Article: Class Group Art Projects: Bringing Students Together Through Art showing a glimpse of Growing Together

Class Group Art Projects: Bringing Students Together Through Art

Quick Takeaway

Class group art projects are a powerful way to bring students together through creativity, connection, and shared ownership. In this post, you’ll learn practical ways to run inclusive group art experiences using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework, based on facilitating over 60 community and school-based projects with more than 2,000 participants. I want to help you do the same in your classroom with clear guidance and helpful digital resources you can use straight away.

How Can Class Group Art Projects Build Creativity and Connection in Students?

Class Group Art Projects bring students together in a fun, hands-on way where creativity flows and teamwork shines. Using the Pattern Play Collaborative Art process, students move through three engaging stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling!—to create vibrant artworks together.

Each project, such as King Leo, Fiery Circles, and Growing Together, blends the contributions of every participant into a cohesive artwork. Through expressive patterns, dynamic colours, and layered textures, these group art experiences highlight how individual skills and abilities combine into something meaningful. The result is a shared artwork that celebrates unity, imagination, and the joy of creating together.


Class Group Art Projects 1: King Leo

Class Group Art Projects: Bringing Students Together Through Art showing King Leo, a collaborative collage project
Class Group Art Projects: King Leo

Class Group Art Projects offer a unique and inclusive way for students to connect, communicate, and celebrate their creativity.

The King Leo project is a perfect example of this collaborative spirit. Students and staff worked together to create a colourful series of painted papers, which were then cut into circles and strips. The children cut the circles into spirals, adding movement and texture. These pieces were glued to the canvas in layered clusters, giving the final artwork a rich, dimensional feel with shadows.

Between sessions, I painted the lion’s face, weaving the student contributions into the overall design. Each child added their own patterned flair, inspired by reference samples from my Pattern Play Resources. Using paint pens matched to the painted paper colours, they blended patterns across the collage pieces—in clusters, in lines, and in free-flowing designs—bringing the lion to life as a true class group artwork.


Class Group Art Projects 2: Fiery Circles

Class Group Art Projects: Bringing Students Together Through Art showing Fiery Circles, a joint collaborative painting project with warm colours.
Class Group Art Projects: Fiery Circles

The Fiery Circles project encouraged students to dive into bold colours and swirling forms, giving them the chance to experiment with expressive mark-making and dynamic circular patterns. This Class Group Art Project focused on warm colours – red, orange, and yellow – and invited students to layer circles, spirals, and arches. The result was a fiery, cohesive artwork that symbolised their unity and energy.

Through the repetition of simple shapes, students discovered rhythm in art and experienced the impact of collaboration. Each new layer built upon the last, transforming basic patterns into a captivating group piece that reflected the energy and enthusiasm of its young creators.

To make it even more personal, each student decorated their own canvas with stick-on gems, placing them in clusters or around shapes. These sparkling details added individuality, and every child was able to take home a piece of the project—a reminder of their role in creating something vibrant together.


Class Group Art Projects 3: Growing Together

Class Group Art Projects: Bringing Students Together Through Art showing Growing Together a collaborative group canvas painting of cool colours.
Class Group Art Projects: Growing Together

The Growing Together project was a lively Class Group Art Project created during a school vacation care program. Designed around the Pattern Play Collaborative Art process, students moved through the three stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling!—to build layer upon layer of marks and patterns. Together, they created a 1m x 1m collaborative artwork filled with colour, texture, and energy.

Now proudly displayed at Forbes Primary School, the piece serves as a lovely reminder of the friendships formed between children of different ages during vacation care. It also highlights the sense of unity and teamwork that grows when students make art together.

With its vibrant blend of colours and patterns, Growing Together demonstrates how collaborative art projects can strengthen connections, inspire pride, and leave a lasting impact on the school community. The artwork has been showcased at several school events, filling the 30 students who contributed with pride every time they see their collective creation.


In Conclusion

Class Group Art Projects like King Leo, Fiery Circles, and Growing Together highlight the power of collaborative creativity in schools. Using the Pattern Play Collaborative Art process—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—students experience the joy of teamwork, discovery, and artistic expression.

These projects don’t just result in colourful canvases; they build community, nurture confidence, and show how simple shapes and colours can be transformed into meaningful, shared artworks. Each piece becomes a celebration of unity, imagination, and the creativity that thrives when students work together.

Happy Painting!

Charndra
Your Inclusive Social Art Guide


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Social visual art projects - a fun collective collage project

3 Social Visual Art Projects That Build Social Skills

Quick Takeaway

Social visual art projects are a powerful way to build social skills while keeping creativity fun and inclusive. In this post, you’ll discover three practical project ideas drawn from my experience facilitating over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. I want to help you do the same in your own setting with clear ideas and supportive digital resources that make group art easier to run.


Social visual art projects offer a unique way to connect people through creativity.

Social visual art projects create powerful opportunities for people to connect through creativity. Using three playful stages: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. These projects naturally nurture teamwork and social skills. At the heart of the process is Pattern Play Collaborative Art, a welcoming approach that celebrates both self-expression and shared authorship.

