If you’re looking for unique collaborative art projects that are joyful, inclusive, and accessible for all ages and abilities, Pattern Play Collaborative Art is a great place to start. This playful, layered approach unfolds in three simple stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—making it easy for anyone to join in, no matter their experience level. The projects below show how this process can come to life in all kinds of settings, from schools and libraries to the kitchen table at home.

Unique Collaborative Art Projects: Growing Together

On a scorching 40-degree day in Adelaide, thirty kids aged 4 to 12 came together during a school holiday program to create a unique collaborative art project called Growing Together. None of them had worked with me before, but over three joyful sessions, they layered patterns, marks, and colours using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach. The fast-drying summer heat meant each stage could be completed in a single day. By the end, their sense of pride was clear—one child even exclaimed, “The Mona Lisa is number one, THIS is number two!”

Unique Collaborative Art Projects: Myriad in Harmony

In contrast, Myriad in Harmony unfolded over three days at the State Library of South Australia during the annual Myriad exhibition, which celebrates the work of artists living with disability across the state. Across three sessions, I invited 80 visitors—from toddlers to older adults, including exhibiting artists themselves—to take part in another unique collaborative art project. With gentle guidance, they added their own marks, patterns, and creative energy to a shared canvas. The result was a joyful mix of colour and texture that reflected the diversity and spontaneity of everyone who participated.

We used my Printable Pattern Play Cards exclusively for this project – simple, accessible patterns scattered around the canvas for the painters to take inspiration from or copy in different sizes, colours and combinations to create the wonderful artwork above. Click on the image below to buy these ready to print and use resources:

Unique Collaborative Art Projects: 2023 Incognito Art Show

Our third unique collaborative art project took shape as part of the 2023 Incognito Art Show, a national initiative based in Sydney that raises funds to support artists living with disability through dedicated studio programs. The show invites creatives of all ages and experience levels to anonymously contribute three small A6 artworks in any medium. Above are three of the 12 artworks submitted, For the first time, my kids and I worked on our entries together. We began by taping all the cards into one big canvas for a shared session of Messy Playing and Exploring Patterns, using our favourite collaborative methods. Later, we separated them and each added our own BLING stage with paint pens—three individual pieces apiece, filled with colour, energy, and love. The finished cards were sent back to Sydney where buyers had no idea if they were collecting a child’s first artwork or a piece by an Archibald Prize winner!

Unique Collaborative Art Projects: In conclusion

From a holiday care program in Adelaide to a public exhibition at the State Library, and even a national art show in Sydney, these unique collaborative art projects show how creativity can bring people together in the most joyful and unexpected ways. Whether it’s kids layering colours in the sun, strangers adding their mark to a shared canvas, or families working side-by-side on tiny artworks, each project celebrates connection, expression, and the simple joy of painting around together.

Discover simple tips about how unique collaborative art projects like these can be painted by YOU. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too. Let my tools help you!

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

Unique Collaborative Art Projects: 3 Engaging Ideas for All Ages & Abilities: 3 unique collaborative art projects that prove painting together is powerful, playful, and possible for all ages. Dive into Pattern Play and discover how simple stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—can turn any group into a creative team. #collaborativeart #socialart #groupart #teamart #inclusiveart #accessibleart #communityart #collectiveart #cooperativeart #participatoryart #patternplay #paintingaroundisfun

From Art Teacher to Group Art Facilitator: Why Art Is for Everyone

This post is part of my “About Series,” where I share the story behind Painting Around is Fun and how Pattern Play Collaborative Art came to life. You can read more about the person behind the paint in the full About page here. Whether you’re new here or curious about how it all began, welcome! Every artwork you see on this page were created by a mixed-ability groups of people of all ages.

The beginning — Teaching art in classrooms

I began my creative career as a secondary school Art Teacher, working across metro and country schools for over 12 years. I taught everyone from Year 6 students to adults in local TAFE Leisure Courses — and just about every year level in between. It was fun, challenging, creative, and frustrating — all the things.

