploring stage, with more layers to come before the final, meditative Bling stage adds shine with paint pens.
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.
Transcript for Easy Collaborative Art Episode 29: “How to Inspire Your Group with Collaborative Art Pieces.”
Episode 28 Summary
In this episode of Easy Collaborative Art, I share three ways to make collaborative art pieces inclusive, expressive, and fun for groups of all ages and abilities. You’ll hear real examples from families and community groups, and learn how Pattern Play Collaborative Art makes creativity accessible to everyone.
Episode 28 Highlights
Collaborative art pieces are for everyone – no experience needed.
Layering patterns and colours brings depth, flow, and fun to group projects.
Real examples of inspiring collaborative art pieces and how to run them.
Transcript Easy Collaborative Art Podcast – Episode 28: How to Inspire Your Group By Painting Collaborative Art Pieces
Hi, and welcome to Easy Collaborative Art! I’m Charndra, and in this episode we’re talking about collaborative art pieces – how to make them fun, inclusive, and meaningful for any group, no matter the ages or abilities involved. The process I encourage in infinitely adaptable!
Even if you think you’re “not creative,” by the end of this episode you’ll see how easy it is to get everyone playing, layering, and PAINTING something magical together.
Idea 1 – Collaborative art pieces for all ages
The first thing to know is that anyone can contribute. Kids, teens, adults, seniors – even people who’ve barely picked up a brush before – can make something beautiful together. Using the three fun stages of Messy Playing with simple shapes and clusters of marks, Exploring simple, accessible patterns in group of three, and adding fun doodled pattern with paint pens in the final Bling stage.
One example is Utopia, a family collaborative art piece. This project was created in short sessions over multiple layers. Each person added their own marks and colours, gradually building a vibrant, dynamic artwork. It shows just how approachable collaborative art pieces can be for families or small groups.
Idea 2 – Layering patterns and colour for depth
The magic of collaborative art comes in layers, and using simple, striking colour schemes can make a huge impact.
Take Margarita for example. This piece uses the “Mirage” colour scheme — warm colours layered over a bright blue underpainting. Even with a very simple set of shapes and layers, the contrast and layering create a bold, playful, and surprisingly sophisticated artwork. This is the power of the Pattern Play Collaborative Art process: simple, guided steps make something visually stunning.
Idea 3 – Real-world community examples
Finally, collaborative art pieces can bring together large groups for a shared creative experience.
Myriad in Harmony was created with 80 people at a community exhibition. Over three sessions, participants added layers of patterns and colour, creating a vibrant artwork that celebrated connection, diversity, and shared creativity. It’s a perfect example of how collaborative art pieces can scale up while keeping every participant’s contribution meaningful.
Recap of Highlights
Collaborative art pieces are for everyone, no matter their experience.
Layering patterns and colours brings depth, flow, and visual impact.
Real-world examples, like Myriad in Harmony, show how groups of any size can create together.
Encouragement
So here’s your challenge: pick a group — family, friends, students, or a community program — and try one collaborative art piece using Pattern Play. Start simple, play with colour, layer patterns, and see what emerges.
If you’d like more guidance, my free Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art will walk you through the process step-by-step, showing you exactly how these projects come together.
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is my simple three-stage framework for creating art together: Messy Playing to loosen up, Exploring to layer playful patterns, and Bling! for those joyful finishing touches.
I’m so glad you’re here discovering it with me, and I can’t wait for you to try it out yourself.
Step by step group painting doesn’t have to feel complicated or overwhelming. In this post, I break down a clear, practical approach I’ve refined through 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 in your classroom or group setting with clear guidance and my helpful digital resources designed to support teachers every step of the way.
Beginner’s Guide to Inclusive Art Projects: The Pattern Play Painting Method
A beginner-friendly guide to social art? Yes!
If you’re working with a group that includes different ages or abilities, traditional art projects can feel tricky.
That’s why I created the Pattern Play Collaborative Art Painting Method—an inclusive, step-by-step process that lets everyone join in.
It’s expressive, fun, and accessible to all levels.
“King Leo” – Collaborative artwork featuring bold shapes and layered paint, created with the Pattern Play process.
Why this method works:
No drawing skills required
Works with limited colours and supplies
Encourages participation, not perfection
Builds connection and confidence through creativity
“Soccer Mural” – 36 students and staff painted this layered group mural over 4 sessions on the shape of a soccer goal.