I’ve created these projects with primary children aged 3–13 during Vacation Care and Out-of-school-Hours Care (OSHC) or After School Care, or programs in the school holidays, sometimes in one flexible session across a day, other times over several sessions in different locations. Children were free to pop in and out of activities, but all participated and contributed to the evolving artworks. From intergenerational group paintings to whimsical monster cityscapes and vibrant Harmony Banners, these projects invite participants of all ages to engage with art, and with each other, in meaningful and fun ways.


Social visual art projects 1: Intergenerational Art Project

Social visual art projects - an intergenerational art project between seniors and primary school students
Social visual art projects promote inter-generational cooperation.

In a world often dominated by screens and solitary activities, social visual art projects provide a refreshing way to bring people together across generations. One powerful example is “Our Collaborative Intergenerational Paintings,” completed at Marion Resthaven. This inspiring project began with children at a local primary school Vacation Care, who later joined residents at an aged care center to create a series of colorful, layered artworks.

The experience encouraged the young participants to practice patience, develop empathy, and learn the value of cooperation as they worked side by side with the elderly residents. Through this collaborative process, both groups strengthened their social skills while building meaningful intergenerational bonds—creating lasting memories for everyone involved. The Messy Playing and Exploring stages took place with the children at the school, while the final Bling stage was completed together with the seniors at the retirement facility.


Social visual art projects 2: Monsters on Skyscrapers!

Social visual art projects - a fun collective collage project
Social visual art projects promote communication skills

The second project, “Monsters on Skyscrapers,” was a playful mix of creativity and collaboration. This cityscape-themed collage took place with primary school students during Vacation Care. The activity invited children to work together to create a shared night-time city skyline on long strips of kraft paper.

The project began with the Messy Playing stage, where cool tones of pearl blue and purple were sponged across the paper to form the skyline’s base. Students moved around the large sheet, making sure everyone left their mark. Next, in the Exploring stage, each child designed their own skyscrapers—tracing simple templates onto painted papers and adding windows and details with markers and stickers.

For the final Personalisation stage, every child created a quirky cut-paper monster using a small square of colored paper. Expressive face stickers brought the monsters to life—some “attacked” the city, while others “protected” it. Each A3 section of the skyline became the child’s own story setting. Excitedly, children began sharing tales about their creatures, listening to each other with curiosity and delight. Through this blend of art, play, and storytelling, they not only expressed themselves but also strengthened social connections while enjoying the creative process.


Social visual art projects 3: Harmony Banners

Social visual art projects - harmony banner created by primary school children
Social visual art projects promote social skills

The third project, “Harmony Banners,” celebrated collaboration and unity for Harmony Day at Marion Primary School OSHC. Over three weeks, 42 children worked together to create three vibrant 1m x 2m calico banners, each with its own color scheme—one cool, one warm, and one blending orange, yellow, and green.

Each week introduced new techniques, giving students the chance to experiment with masking, blending, sgraffito, brushwork, stenciling, doodling, and playful extras like bingo dotters and glittery Bling. Every child added their own patterns and marks, creating a patchwork of creativity that reflected an early form of the Pattern Play process now available in my online shop. As the layers built, the children’s excitement grew, and they took pride in watching their collaborative work take shape.

By the end, the banners became a vibrant symbol of shared authorship, diversity, and community. Presented on Harmony Day, they now hang around the school, continuing to remind students of the joy and connection that comes from creating together.

Social Visual Art Projects: In Conclusion

These social visual art projects showcase the transformative power of creative collaboration. Our Collaborative Intergenerational Painting, Monsters on Skyscrapers, and Harmony Banners each helped participants develop social skills while nurturing empathy, teamwork, and self-expression. Every project brought unique activities and storytelling opportunities, encouraging meaningful connections—whether bridging generations, imagining playful cityscapes, or celebrating community harmony.

Through these shared creative experiences, lasting bonds were formed. These projects not only inspire creativity but also celebrate diversity and the joy of coming together through art.

Let’s make creativity simple, fun, and shared—together!

Happy painting,
Charndra
Your Inclusive Social Art Guide


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

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

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🎧 Tune in to the Easy Collaborative Art Podcast for short, engaging episodes where I share my thoughts on Pattern Play Collaborative Art. Listen to hear how this approach encourages creativity, builds social connections, and fosters the collaborative mindset. Perfect for educators, facilitators, and anyone curious about group art.


How to do a group community painting project showing the finished artwork created with 80 people.

How to Do a Group Community Painting Project 

Quick Takeaway

How to Do a Group Community Painting Project doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. In this post, I share what works, drawn from facilitating over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. You’ll learn clear, practical steps to plan and run a group painting with confidence — and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources.


What Does a Group Community Painting Project Actually Involve?

If you’re wondering how to do a group community painting project, it’s easier than you think! In this guide, I’ll explain with 3 straightforward stages. These stages create a vibrant, shared artwork using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach. We start with Messy Playing to loosen up and get creative. After we loosen up, we move into the Exploring stage to layer patterns and shapes. Finally, the Bling stage adds bold, personal touches to make the artwork truly shine. Let’s dive into how each step works!