Like all school-based art educators, I was a generalist. My days were filled with drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, design, and sculpture — along with the endless juggling that comes with preparing for all of them! Teaching kept me creatively sharp, but it also gave me a front-row seat to how students respond to pressure, comparison, and perfectionism.

Like most teachers, I disliked having to judge student work — all we really want is to help them build new skills, take risks, and enjoy learning.

Early signs — Why group art felt different

Every now and then, I got the chance to create murals with kids — and those sessions always stood out. They felt looser, lighter, and more fun. I started to notice something important: when we painted together as a group, students were more relaxed, more playful, and more connected.

Something shifted when the focus moved from the individual to the collective. The art still mattered — but the pressure didn’t. And that made all the difference.

The shift — Discovering the power of group art

Looking back, I realised my favourite teaching moments weren’t really about technique — they were about transformation. When people create together, the energy in the room changes. It frees them up. They laugh more. They take risks. They stop worrying about whether what they’re doing is “good enough.”

The silent audience is real — especially for kids. That internal pressure of “who’s watching?” or “what if it’s wrong?” can cause them to give up creative subjects before they’re ready. And yet, we all need creative outlets. Painting together is empowering. It takes the focus off perfection and puts it on connection.

Becoming a group art facilitator

In collaborative art, no one has to carry the whole picture. What you add becomes part of something bigger. The final artwork always looks amazing — not because it’s polished, but because it’s shared. This kind of process builds creative confidence through play, participation, and shared purpose.

Over time, I moved away from step-by-step instruction and towards something more dynamic. Now, as a group art facilitator, my role is to create the conditions for creativity to flourish in a shared space. I design guided structures that invite spontaneity, encourage contribution, and reduce pressure — all while keeping it simple and fun.

If you’re laughing, you’re learning. And when you’re painting with others, you’re in the zone. That’s the sweet spot where creativity lives. Maybe that’s why my projects always seem to work — you simply add another playful layer, and something wonderful emerges.

The now — Collaborative art for everyone

These days, I guide all kinds of groups in creating spontaneous, joy-filled artworks together. As a group art facilitator, I work in schools, community centres, vacation care programs, and at special events — anywhere people are open to connection through creativity.

Designing for inclusion

I embrace the principles of universal design — creating processes that work for everyone, right from the start. Universal design is about making environments, products, and experiences accessible to as many people as possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised support.

In collaborative art, this means designing with people who have additional needs in mind — because when we plan for access, we make things better for everyone. I truly believe that disability is not inability. Some of us simply need a different way in — more time, clearer steps, or extra support to create successfully and joyfully.

A simple, inclusive approach

My approach is inclusive, accessible, and beginner-friendly — designed to reduce pressure, spark curiosity, and celebrate contribution over perfection. Whether it’s a one-hour session with preschoolers painting a giant cardboard box, a large wall mural with teenagers over several weeks, or a multi-session artwork on canvas with adults of all abilities, each session is tailored to make participation easy and meaningful.

I don’t call myself an “artist” — I call myself a social artist or inclusive social art guide. A social artist is someone who uses creative skills to bring people together and foster positive change. I love painting with others. That’s why I always join in — because the artwork isn’t mine. It’s ours.

And I don’t believe in “talent” as a prerequisite. What many call talent is usually just skill built through time, effort, and encouragement. Anyone can learn. Anyone can create. That’s why I say: art is for everyone — not just for ‘artists.’

What’s next? Try the Pattern Play method for yourself

If the idea of collaborative art excites you, I’ve created a free resource to help you get started. The Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art: The Pattern Play Method walks you through a simple, 10-step process designed to spark creativity and connection — perfect for groups of any age or ability. Whether you’re leading a workshop, working with students, or gathering friends for a creative session, this guide gives you everything you need to get going with confidence.

👉 Download the Free Guide

You can also explore the Pattern Play resources in my shop — full of simple visual prompts and ideas that make it easy for anyone to facilitate group art, even if you’ve never led a creative project before.

🛒 Visit the Collaborative Art Shop

Whether you’re an educator, a community leader, or someone looking to bring more creativity into your circle, I hope my journey shows just how accessible and joyful collaborative art can be — and how it’s possible for you to become a group art facilitator too.