Inclusive art projects can be simple, joyful, and truly collaborative when you follow a clear, beginner-friendly method like Pattern Play. The “Soccer Mural” brought 36 students and staff together over four sessions, layering warm colours and playful patterns onto a canvas shaped like a soccer goal. “King Leo” featured bold shapes and stencilled elements, allowing group members of all abilities to contribute with confidence. At the Our Voice SA Conferences, 97 people living with intellectual disability and their support staff created “Enhancing Voices,” a warm, welcoming series of 4 artworks created collaboratively in layers across four events.
These projects show how accessible group painting can empower expression, build connection, and celebrate every participant.
“Enhancing Voices” – Created at four Our Voice SA Conferences by 97 people living with intellectual disability and their supporters, in Adelaide and across regional South Australia:
Discover the origins of Pattern Play Collaborative Art here: About.
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.
Inclusive art made easy with the Pattern Play Painting Method.
If you’re looking for large group collaborative art ideas, this episode breaks down exactly what I learned from guiding 600 people through a public painting project using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. You’ll discover how structure, preparation, and a mix of ages make big projects flow smoothly — insights drawn from my experience facilitating over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants. Teachers, facilitators, and community organisers will walk away with practical, confidence-boosting strategies they can use right away.
Listen via YouTube: What I Learned from 600 People Painting Together
🎧 Listen to ‘What Have I Learned from 600 People Painting Together?‘
Prefer another app? Search “Easy Collaborative Art” in your podcast player.
Episode 26 Summary
In this episode of Easy Collaborative Art, I share what I learned from painting with 600 people at Westfield Marion, and how simple structure, thoughtful preparation, and the magic of mixed ages can make large group collaborative art surprisingly easy and incredibly fun.
Episode 26 Highlights
Simple structure helps large groups participate with confidence.
Mixed ages and backgrounds create richer, more exciting artwork.
Good preparation makes large-scale collaborative art flow smoothly.
Transcript for Easy Collaborative Art Podcast – Episode 26: What Have I Learned from 600 People Painting Together?
In today’s episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes of a huge collaborative project — the time I painted with 600 people at Westfield Marion. I’ll share what worked, what surprised me, and the three big lessons you can use if you’re planning a large group artwork of your own.
Idea 1 – Simple Structure Makes Everything Flow
When you’re working with hundreds of painters, structure is essential. At Westfield Marion I had everything ready to go: paints pre-poured into cups, canvases set out, and large Pattern Play banners showing the designs people could add. Anyone — toddlers, teens, adults, seniors — could walk up, choose a colour, pick a pattern, and add it three times with almost no explanation. This little bit of structure gave people confidence, and as a result, the artwork grew beautifully and naturally without chaos.
Idea 2 – Mixed Ages Make the Artwork Richer
Across two weeks I painted with an incredible mix of people: toddlers in arms, preschoolers, school kids, teens, young adults, adults, seniors, multicultural communities, and people with disabilities. Each day we painted on two canvases — one cool-coloured or one warm-coloured canvas, and the “Community” canvas that ended up multicoloured by alternating the colour scheme depending on the day. This mix of ages and backgrounds brought an energy you simply can’t plan. Large groups create visual richness that only happens when many voices contribute. And when the canvases were finished, they were absolutely stunning.
Idea 3 – Good Preparation Makes Large-Scale Art Easy
What made the whole experience flow was preparation. The Pattern Play banners, Pattern Play Pages scattered around the tables, a simple layout, and a clear process all worked together as a friendly guide. People instantly understood what they could do. And it reminded me how important accessible resources are — which is why the Beginner’s Guide now includes setup tips so anyone can start a group artwork confidently.
Recap of Highlights
A simple structure helps even huge groups join in easily.
A wide mix of ages and backgrounds adds visual richness and energy.
Preparation — from resources to layout — keeps the whole project flowing smoothly.
Encouragement
If you’ve ever wondered whether you could run a large group collaborative artwork, I want you to know that yes — you absolutely can. With the Pattern Play framework, a bit of structure, and a few simple tools, it becomes a fun, relaxed, and incredibly rewarding experience. And if you want to try a project yourself, my free Beginner’s Guide will help you set everything up for your family, class, or community.
Pattern Play Collaborative Art uses three simple stages — Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling — to help people create art together with ease. I’m so glad you’re discovering it here with me, and I can’t wait to see what you create next.
If you’re new here, you can read more about how my collaborative art process works on the About page.
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.
Explore more collaborative art ideas →
If you’ve enjoyed reading “What Have I Learned from 600 People Painting Together?”, there are plenty of other ways to explore large group collaborative art ideas. These posts offer tips, ideas, and inspiration to help your group paint with confidence and have fun.
