Make Collaborative Art Simple and Fun
In episode 17 of Easy Collaborative Art, I talk about three success strategies that help collaborative art projects run smoothly, stay fun, and produce beautiful results.
You’ll discover how to guide painters confidently, create structure without stifling creativity, and support everyone’s artistic expression.
I share practical tips from my experience facilitating over 60 community and school-based collaborative art projects with more than 2,000 participants.

What you’ll discover in this episode:
• How underpainting can create an inviting starting point and reassure hesitant painters.
• How using the three stages — Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling — provides structured freedom and encourages creativity.
• How limiting your colour scheme to three colours simplifies the process and inspires variation.

Links and Resources:
🎨 Read the full episode transcript: Episode17: What Are 3 Success Strategies for Collaborative Art? (+ a Bonus)
📘 Grab your free Beginner’s Guide toCollaborative Art
 🎧 Podcast Home: Easy Collaborative Art
Happy Painting!
Charndra
Your Inclusive Social Art Guide

Tips for Collaborative Art Projects for Art Therapy or Mental Health GroupsImagine you’re running a group for people in an art therapy or mental health setting - perhaps a mix of individuals who are feeling anxious, uncertain, or out of touch with their creative side. Here’s a structure you could follow:

Collaborative art can gently support mindfulness, emotional expression, and group connection. It’s inclusive and beginner-friendly, helping participants feel safe and confident even if they haven’t painted in years.

One of the most powerful aspects is that no one’s work stands out on its own. Each person contributes marks, shapes, or colours that blendinto a shared artwork, allowing participants to “hide” their individual painting within the collective creation. This removes the fear of judgment that can come from having personal art on display.

Over time, people start to relax and enjoy the process — copying marks they see, experimenting with colour, and realising that together, they’re creating something unique and beautiful. This shared creative experience helps build confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging within the group. That sense of belonging can then grow beyond the sessions themselves, encouraging people to explore creative hobbies, join community art activities, or even continue painting on their own for enjoyment and self-expression.

Step 1 – Messy Playing Invite participants to make broad, expressive marks on a shared canvas or set of canvases placed together as one. Limit the colour palette to two or three harmonious colours to reduce overwhelm and encourage flow.

Step 2 – Exploring Encourage layering simple shapes, like circles, arches and spirals or easy patterns. Repetition and variation in size build rhythm and cohesion. My Pattern Play prompts can providegentle guidance.

Step 3 – Bling! Add final touches — think decorative embellishments by doodling using paint pens. This stage is calming and gives a sense of accomplishment.Painters mindfully add patterns and decorate the lines and shapes, chatting companionably and feeling pride at their creativity.

Therapist tip: Using three brushes, three colours, and three stages provides structure, making it easier to guide participants while keeping the experience open and creative.

Why This WorksThis simple framework makes collaborative art projects easy to run in community groups. It gives structure without stifling creativity, soevery child can feel included. Best of all, it turns artmaking into a shared experience of play andconnection.

Pattern Play Collaborative Art is all about connection and creativity.