How to Do a Group Community Painting Project Step 1: Messy Playing

how to do a group community painting project showing a detail of the Messy Playing stage
How to Do a Group Community Painting Project: Messy Playing Stage

For the Myriad in Harmony: Unity Within Difference! project, we began with the first step, Messy Playing, to encourage spontaneity and creativity. This stage focused on making free-flowing marks without overthinking, helping contributors feel at ease with the paint and each other. Participants used warm colors like reds, pinks, yellows, and oranges. They painted these over a vibrant blue background. They added circles, spirals, and playful patterns. They layered their individual marks to form a collaborative visual story. It was a lively and interactive process, the first of three sessions over three days of the exhibition. This stage broke the ice and got people creating! It also set the tone for this community-driven artwork – everyone is creative.

This group community painting project was a collaborative art event. It took place during the annual Myriad Exhibition. The event was created by Community Living Australia. It aims to showcase the art of people living with disabilities in South Australia.

How to Do a Group Community Painting Project Step 2: Exploring

how to do a group community painting project showing a detail of the Exploring stage
How to Do a Group Community Painting Project: Exploring Stage

In the Exploring stage of the Myriad in Harmony project, participants started experimenting with different patterns. They also used smaller brushes as the layers built, adding more visual sophistication. They built on the foundational marks from Messy Playing. This stage encouraged everyone to get creative with shapes like arches, dots, and overlapping patterns. We used the exact patterns available in my Pattern Play Printable Cards. These elements gave the artwork depth and character. Participants layered vibrant colours from a limited colour scheme and explored new combinations of the patterns. They added their own unique touches. At the same time, they contributed to the collective vision. Trying new things and playing with pattern variations sparked conversations. This interaction brought people closer together. It reinforced the idea of unity through shared artistic exploration.

How to Do a Group Community Painting Project Step 3: Bling!

how to do a group community painting project showing a detail of the Bling stage
How to Do a Group Community Painting Project: Bling Stage

The final stage, BLING!, brought the Myriad in Harmony project to life with eye-catching embellishments. This is where participants added the finishing touches, using paint pens, glitter glue, and stickers to make their contributions pop. It was all about adding bold, expressive details that stood out against the layers of marks and patterns. The BLING! stage allowed everyone to personalise the artwork even further, with small additions of patterns with paint pens and stickers. These extra touches added a sense of excitement and celebration. They created a lively and vibrant piece. This piece reflected the energy and creativity of the visitors to this community art exhibition.

How to Do a Group Community Painting Project: In conclusion

In summary, a group community painting project begins with the Messy Playing stage. Here, participants freely make marks. This helps break the ice and build a collaborative foundation. The Exploring stage follows, encouraging creativity with patterns and layering techniques to deepen the artwork. Finally, the BLING! stage adds personal touches and bold details that bring the piece to life. These steps foster inclusion of all abilities, allowing everyone to contribute and creating a vibrant, unified community artwork. The Myriad Exhibition is held annually in Adelaide, South Australia. Myriad in Harmony: Unity Within Difference! is the full title of the project. It reflects how painting with 80 people creates an artwork that looks cohesive. The artwork appears unified, as if one artist created it!

Happy Painting!

Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

how to do a group community painting project showing the finished artwork created with 80 people.
‘Myriad in Harmony’ Created by 80 visitors to the Myriad Exhibition

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.

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🎧 Curious about how I run group community paintings? I share behind-the-scenes tips on the Easy Collaborative Art Podcast.


Below is a quick ‘How to Start’ guide for running easy collaborative art projects with adult groups.

Imagine you are a group facilitator or community group leader working with a group of women who want to try a simple, beginner-friendly group art project. Here’s a process you might follow:

How to do a collaborative painting project with your community group?

Step 1: Messy Playing

Start with freedom and fun. Provide a slightly larger size of brush and encourage participants to cover the surface with broad strokes, swirls, or simple clusters of marks like dots or dashes. Use two or three harmonious colours to keep it easy and inviting. This playful stage helps participants relax, build confidence, and experience firsthand what collaborative art is: creating something together rather than individually.

Step 2: Exploring

Once the background is alive with colour, invite participants to add simple patterns or repeating shapes. Use the Pattern Play resources or encourage them to invent their own designs. You can layer patterns in clusters, vary their size, and encourage participants to notice how their contributions interact with the group. Tip for facilitators: offer progressively smaller brushes for additional layers to create depth and visual interest. This stage shows how individual choices contribute to a shared group art project.

Step 3: Bling!

Finish with playful decorations. Participants can use paint pens or Sharpie markers to add doodles and ornamentation for eye-catching highlights. Stick-on gems or dot stickers make the artwork pop — and yes, adults enjoy these playful touches as much as kids! This stage ties the collaborative art together and helps each participant feel proud of their contribution.

This process shows group facilitators and community group leaders how easy it is to run beginner-friendly collaborative art projects for adult women. It’s simple, fun, and a creative way to connect a group through shared group art and artistic expression.