If you’re searching for group art ideas for schools, this post walks you through simple, reliable ways to help students create fun, inclusive artworks together using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. I draw on experience from facilitating 60+ community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, so you’ll get practical ideas that truly work in real classrooms. You’ll come away with easy projects, teacher-friendly tips, and inspiration to run your own collaborative art sessions with confidence.
Listen via YouTube: Best Collaborative Art Ideas for Schools
🎧 Listen to ‘What Are My Best Collaborative Art Ideas for Schools?‘
Prefer another app? Search “Easy Collaborative Art” in your podcast player.
A close-up section of “Striving for Excellence,” created with 120 junior school students using cool colours and touches of gold.
Episode Summary
In this episode of Easy Collaborative Art, I share simple, inclusive group art ideas that work beautifully in schools using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art Framework.
Episode Highlights
Collaborative art projects can be inclusive, accessible, and easy to run in classrooms.
A clear three-stage structure supports confident creative exploration for students of all abilities.
Shared art making strengthens classroom community, connection, and belonging.
Transcript for Easy Collaborative Art Podcast – Episode 25: What Are My Best Collaborative Art Ideas for Schools?
Welcome to Episode 25 of Easy Collaborative Art. Today we’re diving into one of my favourite topics — collaborative art in schools. If you’ve ever wondered which group art projects work best for mixed ages and abilities, this episode will walk you through a process that’s simple to start, easy to run, and full of creative possibilities. We’ll look at how to include everyone, keep the creativity flowing, and build that sense of classroom connection that happens when students make something together.
Idea 1 – Inclusive, Beginner-Friendly Projects
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is naturally inclusive for all ages and abilities. I’ve created group artworks with students from preschool right through to high school, and they all respond so well to the structure and the fun of painting together.
It’s beginner-friendly for students, and it’s also beginner-friendly for you if group artworks usually feel time-consuming or overwhelming. Working on one shared project over several sessions uses fewer materials, requires less prep, and avoids the need for 30 separate art setups and cleanups. Students contribute at their own level, and everyone still feels part of the final artwork.
Idea 2 – Creative Exploration Within Structure
The three-stage Pattern Play structure makes creative exploration feel relaxed and natural.
Messy Playing comes first. Students add clusters of marks and simple shapes to cover the surface and loosen up. It’s a fun, pressure-free way to get started.
Exploring is next. Students draw ideas from varied, accessible patterns and begin layering them in playful, overlapping ways. They get to respond to what’s already on the canvas and contribute their own touches.
Finally, Bling brings the finishing layer. Using paint pens or Sharpies, students add decorative details to lift and complete the artwork. The structure guides everyone, while still leaving room for personal expression and experimentation.
Idea 3 – Community and Classroom Connection
Collaborative art removes comparison pressure and performance anxiety because everyone is working on the same shared canvas. Students focus on contributing, responding, and creating together — not on whether their art “looks good” compared to someone else’s.
The process builds trust, awareness, and connection as students layer patterns, colours, and ideas side by side. It becomes a simple, powerful way to strengthen classroom relationships and foster a positive community atmosphere.
Recap of highlights
Choose inclusive, beginner-friendly projects that welcome all abilities.
Use a clear structure that supports exploration without overwhelm.
Create opportunities for community, connection, and shared achievement.
Encouragement
If you’d like to bring collaborative art into your classroom, my Pattern Play Collaborative Art Framework is an easy place to start. It’s a simple three-session process that helps hesitant painters relax, play, and build confidence. You’ll see cooperation, creativity, and conversation growing naturally as your students build something beautiful together.
For help getting started, grab my free Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art over at Painting Around is Fun.com or through the link in the show notes.
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is my simple three-stage framework for creating art together — Messy Playing to loosen up, Exploring to layer playful patterns, and Bling for those fun finishing touches. I’m so glad you’re here discovering it with me, and I can’t wait for you to try it out yourself.
If you’re new here, you can read more about how my collaborative art process works on the About page.
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.
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is all about connection and creativity.
Explore more collaborative art ideas →
If you’ve enjoyed reading “What Are My Best Collaborative Art Ideas for Schools?”, there are plenty of other ways to explore group art ideas for schools. These posts offer tips, ideas, and inspiration to help your group paint with confidence and have fun.
Title graphic for Episode 25 of Easy Collaborative Art, sharing simple group art ideas for teachers using the Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework.
To build confidence through group art, you don’t need artistic expertise — just the right structure and a welcoming approach. In this post and podcast, you’ll learn how simple collaborative painting techniques can help your group relax, experiment, and feel proud of what they create together. I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework, and these are the confidence-building strategies that work every time.