→ Curious where it all began? Read Part 1 of the About Series: Your Collaborative Art Guide to Creating Inclusive Group Paintings, or head back to the full About page here.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

✨ Let’s Chat:

Pattern Play Collaborative Art makes it easy to create something beautiful—together. No fancy skills needed—just a few simple resources and a willingness to play.

If you’re thinking of starting a project, I’d love to cheer you on!
Reply to one of my emails or get in touch via the Contact page and tell me what you’re dreaming up.

Creating a shared artwork is more than just painting together—it’s about transforming a group into a team through creativity. In this article, we’ll explore how to make a team artwork. We will look through two collaborative paintings, VOICE and SAFETY. These were made by young carers during a Media Training Day. Using my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach, we followed three simple stages. Messy Playing helped break the ice and build energy. Exploring helped develop patterns and personal contributions. Finally, Bling brought the final details together. With the help of an underpainting, participants eased the fear of a blank canvas. They quickly connected and layered their ideas. Through collaboration, they co-created something truly meaningful. Individual expressions were turned into a unified team artwork.

How to Make a Team Artwork: Underpainting to Prompt Confidence

When learning how to make a team artwork, starting with an underpainting can be a game-changer—especially in short sessions. For the VOICE and SAFETY artworks, I prepared the surfaces in advance. I used a base layer of colour. This was based on the shapes and colors of Carers SA. Carers SA supports the Young Carer’s Collective. This step served three key purposes. It provided a background to build on. This reduced the daunting feeling of a blank canvas. It also helped the young carers dive in without hesitation. Additionally, it acted as a visual prompt, sparking ideas and giving them confidence to start quickly. This simple step made a noticeable difference, creating a sense of flow from the start. By laying this foundation, the canvases instantly became inviting, collaborative spaces where participants explored their creativity with ease.

How to Make a Team Artwork: Voice

The VOICE artwork was all about self-expression and the importance of young carers being heard. We used the Carers SA logo colours—grey, blue, and coral. We began with ‘Messy Play.’ The canvas was filled with circles in various sizes. These transformed into eggs, doughnuts, links in a chain, and spirals. As the group relaxed into the process, they added decorative patterns, using post-it note inspirations to either copy or adapt. Small brushes were used to build layers of overlapping details. The final touch was a border of affirmations about the power of a young carer’s voice. Each painter’s name was subtly incorporated into the piece. This step-by-step process is a wonderful guide. It shows how to make a team artwork. It blends individual contributions into a cohesive whole.

How to Make a Team Artwork: Safety

The SAFETY artwork explored what makes young carers feel safe within Carers SA. Sticking to cool, calming tones, the group built up layers of circles, ovals, and spirals, moving fluidly across the canvas. Like in VOICE, they added decorations and overlapping patterns, drawing inspiration from post-it notes. Words representing safety were developed earlier in the workshop. These words were featured in the day’s videos. They were integrated as text-based elements in the final design. Again, each participant’s name was woven into the artwork, making it a truly collective piece. By using this process, the group learned to create a team artwork. This artwork reflects shared meaning and a sense of belonging.

My Easy Pattern Play Resources downloadable .pdf is full of the types of simplified patterns you can use to create an artwork like this with your friends, family, students, group, team or clients:

How to Make a Team Artwork: In Conclusion

These two projects, VOICE and SAFETY, highlight how to make a team artwork that is both meaningful and engaging. By starting with an underpainting, we created an inviting space where young carers could confidently express themselves. The step-by-step process began with Messy Play. Then, patterns and decorations were added. Finally, text-based elements were incorporated. This approach helped transform individual contributions into a cohesive, collaborative piece. These artworks show that a group can unite through the right approach. This unity emerges from preparation steps to the addition of final details. They can create something powerful together. Whether focusing on self-expression or a shared theme, a team artwork begins with a strong foundation. It also requires an open, inclusive process.

Discover simple tips about how to make a team artwork just like these. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too. Let my tools help you!