Circles of Connection: An Easy Collaborative Art Project for Groups by Painting Around is Fun!

“Circles of Connection”: An Easy Collaborative Art Project for Groups

Quick Takeaway

Looking for an easy collaborative art project for groups that genuinely brings people together? In this post, I share Circles of Connection—a simple, inclusive project that builds connection, supports wellbeing, and works beautifully with teachers and childcare educators, drawing on my experience facilitating over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. You’ll walk away with clear ideas you can try yourself, plus an invitation to explore my free Beginner’s Guide to make getting started feel easy and fun.

Easy Collaborative Art Projects - showing 'Circles of Connection' created by adults with Painting Around is Fun!
Easy Collaborative Art Projects: “Circles of Connection” Final artwork.

This “Circles of Connection” project perfectly exemplifies an easy collaborative art project. It can bring people together and create a lasting impact. This project fostered a sense of community. It provided a creative outlet. The power of art was demonstrated in promoting mental health and well-being. As outlined below, the simplicity of the project made it accessible to all participants. The collaborative nature encouraged connection and a shared experience. People still talk about this shared experience today.

An Easy Collaborative Art Project: Creating a Sense of Community Through Art

Easy Collaborative Art Projects - showing 'Circles of Connection' created by adults with Painting Around is Fun in the Messy Playing stage
Easy Collaborative Art Projects: Messy Playing Stage of ‘Circles of Connection’

The “Circles of Connection” project is a prime example of a simple art project. It is meaningful and collaborative. Such a project can foster a sense of community and belonging. The project invited the Mums of “My Time“, a Carer peer support group in Australia. They participated in a shared creative experience. It aimed to give a much-needed respite from the daily challenges of raising a child with special needs. The collaborative nature of the project encouraged participants to connect, share their experiences, and create something beautiful together. During the ‘Messy Playing’ stage, the painters are painting groups of circles in different colours. They move from place to place around the canvas. The canvas is flat on a table. Circles can be filled in, be open circles, clusters of dots, and in any size. Overlapping is encouraged. Play is required! Everyone is reassured that they can’t mess it up. This is ‘Messy Playing’ and the whole aim is to have fun. The goal is to give the artwork a visually interesting base to build on.

An Easy Collaborative Art Project: A Step-by-Step Guide to Collaborative Painting

Easy Collaborative Art Projects - showing 'Circles of Connection' created by adults with Painting Around is Fun in the exploring stage
Easy Collaborative Art Projects: Exploring stage of ‘Circles of Connection’

The simplicity of the “Circles of Connection” project made it accessible to all participants, regardless of their artistic abilities. The process involved easy-to-follow steps. Participants painted circles and overlapped them. They used stencils, added embellishments, and applied bling. These steps ensured that everyone contributed to the final artwork. This process fostered a sense of ownership and pride. During the ‘Exploring’ stage, the painters add layers with stencils and small rollers. They include new colours as earlier areas dry quickly with acrylic paints. Painters are encouraged to keep the blobs at bay.

An Easy Collaborative Art Project: The Impact of Collaborative Art on Mental Health

Easy Collaborative Art Projects - showing detail of 'Circles of Connection' created by adults with Painting Around is Fun!
Easy Collaborative Art Projects: Detail of ‘BLING!’ stage with gems and white pen.

The “Circles of Connection” project not only created a visually stunning artwork. It also had a positive impact on the mental health of the participants. The Mums of the My Time parent carer peer support group engaged in a creative activity together. They managed to reduce stress! Painting together also reduces anxiety and feelings of isolation. The shared experience provided a much-needed boost to their well-being and strengthened their connections with one another. During the ‘BLING!’ stage, the painters each added stick-on gems.

My Time is a Federally funded peer support program in Australia for parent carers of children with extra needs. These needs may be due to disability, a chronic health condition, or other forms of developmental delays. Get supportive help from people who understand.

Conclusion: You Can Create This Collaborative Art Project With Your Group Too!

See how easy collaborative art projects can be? Simply get a canvas. Give it an underpainting so people are not intimidated by the stark white canvas. Yellow is a happy choice of colour, for instance. Start adding circles, both big and small. Medium happens on its own. Then decorate those circles. Add layers of simple ‘Pattern Play’ decorations. Remember to limit your colours to a ‘family’ like warm or cool. Alternatively, alternate colour families between sessions when the paint is dry. This is what we did here. Now, add another layer. Then, add another layer. Keep building up layers, interacting with what’s there, adding to it, overlapping it, until it is done. That’s it in a nutshell.

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.

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Your guide arrives instantly after you confirm your email.
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Explore more collaborative art ideas →

Best Collaborative Art Ideas: Projects, Guides & Resources for All Ages


New Article: Group mural creation with Painting Around is Fun - Our Soccer Mural (detail) Painted with school kids (primary / elementary)

Group Mural Creation Ideas for Kids

Quick Takeaway

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Group mural creation 1: underpainting – setting the foundation

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

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

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

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

Group mural creation 2: messy playing – freeing the creativity

In this phase, students were encouraged to loosen up and have fun with the mural. We introduced a variety of tools—sponges, stamps, templates, and stencils—to add playful and spontaneous elements.