Listen via YouTube: How to Build Confidence Through Group Art
🎧 Listen to ‘How Do You Build Confidence Through Group Art?‘
Prefer another app? Search “Easy Collaborative Art” in your podcast player.
“Aspiring to Success,” (detail) painted by 120 Reception to Grade 2 students using Pattern Play Collaborative Art.
“Aspiring to Success” is a collaborative artwork painted by 120 Junior Primary students using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. Created over three sessions, each year level contributed to a different stage: Messy Playing with the Reception students, Exploring with the Grade 1s, and Bling with the Grade 2s. With cool colours and shimmering gold as the accent, this project shows how accessible group art can build confidence, spark creativity, and give every child a meaningful role in a shared creation.
Episode Summary
In this episode of Easy Collaborative Art, I share three ways that collaborative painting helps participants relax, take creative risks, and feel proud of their contributions — all while building confidence in your group.
Episode Highlights
Creative exploration helps participants try new things with low pressure.
Shared achievements give everyone a sense of pride and contribution.
Collaboration creates a supportive, encouraging environment.
Transcript Easy Collaborative Art Podcast – Episode 24: How Do You Build Confidence Through Group Art?
Hi, and welcome to Easy Collaborative Art, where I share three insights into Pattern Play Collaborative Art. I’m Charndra, and in episode 24 I’m talking about how to build confidence through group art, and why this simple approach can make your sessions feel smoother, more supportive, and a lot of fun. If you’ve ever had someone in your group say “Oh, I’m not creative…” or hesitate to join in, this one’s for you.
Idea 1 – Creative exploration builds confidence
One of the quickest ways to build confidence through group art is to make the creative part feel low-pressure. When everyone is painting together rather than producing their own separate artwork, people relax. They can try a new pattern, explore a colour, or copy something they’ve seen someone else do.
That shared canvas keeps things playful. There’s no “right way,” and no one is staring at their own piece wondering if it’s good enough, or worse, feeling embarrassment at their early skills.
This freedom to experiment — even just drawing a wiggly line or swirling oddly shaped circles — gives people those little “Oh! I can do this” moments that really matter.
Idea 2 – Shared achievements boost personal confidence
Another thing that helps is the feeling of contributing to something bigger. When each person adds the simple patterns and shapes on offer and then steps back to see how it all fits together, they get that hit of pride: “I helped make that.”
It doesn’t matter if they added one spiral or twenty varied, elegant patterns — their part is woven into the artwork. This is especially powerful in community groups, because people often underestimate themselves. Seeing a whole artwork that they helped create is a powerful and meaningful confidence-builder.
Idea 3 – Collaboration creates a supportive environment
Group art naturally encourages people to help each other. Someone tries a pattern, someone else copies it, and suddenly there’s a conversation happening: “Oh, I love what you did there.”
You encourage people to literally copy another person’s idea and make it their own — this gives them permission to learn and practice, which builds experience and confidence to experiment in their own way.
That back-and-forth of visual patterns across the artwork builds confidence in a really human and cooperative way. People feel seen, supported, and included — and that softens the fear of getting things wrong. It’s just paint, and everyone is contributing together.
Recap of highlights
Creative exploration helps people relax and try new things.
Shared achievements give participants a real sense of pride.
Collaboration creates a supportive, encouraging environment.
Encouragement
If you’re hoping to build confidence through group art, remember: you don’t need fancy techniques, artistic experience, or complex instructions. All you need is a shared surface, a few simple patterns, and a willingness to let people explore at their own pace.
Your group will surprise you — and themselves. If you’d like a gentle starting point, sign up for my free Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art and see how Pattern Play makes this simple and fun for everyone.
I call this approach Pattern Play Collaborative Art — it’s simply painting together in three stages: first messy playing, then exploring with patterns, then blinging it up with details. Anyone can try it, no experience needed.
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.
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is all about connection and creativity.
If you’re new here, you can read more about how my collaborative art process works on the About page.
“Aspiring to Success,” (detail) painted by 120 Reception to Grade 2 students using Pattern Play Collaborative Art.
Discover how to use a cool colour scheme for collaborative art to bring a group painting to life. I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school-based projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. In this post, you’ll see how the Forest Colour Scheme works in action, and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources.
Need a forest-inspired colour scheme for your group art projects?
The Forest palette features a tranquil yet rich combination evoking the peace and beauty of nature. Perfect for a serene feel using cool greens, blues and purples. Use any three of these colours plus white, layering them over multiple sessions to build a vibrant, collaborative artwork full of energy and fun.
Colours to choose from:
Green
Blue
Purple
White
Pick any three colours from the palette for a session and let your group explore by layering and combining them freely. You can use white to lighten and create soft variations of the colours, too. (And yes, aqua can be one of those colours!)