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

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

Your Collaborative Art Guide to Creating Inclusive Group Paintings

Discover how creativity connects people of all abilities

Have you ever wished creativity could feel more welcoming, more shared, and less intimidating?
Inclusive collaborative art might be just what you’re looking for. It’s more than a buzzword — it’s a way of making art that connects people, encourages expression, and includes everyone, no matter their age or ability. Whether you’re looking for collaborative art projects for school, home, or your workplace, this guide will help you get started with confidence.

Discover the power of painting together!

Hi, I’m Charndra — the artist and guide behind Pattern Play Collaborative Art, a simple, inclusive way to create shared artwork that brings people together.

Years ago, I saw how powerful it could be when people of all ages and skill levels added their marks to a canvas — from toddlers to teachers, kids to carers. That spark eventually became the Pattern Play Collaborative Art Method: a structure that makes it easy for you to run a creative group painting session — no art degree or teaching experience needed. Just a love of colour, creativity, and people.

As your collaborative art guide, I’ve helped groups of all kinds discover how joyful and bonding it is to paint together. Whether you’re in a school, a playgroup, a team workshop, or around the kitchen table, inclusive group painting invites everyone in. It’s creative connection made simple.

👉 Curious about the story behind this approach? Read more about me and the vision behind Pattern Play Collaborative Art here.

If that sounds like something you’d love to try, I’ve created a free guide just for you:
🖌️ Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art: The Pattern Play Collaborative Art Method
Create meaningful group art with any group — even if you’ve never led a session before.

It walks you through a fun, beginner-friendly process you can try at home, at school, or in your community. Perfect for collaborative art projects with family, students, or team members.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Pattern Play Collaborative Art makes it easy to create something beautiful—together. No fancy skills needed—just a few simple resources and a willingness to play.

If you’re thinking of starting a project, I’d love to cheer you on!
Reply to one of my emails or get in touch via the Contact page and tell me what you’re dreaming up.

Discover More About the Free Guide to Pattern Play Collaborative Art Here.

Effective collaborative art projects bring people together through creativity, making art accessible, engaging, and fun. In Pattern Play Collaborative Art, we follow three simple stages—Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling—to create vibrant, layered artworks. Growing Together, Messy Mandala, and King Leo are examples where primary school children advanced through these stages. They used cool colour schemes and painted papers. Playful techniques like masking, collage, and paint pens were also utilized. Each project transformed ordinary materials into something unique and meaningful, proving that collaboration makes art more powerful and rewarding.

Effective Collaborative Art Projects: King Leo

King Leo is another standout example of effective collaborative art projects. It engages primary school children in a playful, multi-stage creative process. In the first session, students painted papers before cutting them into strips and circles. The next session introduced a fun transformation. Each circle was cut into a spiral with guided prompts. This ensured success for every child. They then assembled King Leo’s magnificent mane. First, they attached the blue strips radially. Next, they added the spirals to frame the painted lion’s face (which I completed in between sessions). In the final stage, children added expressive details with paint pens in varying sizes, a favourite finishing touch. Now, King Leo hangs proudly in the OSHC rooms, watching over his pride—a celebration of teamwork and creativity.

Effective Collaborative Art Projects: Messy Mandala

Another inspiring example of effective collaborative art projects is Messy Mandala. It is a three-week artwork created with primary school students in OSHC. This project is rooted in the mandala’s symbolic representation of the universe. It featured off-centred circles layered in cool colours. There are small masked-out windows revealing glimpses of earlier layers, reminiscent of planets. In the second week, children added vibrancy by collaging painted and printed papers into the spaces. In the third week, they brought it to life with paint pens. These pens are a favourite creative tool. The final artwork is a repurposed three-panel screen from a discount store. It now brightens the school library. This masterpiece was transformed into something beautiful and unique through collective effort.

Effective Collaborative Art Projects: Growing Together

One example of effective collaborative art projects in action is Growing Together. This vibrant artwork was created by 30 primary-aged children (5–12 years old). Using my ‘Forest’ colour scheme—an inviting mix of greens, purples, and blues—each child explored layering techniques. They blended with white for brightness and added depth with occasional deep blue accents. This inclusive process encouraged creativity while ensuring that every contribution harmonized within the larger piece. The result was a visually rich, collaborative artwork. It reflected individuality and collective effort. This work embodied the essence of accessible and engaging group art-making.