The Messy Playing stage is all about creative freedom, allowing each student to make their mark without fear. By layering bold shapes and spontaneous patterns, the students brought energy and movement to the mural.

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

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

Group mural creation 3: exploring – building layers of detail

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

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

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

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

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

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

Group mural creation 4: Bling – adding the final touches

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

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

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

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

Group mural creation: in conclusion

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

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

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

Happy Painting!

Charndra,

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide


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

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

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

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

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


Showing the Bling stage (in detail) - painted by Painting Around is Fun as we discover how to paint a group artwork

Unlocking Creativity: How to Paint a Group Artwork in 5 Easy Steps

Quick Takeaway

How to Paint a Group Artwork doesn’t have to feel chaotic or complicated. In this post, I break it down into 5 clear, achievable steps using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework, shaped by facilitating over 60 community and school-based projects with more than 2,000 participants. You’ll gain practical guidance, confidence-building tips, and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources designed for educators and facilitators.


How can you create a group artwork in just five easy steps?

If you’re curious about how to paint a group artwork, the process is simpler, and more enjoyable, than you might think. Using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach, you can guide your group through three fun and creative stages. First is Messy Playing, where bold marks and shapes fill the canvas. Next comes Exploring, where simple patterns are layered to build complexity. Finally, there’s Bling, where ornamentation and sparkle bring the artwork to life. Whether you’re working with friends, family, or a community group, these steps make collaborative art accessible, engaging, and rewarding for everyone.

Note: The photos in this article come from three different projects to showcase the variety of ways these steps can be applied.

Showing a simple form of underpainting - painted by Painting Around is Fun as we discover how to paint a group artwork
How to Paint a Group Artwork – Start with an Underpainting

Step 1: Underpainting

Before a group painting project begins, I create the underpainting, which serves as the foundational layer and sets the tone for the artwork. This step helps eliminate the intimidating “blank canvas” effect, which can make participants hesitate for fear of making mistakes. The underpainting is usually in a related colour, applied either smoothly or with a more textured, splotchy style. Sometimes I add bold shapes around key visual points, random trailing lines, or even stencils for shorter projects. On occasion, I enhance it with elements like gold leaf to give the artwork an early layer of vibrancy and interest.

Showing the Messy Playing stage - painted by Painting Around is Fun as we discover how to paint a group artwork
How to Paint a Group Artwork – Do a layer of ‘Messy Playing’ to help them relax.

Step 2: Messy Playing

In the Messy Playing stage, the focus is on filling the canvas with playful, spontaneous marks. Circles, spirals, and simple shapes are encouraged, with circles taking many forms—blobs, ovals, or dots. This approach allows both large and small shapes to emerge naturally. If participants are unsure, I suggest adding another circle, raindrop-like marks, or dashes that resemble pouring rain. Each mark has a simple, accessible name, making it easy for everyone to follow along. I remind the group that we’ve already made a mess—now the only way is up! This messy base provides a wonderful foundation, with layers peeking through to the final design.

Messy Playing helps people access their creativity and relax into the process. Participants dive in, move around the canvas, and overlap shapes, adding depth and visual interest. It brings the artwork to life in a dynamic, exciting way, setting the stage for the next layers.

Showing the exploring stage - painted by Painting Around is Fun as we discover how to paint a group artwork
How to Paint a Group Artwork – Explore Layering Simple Patterns Next

Step 3: Exploring

In the Exploring stage, we begin refining the artwork. Brushes progress from medium to smaller sizes as the layers build, adding more detail and depth. We continue decorating circles while layering vibrant patterns from my Pattern Play visual resources. With over 100 accessible, simple patterns to choose from, I introduce only a few at a time—usually 3 to 5 options—to avoid overwhelming participants. This approach embodies the idea that “creativity loves constraints,” making it easier to choose and build confidence, rather than being faced with endless options or simply told, “Do whatever you like.” The Exploring stage can continue for weeks, or even throughout the year, depending on your project.

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Showing the Bling stage (in detail) - painted by Painting Around is Fun as we discover how to paint a group artwork
How to Paint a Group Artwork – Decorate With Paint Pens and Stickers

Step 4: Bling!

The Bling! stage is where the artwork truly shines—literally! This is all about ornamentation and adding the final touch of visual flair. We use paint pens to layer patterns, outline shapes, and decorate lines created in earlier stages, bringing depth, sophistication, and intricate detail to the painting. For extra sparkle, participants love adding bursts of glitter glue, and sometimes nail polish is used to create flashes of glimmer. This playful ornamentation brings the artwork to life, transforming it into a dazzling, dynamic piece that reflects everyone’s creativity.