As the facilitator, you’ll pre-mix and provide the colours. This removes the hassle for your painters and prevents the usual chaos: messy tables, wasted paint, and muddy results. It also helps keep the process streamlined and enjoyable for everyone. Their focus is on painting – not colour theory and mixing.
Just ask participants to let you know when their paint is running low — and you can top it up as needed.
✨ Simplify to amplify the fun!
🖌️ The Stages of a Forest Colour Scheme Creation
1. Underpainting – Loosening Up with Friendly Prompts
We kick things off with a relaxed underpainting, just to get everyone moving and help shake off the fear of the blank canvas. I usually brush in a few easy shapes — a spiral, a circle, an arch, and a wavy line — using one or two colours from the palette. These shapes are purposefully a little wonky (to help everyone feel like they can join in!). It gives people something to copy if they’re not sure how to start. There’s no pressure — the real magic happens as we layer and play together.
2. Messy Playing – Big Brushes, Big Fun
Using 1-inch brushes, participants make bold, energetic marks—spirals, swoops, circles, and clusters—freely exploring colour. There’s no right or wrong here, just joyful movement and play. In this example, you’ll spot some sgraffito: we flipped the brushes and drew with the ends! Kids and adults alike love this simple but magical twist.
Kids relaxed into creativity with loose shapes and cool colours.
3. Exploring – medium brushes, then small brushes + Pattern Play
At this stage, medium brushes are used to add rhythm and structure. Suggested patterns might include those from the Pattern Play Cards, the Pattern Play Pages, or samples included in the free guide. Participants can pick patterns or follow prompts. Using smaller brushes, participants add finer pattern details. Each layer adds more dynamic movement, gives the kids more to interact with too.
From edges to layers, patterns emerge with gentle colour and flow.
4. BLING – Paint Pens + Pattern Play + Extras
To finish, the kids were delighted to use paint pens to outline, add patterns, dots and doodling to enhance the artwork, then were thrilled when asked to add shiny additions like glitter glue bursts, dot stickers, sticky gems, or gold leaf (depending on the vibe) are added to bring sparkle and pop.
One final layer adds sparkle and depth to a cool-coloured group piece.
About the Artwork: “Growing Together”
This collaborative artwork, titled “Growing Together,” was created by 30 children and staff during a vacation care session at an Adelaide Primary School. Over just one day – yes, a scorching 40°C summer day in South Australia—we painted together across three joyful sessions.
Using the cool and calming Forest colour scheme (blues, greens, purples, and white), the group built the piece in layers, from loose marks in the Messy Playing stage to joyful detail in the Bling stage.
One of my favourite moments? A young boy beaming with pride at the end of the day shouted:
“The Mona Lisa is number one—THIS is the number two artwork in the world!”
The finished artwork now hangs high in their rooms, proudly visible to everyone who visits. As a lasting keepsake, each child received a postcard of the artwork, with a child-friendly way to describe it to their family on the back, saying “I created this!” Blank backed postcards are also used by staff as heartfelt thank-you notes to supporters of their program. The back has a brief description of the project and who created it.
✨ What’s Next?
Keep having fun with these stages, and don’t be afraid to mix things up as you go! The real magic happens when your group brings its own energy and ideas to the table — no two sessions are ever the same. Try changing up the patterns, colours, or the order you use them, and watch how your art evolves in unexpected and exciting ways.
Working within a simple set of rules might sound limiting, but it actually opens the door to lots of creativity. The “power of three” colours makes it easy and freeing. Go ahead—play around and enjoy the journey!
❄️ Try this calming group art activity using cool tones and Pattern Play Cards:
Messy Playing – Use big brushes to paint swirling marks and arches in cool colours like blue, green, teal, and purple. Add clusters of dots, x’s and o’s, or waves.
Exploring – Choose a few Pattern Play patterns from your Beginner’s Guide (join below) and layer these accessible patterns in groups of three using medium and small brushes. Alternate between large and fine marks to build rhythm.
Bling! – Outline and doodle using paint pens, then add silvery details, dot stickers, or glitter glue bursts for the final touch of sparkle.
Want to Paint This Way Too?
This project uses the Forest Colour Scheme from 🎨 “7 Group Art Colour Schemes” – a digital download that makes group art easy and fun.
What’s included: ✅ 7 inspiring palettes with examples and tips ✅ Printable How-To guides with the colour schemes as printable cards ✅ The “Pick 3 + White” method that always works ✅ Real examples, beginner tips, and photo inspiration ✅ Use for classrooms, parties, community groups, or home fun
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.