We used such resources as my Printable Pattern Play Cards for this project – simple, accessible patterns scattered around the canvas for the painters to take inspiration from or copy in different sizes, colours and combinations to create the wonderful artwork above. Click on the image below to buy these ready to print and use resources:

Effective Collaborative Art Projects: In conclusion

Effective collaborative art projects inspire creativity, teamwork, and inclusivity. Pattern Play Collaborative Art consists of Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling stages. Projects like Growing Together, Messy Mandala, and King Leo show how simple materials can be used effectively. Guided techniques enhance the process. Collective effort ensures the creation of stunning and meaningful artworks. These artworks bring people together through shared creativity.

Discover simple tips about how effective collaborative art projects like these can be painted by YOU. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too. Let my tools help you!

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

Looking for meaningful, creative ways to connect as a homeschooling family or group? Collaborative art projects for homeschooling are a wonderful way to build people skills, develop fine and gross motor coordination, and grow creative confidence—together. In this article, we’ll explore a real-life example called the Utopia Painting, part of a six-artwork series created with my kids during school holidays.

Using a calming, cohesive colour scheme we call Utopia, this project follows the accessible and engaging process of Pattern Play Collaborative Art—my signature style designed for all ages and abilities. The steps are simple and fun:

1. Messy Playing (mark-making and layering),
2. Exploring (adding patterns and playful details), and
3. Bling (final touches and colour pops).

Whether you’re a seasoned art-loving parent or a complete beginner, this guide will show how collaborative art can be a joyful, shared experience at home.

Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: Utopia Underpainting

We began by pushing the six square canvases together to create one large surface, then loosely brushed on amorphous blobs of colour in light blue and burgundy, flowing across the canvases as if they were one piece. This underpainting stage helps to get rid of the white space, unifying the background and setting the tone for what’s to come. Small glimpses of these base colours often peek through to the final layer, adding depth and texture. At this stage, I also like to add a few visual prompts to guide the group: a large circle, a spiral, a meandering line, or an arch starting from an edge—each one overlapping across several canvases to encourage connection and movement across the whole artwork.

Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: Utopia Messy Playing

In the next session, we moved into the Messy Playing stage—starting with just one colour: yellow. Using big brushes, we added circles, spirals, and playful marks right over the underpainting, treating the surface as if it were a blank canvas. This stage is all about loosening up, responding to what’s already there, and embracing the joy of overlapping. That was it for the day—a short, energising group activity that left the canvases glowing with motion and possibility. In the following session, we chose green and repeated the same process, layering new shapes and patterns over the yellow and underpainting below. Each layer adds richness and connection, and no single part is too precious—everything is part of the evolving whole.

Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: Utopia Exploring

As we moved into the Exploring stage, the artworks really began to come alive. Each session, we chose just one colour to add new layers of simple patterns, shapes, and marks—building depth and a sense of quiet complexity. This stage is about responding rather than planning. The canvases are now mixed up and placed in a random order, so painters can’t focus on “their” section—they’re invited to see the whole artwork as shared space. Painters begin to outline interesting shapes they notice, or continue to overlap with fresh marks. They’re encouraged to add something to each canvas every session, to echo one another’s ideas in a different size or colour, and to experiment freely. Over time, the layers build and a lovely visual rhythm emerges, full of connection and surprise. This stage can go for as many layers as you like, the brushes getting smaller over the layers works well.

Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: Utopia Bling

Finally, we arrive at the Bling stage—where the magic really starts to sparkle. We bring out paint pens in the colours of our Utopia scheme, starting with regular-sized tips and later switching to finer ones for extra detail. This is the time for ornamentation and decoration—outlining shapes, adding tiny patterns in rows or clusters, and playing with accents both inside and around existing marks. It’s a slower, more intentional stage that invites focus and care, while still being playful and collaborative. This is where we’re up to right now, and we’ll continue adding these final touches in the next school holidays. I can’t wait to see the finished artworks come together—this colour scheme is one of my absolute favourites at the moment!