Step 5: Finishing touches

After the group has completed their part, I take the artwork home for about an hour of editing. This involves tidying up edges, enhancing focal areas, and subtly bringing out the “voice” of the piece—much like an editor refining writing while preserving the original intent. I paint the edges in a neutral grey, then label the back with the artwork’s title and my name as the social art guide. Depending on the project, I also incorporate the names of the painters, hiding them in plain sight as a lasting tribute to their contribution. This final step honours the collaboration while giving the artwork a polished, cohesive finish.


How to paint a group artwork: In conclusion

Learning to paint a group artwork is all about embracing creativity, collaboration, and fun. Participants start with a carefully prepared underpainting (Step 1), helping them overcome the fear of a blank canvas. Next comes Messy Playing (Step 2), where playful marks and overlapping layers create a lively base. In Exploring (Step 3), accessible patterns refine the artwork through thoughtful choices, while the Bling! layer (Step 4) adds sparkle and intricate details for a vibrant finish. Finally, Finishing Touches (Step 5) ensure the artwork reflects the group’s effort and captures its unique voice.

Try it—it’s really fun! Participants love the process, and you’ll get a thrill watching them relax into their creativity. Begin with my Pattern Play Starter Pack.

Happy Painting!
Charndra – Your Inclusive Social Art Guide


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Blog post: Creating Connections: Engaging Students in Whole Class Collaborative Artwork by Painting Around is Fun! Featuring 'King Leo', 'Our Messy Mandala' and 'Fiery Circle Paintings', all created with primary or elementary school children as a whole class collaborative artwork. Showing a close up of King Leo, a collaborative painted paper collage painting of a lion with a spiraling red mane on a blue background.

Creating Connections: Engaging Students in Whole Class Collaborative Artworks

Quick Takeaway

Whole Class Collaborative Artworks are a powerful way to build connection, confidence, and creativity across an entire classroom. In this post, you’ll learn practical ways to engage students step by step, grounded in my experience facilitating over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. I want to help you do the same with clear ideas you can use straight away, supported by my helpful digital resources designed for educators.


How can whole class collaborative artworks engage students and boost creativity?

At Marion Primary School Vacation Care and OSHC, students took part in several whole class collaborative artworks that encouraged creativity, teamwork, and self-expression. These inclusive activities allowed every participant to contribute their unique flair while working toward a shared artistic vision. The students experimented with vibrant circle paintings, messy mandalas, and even created their school’s lion mascot. Through these projects, they explored the dynamic nature of collaborative art, embracing spontaneity, creative freedom, and the joy of working together.

Blog post: Creating Connections: Engaging Students in Whole Class Collaborative Artwork by Painting Around is Fun! Featuring 'King Leo', created with primary or elementary school children as a whole class collaborative artwork.
Creating Connections: Engaging Students in Whole Class Collaborative Artworks – King Leo

Whole class collaborative artwork 1: King Leo

At Marion Primary School Vacation Care, the whole class worked together to bring their lion mascot, King Leo, to life. This social art project involved over 30 children and staff, who collaborated across multiple stages. The project began with Messy Play, creating textured painted papers in warm colours and blues. The children enhanced their scissor skills by cutting Leo’s mane from spirals and circles, then assembled the pieces into the full design. After assembly, they added intricate embellishments using paint pens, patterns, and glitter.

The finished artwork was proudly displayed at the Westfield Marion Art Story, admired by many, and a print was gifted to each student to commemorate their contribution. This whole class collaborative artwork remains a lasting reminder of the school’s value of Integrity, with King Leo now watching over their rooms.

Blog post: Creating Connections: Engaging Students in Whole Class Collaborative Artwork by Painting Around is Fun! Featuring 'Fiery Circle Paintings', created with primary or elementary school children as a whole class collaborative artwork.
Creating Connections: Engaging Students in Whole Class Collaborative Artworks – Our Fiery Circle Paintings

Whole class collaborative artwork 2: Fiery circle paintings

In another creative project, Marion Primary School Vacation Care created Fiery Circle Paintings as a whole-class collaborative artwork. The children began with a vibrant underpainting during the Messy Playing stage, using warm tones of red, orange, and yellow to create a lively, dynamic background. They freely painted and overlapped circles, blobs, eggs, and ovals, layering clusters of these shapes in varying sizes. Both brushes and sponges were used to build depth and texture.

During the Exploring stage, the focus shifted to overlapping and adding simple patterns, helping to integrate colours and designs into a cohesive whole. The expressive project beautifully celebrated the children’s creativity, capturing the energy and spirit of the group through their unique contributions. Working together on 20 small canvases, each child moved around, adding flair and leaving their mark on every piece. In the Bling stage, they personalised the artworks with stick-on gems, making each piece unique while reflecting the joint collaboration. Every child then took an artwork home, proud of their shared effort.