My Easy Pattern Play Resources downloadable .pdf is full of the types of simplified patterns you can use to create an artwork like this with your friends, family, students, group, team or clients:

Collaborative Art Projects For Homeschooling: In Conclusion

If you’re creating a series of artworks like our Utopia themed set of joint collaborative artworks, such collaborative art projects for homeschooling offer a rich and rewarding way to learn through play. By moving through the stages of Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling, kids (and adults!) build creative confidence, people skills, and shared memories—one layer at a time.

Discover simple tips about how collaborative art projects like these can be painted by YOU for your homeschooling needs. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too.

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

Ready to dive into creative collaborative art projects? My free guide, “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home,” introduces you to Pattern Play Collaborative Art. It is a simple and accessible style of creating art together. Anyone can enjoy it. The guide walks you through three fun stages. These are Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling. These stages help you create meaningful and beautiful artworks with family, friends, or your community.

Projects like the Mermaid Series, Companionship, and Our Painted Elephant showcase the magic of collaborative art. These cool-coloured projects were created by people of all ages: at home, in schools, and in community settings. Grab your free guide below and start your own creative adventure!

Creative Collaborative Art Projects: Mermaid Series – Incognito

Creating Collaborative Art Projects: Mermaid Series

Every year, my kids and I take on a project for the Incognito Art Show. It is a fun and meaningful collaborative art project. We start by taping our 12 A6-sized artworks together for the Messy Playing and Exploring stages, creating as one. Then, we pull them apart for the Bling stage. During this stage, each of us adds our own unique flair with paint pens. These vibrant pieces feature my signature mermaid colour scheme.

This is one of seven Essential Colour Schemes for Creative Freedom. The 12 artworks are then sent to Sydney to be sold for $100 each. The sales raise funds for art studios supporting artists living with disabilities. It’s creativity with a cause!

Creative Collaborative Art Projects: Companionship

Companionship is a stunning example of three creative collaborative art projects that took place at Westfield Marion. Involving several hundred participants, this artwork transformed an artwork into a vibrant expression of community and connection. As people walked by, they were invited to contribute their unique touches. This illustrated how collective creativity can foster companionship – bringing people together, something all humans need. It also records a shared experience, highlighting the power of collaboration in the arts.

My Easy Pattern Play Resources downloadable .pdf is full of the types of simplified patterns you can use to create an artwork like this with your friends, family, students, group, team or clients:

Creative Collaborative Art Projects: Our Painted Elephant

Our Painted Elephant is a lovely example of creative collaborative art projects. It engaged primary school children in a fun way. It was also cost-effective, as the kids created the artwork on a fabric banner. They used techniques like sponging and scraping with cool colors during the Messy Playing stage. In the Exploration stage, they layered stencils in warm colors, adding depth and vibrancy. Finally, the Bling stage involved applying a mask with black spray paint, highlighting details of the elephant’s face. This project not only nurtured the children’s artistic skills but also emphasised the joy of working together creatively.

Creative Collaborative Art Projects: In Conclusion

In summary, creative collaborative art projects serve as powerful tools for community engagement, fostering connections and shared experiences among participants. These projects can take many forms. They can be public projects like Companionship, at home projects with family and friends, or hands-on activities with children. They not only encourage artistic expression but also promote teamwork and collaboration. By bringing individuals together to create something meaningful, they highlight the beauty and impact of collective creativity in our communities.

Discover simple tips about how creative collaborative art projects like these can be painted by YOU. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too.

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

Facilitating a group artwork can be a joyful and inclusive experience with the right approach. These Tips for Cooperative Painting Projects will give you simple guidance for creating with people of all ages and abilities. Participants of varying abilities will feel welcomed and enjoy this creative process. This style of collaborative art encourages collaboration and self-expression. Use my three simple stages. First, engage in Messy Playing. Next, you’ll do some Exploring of shape, colour and pattern. Finally, add fun Bling. These stages allow you to create an accessible environment that invites people to smile and have fun as they paint. It doesn’t matter their experience, beginners and professional artists have fun painting together, inspiring each other. My Pattern Play Collaborative Art method enhances engagement. Start by preparing a welcoming space. Have an underpainting ready. This way, there’s no ‘shock of the new’ blank canvas. Celebrate the final artwork by saying “Give yourself a clap for your beautiful artwork!”

Tips for Cooperative Painting Projects 1: Set the Stage for Success

Prepare the space with accessible materials. Make sure supplies are easy-to-reach. Have a canvas with an inviting underpainting. It has a colour over the whole canvas, a circle, a spiral, or a cluster of dots. Consider adding an arch on an edge and a trailing line across the entire shape. These invite people to play! Create a welcoming setup – a plastic table cloth to catch paint drops (rarely needed with this system). Use my Pattern Play Collaborative Art process! My best tip: Use a cup tray with four cups. Assign one brush to each cup. Select three main colors, and vary the fourth cup with some white. Done.

Tips for Cooperative Painting Projects 2: Start with Making a Playful MESS!

Encourage participants to start with freeform mark-making, using big brushes and simple shapes. This removes pressure and builds confidence. I call this stage “Messy Play”. Everybody loves it. They realize it really is playing around with circles by doing big and little ones in several colours. Participants move around the artwork while doing this.

Tips for Cooperative Painting Projects 3: Incorporate Inclusive Patterns to Explore…

Scatter around a few visual guides (like my Pattern Play resources) to inspire participants while allowing creative interpretation. The Pattern Play cards have 48 options. Laminate them in sets of three. Offer a few for painters to choose from. Rotate them each session. Select those that suit their skills and abilities. Choose the patterns that match the feel of the artwork. Choose patterns that suit the colours you are using…

Tips for Cooperative Painting Projects 4: Balance Guidance with Freedom

Offer structure through step-by-step prompts but leave room for personal expression. Keep instructions clear and adaptable. By telling people what to do, you free them to be creative as they have a framework to get started. Try it! Say “Pick a colour pot. Do three BIG circles. Then move to another place and do three small circles in a cluster”. People watch one another and feel free to start exploring. Let them know that your instruction is just a starting point. As soon as you like, find your own way to create your unique marks. Then, repeat them to make a pattern…

Tips for Cooperative Painting Projects 5: Celebrate the Process, Not Perfection – Encourage the Painters to COPY each other!

Encourage collaboration over individual results. Focus on shared effort and layering. Enjoy the joy of painting together. Encourage the painters to interact with what each other is doing. They should compliment the ideas of each other. They should COPY what others are doing because that is how we learn. Specifically guide people to pick a pattern idea or an interesting area of overlapping shapes that someone else has done. Ask them to recreate it in a different colour or a different size. Suggest creating it in a cluster, from the edge, or in a line. Be excited about the unique thing they create. This helps people feel seen and included, especially when their ideas are pointed out verbally.

Tips for Cooperative Painting Projects: In conclusion

These Tips for Cooperative Painting Projects will help you to give your group an engaging art experience. By setting up a welcoming space with a colourful and accessible underpainting, you encourage playful exploration. When you incorporate inclusive patterns and balance guidance with creative freedom, you create an environment where everyone can contribute. Most importantly, celebrating the process over perfection ensures a positive and collaborative experience for participants of all ages and abilities.

Discover more simple tips for cooperative painting projects like these. Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ visual resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too.

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!

This Collective Painting Project exemplifies Pattern Play Collaborative Art. It is where layering, intuition, and shared creativity jointly bring an artwork to life. The process unfolds in three simple stages. First is Messy Playing. We build the foundation with bold marks and colour. Next is Exploring. Patterns and layers add depth and connection. Finally, there’s Bling!, where we enhance the piece with gold leaf, paint pens, stickers, and gems. Each step allows painters to contribute freely. Painters can respond to what’s already there. They enjoy the evolving artwork without fear of “getting it wrong.”