Blog post: Creating Connections: Engaging Students in Whole Class Collaborative Artwork by Painting Around is Fun! Featuring 'Our Messy Mandala', created with primary or elementary school children as a whole class collaborative artwork.
Creating Connections: Engaging Students in Whole Class Collaborative Artworks – Our Messy Mandala

Whole class collaborative artwork 3: Messy mandala

One standout project from the Marion Primary School OSHC program was Our Messy Mandala, a collaborative art piece that encouraged children to work together. They explored radial patterns and practiced spontaneous mark-making within a structured, accessible process. Using bright, cool colours, the group applied paint in layers to create a vibrant circular design, reflecting the universal symbolism of mandalas. Each child added their unique flair, experimenting with shapes and patterns, resulting in a mandala that was both chaotic and harmonious. This whole class collaborative artwork highlighted the power of group creativity and now decorates the school library for everyone to admire.


Whole class collaborative artworks: In conclusion

These projects demonstrate the transformative power of whole class collaborative artworks. From the fiery circle paintings to the intricate messy mandala, the final results were greater than the sum of individual efforts. Through my Pattern Play Collaborative Art process—moving through the stages of Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling!—the children at Marion Primary discovered the joy of artistic collaboration. Layering colours, adding embellishments, and crafting patterns allowed them to experience the magic of creating something beautiful together, celebrating the creativity and diversity of every participant.


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

Creative Teamwork in Group Art Murals: 2 Success Stories

Quick Takeaway

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A brief summary of these group art mural examples

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

Happy Painting!

Charndra,

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide


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Article about a full class art activity by Painting Around is Fun - visit the Blog.

Engage Every Student with a Full Class Art Activity: Discover Growing Together, Our Messy Mandala and Our Playgroup People Painting

Quick Takeaway

A full class art activity can engage every student by building confidence, creativity, and connection through a shared, low-pressure creative process. Drawing on my experience facilitating over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, this post shares practical examples: Growing Together, the Messy Mandala, and Playgroup People Painting, using my simple Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework to help teachers create inclusive, meaningful art experiences for all learners.


How can a full class art activity transform your students’ creativity and confidence?

Transform your classroom’s confidence and creativity with a full class art activity that engages every student in a safe, collaborative environment. Students can explore their creativity together through vibrant layers, expressive patterns, and playful community-inspired projects. With every brushstroke, they’ll create beautiful art while building a stronger, more confident classroom community. Immersed in the process, they also develop calming and self-regulation skills, making the activity both fun and meaningful for everyone.

This full class art activity by Painting Around is Fun was created with primary and elementary school students.
A Full Class Art Activity with Children

A full class art activity: Growing Together

The Growing Together project is a perfect example of how a full class art activity can bring students together. Created with 30 children from Forbes Primary School Vacation Care, the project began with messy, playful mark-making, allowing everyone to contribute freely regardless of age or ability. As the artwork evolved, each child added their own patterns, colours, and shapes—layering spirals, dots, and other elements that celebrated individuality. By the end, the collective creation served as a vibrant visual reminder of the joy and connection experienced while painting together. Originally a three-piece screen that we repainted, the project also built a sense of unity and pride within the class, showing how a simple art activity can grow into a powerful shared experience.

This full class art activity by Painting Around is Fun was created with primary and elementary school students.
A Full Class Art Activity with School Kids

A full class art activity: Messy Mandala

Our Messy Mandala is an engaging full class art activity that encourages students to explore their creativity while building confidence through collaboration. Created over three sessions with 38 painters, the project began with a dynamic underpainting, where each student contributed spontaneous marks, swirls, and shapes in vibrant colours. The class then filled the three-panel canvas screen with layered circles, spirals, and patterns, forming a stunning mandala. This artwork captures the collective energy of the group and now proudly stands in the school library as a beautiful reminder of what can be achieved when the whole class comes together. The project transformed blank panels into a vibrant creation, embodying the harmony and creativity a full class art activity can inspire.

This full class art activity by Painting Around is Fun was created with preschoolers.
A Full Class Art Activity with Preschoolers

A full class art activity: Playgroup people painting

Our Playgroup People Painting demonstrates the transformative power of a full class art activity in a playgroup setting. Over the course of a year, 20 participants—from toddlers to adults—added layer upon layer of colour, techniques, and materials. Each week, a new element was introduced, building a rich, eye-catching surface that celebrated the spontaneity and creativity of process art. The focus was on the joy of creation rather than the final outcome. This collaborative process naturally encouraged social skills such as sharing, cooperating, and complimenting, while also supporting the development of fine and gross motor skills. The result is a unique and vibrant artwork, mainly created by preschoolers, that reflects the exploration, creativity, and fun shared throughout the year. This project beautifully shows how a full class art activity can nurture artistic expression, foster social growth, and create a sense of pride and accomplishment for everyone involved.

A full class art activity: In conclusion

Collaborative art projects like Messy Mandala, Playgroup People Painting, and Growing Together offer a powerful way to transform your classroom’s confidence and creativity. By engaging every student in a safe, inclusive environment, these activities foster a sense of community and shared accomplishment. Guide your students as they create artworks like these, and notice how their enthusiasm grows and their teamwork strengthens with every colourful layer. A full class art activity gives you the chance to build a more connected and creative classroom—one that leaves everyone feeling proud and inspired.