Collective Painting Project: We Talk Together: Underpainting

The underpainting for this Collective Painting Project began as my first social art project with adults in 2017. It was exhibited that same year at Skylight, much to the delight of the participants. In 2023, I decided to continue developing the artwork with the My Time group. Many of the original painters were still involved. This approach reduces costs. It aligns perfectly with Pattern Play Collaborative Art. In this collaborative art form, layering enhances both the visual depth and the creative experience.

Adding layers allows the artwork to evolve naturally. This process helps participants focus on the joy of painting together. They need not worry about “getting it right” or “getting it wrong.” Over time, those fears fade, replaced by the realisation that it’s simply paint—we can always add more! My record for layering is 14, achieved in the Community artwork created during the Westfield Marion Art Story project.

Collective Painting Project: We Talk Together: Messy Playing

The first layer of this collective painting project used three cool colours—dark blue, light blue, and green. We incorporated simple patterns from my Pattern Play Visual Resources. We selected just a couple from the dozen available in the pack. Limiting choices helps foster creativity, as too many options can feel overwhelming or intimidating.

The process was straightforward: pick a pattern you like, paint it in three places—big and small. Then, swap colours and repeat. I always emphasise BIG and small. That gives us lots of variety. Medium naturally happens as one person’s big spiral is quite different to that of the next person. This contrast makes the approach clear, easy to follow, and visually engaging. We used larger brushes for bold marks.

Collective Painting Project: We Talk Together: Exploring

The next layer naturally introduced warm colours—crimson, pink, and orange. As the collective painting project progressed, painters began adding more patterns. They also responded to what was already on the canvas. I encouraged both approaches:

• “Imagine the canvas is blank and simply add your marks and patterns.”
• “Engage with what’s there—outline a shape, decorate the spaces in between, or add dots or dashes along a line.”

These suggestions give participants the freedom to follow their creative intuition, making the process both engaging and enjoyable! We used medium brushes for this layer. This alternate layering of colour families can continue over several sessions if you like. The artwork becomes more and more visually rich, with many fascinating parts to wander over with your amazed eyes…

Collective Painting Project: We Talk Together: Exploring

Returning to cool colours, this layer featured light blue, dark blue, a translucent metallic green, and a touch of purple. We switched to small brushes. Round brushes are for modulated lines. Flat brushes make choppy marks. Filbert brushes give a mix of both (I simply like them, and call them ‘cat’s tongue’ brushes!

For this stage of the collective painting project, we used my Pattern Play Printable Cards. They were scattered around the canvas. This allowed painters to choose a design that caught their eye. It was fascinating to see how popular ‘Tallies’ (tally marks) became. They added a dynamic element to the artwork in different sizes and colours!

Collective Painting Project: In conclusion

This collective painting project has been a journey of layering colours, patterns, and creative intuition. We started with a cool underpainting, followed by a warm layer to build contrast and depth. Each stage encouraged painters to add their own marks. It also prompted them to respond to what was already there. This fostered both individuality and collaboration. Using my Pattern Play Visual Resources and Pattern Play Printable Cards, participants explored different patterns. ‘Tallies’ emerged as a favourite addition.

Next, we move into the BLING! stage—introducing gold leaf in the top left quadrant as a visual centre. We’ll spend several sessions adding the final decorative touches. We will use paint pens, stickers, and gems. These elements will bring this collective painting project to life.

Discover simple tips on how Collective Painting Projects like these can be created by YOU! Join my Inner Circle email group. I’ll give you “Starting Your First Social Art Project at Home”, my free 7-page guide. It makes it effortless for you to paint a unique artwork using this fun style of collaborative art.

Happy Painting! Charndra, Your Inclusive Social Art Guide.

Let’s Chat:

Are you keen to try this form of collaborative social art? It’s called ‘Pattern Play Collaborative Art’ because we layer approachable and accessible patterns from my ‘Pattern Play’ Visual Resources. These resources are tools. They help you create unique and beautiful collaborative art projects. You can paint with groups of people in your life too. Let my tools help you!

Want to join the conversation? Head to my Facebook | Instagram | Threads to find the featured image. Share your thoughts on collaborative art!