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.
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Explore more collaborative art ideas →

Best Collaborative Art Ideas: Projects, Guides & Resources for All Ages

A work in progress for the Utopia series painted by Painting Around is Fun as we create collaborative art at home.

How to Create Collaborative Art at Home

Quick Takeaway

Create Collaborative Art at Home with simple, fun steps that help everyone join in — kids, teens, and adults alike. I’ve facilitated over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants, and I share what works through my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework. You’ll learn how to bring people together creatively at home, and I want to help you do the same with my helpful digital resources.


How can you create collaborative art at home?

In this article, I’ll show you how to create collaborative art at home using a simple, engaging process called Pattern Play Collaborative Art. This style focuses on three key stages: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. The photos you’ll see are work-in-progress snapshots from a project I’m creating with my kids, with the occasional friend joining in if they happen by. We usually work with one colour per session, which can last as little as ten minutes. This project is part of our Utopia series, inspired by the stunning comic book illustrations from the science fiction show of the same name.

Colour swatch of the Utopia palette showing bold shades: aqua, burgundy, yellow, light green, and purple
Use 1–3 colours per session from the Utopia scheme (either warm or cool).

We use a limited colour scheme, ‘Utopia’ – aqua, crimson, yellow, light green, and purple – to keep the artwork cohesive while still allowing creative freedom. By mixing in white, we create variations in the colours, adding playful options while maintaining a unified look. With the structured spontaneity of Pattern Play, each layer builds on the last, creating a rich, collaborative canvas. Anyone can join in and enjoy the process – you too! By the way, you can get my ‘7 Group Art Colour Schemes‘ which includes Utopia from my shop – I offer economical tools and resources to support the collaborative art process I share everywhere on my site, podcast and in my email group.

A work in progress for the Utopia series painted by Painting Around is Fun as we create collaborative art at home.
Create Collaborative Art at Home: Underpainting

Create collaborative art at home 1: Underpainting

The first step in creating collaborative art at home is the Underpainting stage. For the Utopia series, we use a vibrant colour scheme of aqua and crimson. Start with an aqua background and scatter random blotches of crimson across the surface. This foundation sparks creativity immediately, offering something for everyone to interact with. The underpainting eases participants into the process, providing a messy, visually interesting canvas to overlap and build upon. It sets a relaxed and engaging tone for the entire collaborative experience.

A work in progress for the Utopia series painted by Painting Around is Fun as we create collaborative art at home.
Create Collaborative Art at Home: Messy Playing

Create collaborative art at home 2: Messy playing

The next stage is Messy Playing, where the fun truly begins. For this Utopia project, participants choose one colour from the vibrant Utopia palette and start making big circles, spirals, and random marks across the canvas. Using a single colour keeps decisions simple and allows everyone to focus on experimenting with the size and flow of their shapes.

This stage encourages playful creativity without the pressure of comparison. It’s easy to copy what others are doing, yet each contribution still feels unique and part of the larger collaborative artwork. I keep my simple Pattern Play visual resources on hand, so painters can pick one idea to copy across the canvas in a few different sizes or positions. With six artworks in this series, participants are encouraged to add each mark, pattern, or idea to every canvas, making the whole series feel connected and collaborative.

Create collaborative art at home 3: Exploring

The Exploring stage is where the artwork begins to take on a life of its own. For this project, we continue using one colour at a time, adding circles, spirals, and patterns that overlap earlier layers. Participants are encouraged to vary the sizes of their shapes and interact with each other’s contributions—outlining forms with a different colour, adding dots or dashes radiating from a shape, or creating clusters of intricate patterns.

As the surface builds with each pass, medium and smaller brushes add even more variety and detail. This stage flows naturally and can continue as long as creativity allows. In our Utopia project, the Exploring stage can evolve throughout the year, letting participants keep adding new layers, colours, and patterns. It’s a minimal setup—just a few brushes, tubes of paint, paper cups, and a plastic tablecloth or newspaper (or even an old towel) are enough. This ongoing process makes the collaborative artwork a continuously rewarding journey of creativity and connection.

A work in progress for the Utopia series painted by Painting Around is Fun as we create collaborative art at home.
Create Collaborative Art at Home: Bling!

Create collaborative art at home 4: Bling!

The final stage is Bling!, where you add the extra touches that make the artwork truly shine. In this example, we’ve added only a little bling because the Exploring stage is still underway, but even a small amount makes a noticeable difference. Use paint pens, glitter glue, dot stickers, or sharpies to add pops of colour and visual interest. This stage can be subtle or bold, depending on the mood and creativity of the group. As the project continues, more bling can be added over time, making the artwork even richer, layered, and dynamic.


Create collaborative art at home: In conclusion

Creating collaborative art at home with friends and family is easy and fun when you follow three simple stages: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. This approach, part of my Pattern Play Collaborative Art style, encourages creativity for all ages and skill levels. In our Utopia series, we used a limited but vibrant colour scheme and layered circles, spirals, and patterns to create a cohesive, evolving artwork. Whether working with kids or adults, this method provides a spontaneous and enjoyable way to express creativity—one colour, one layer, and one session at a time!

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.