Painting Around is Fun

Accessible Art Sessions for Creative Fun

2026-06-01T19:30:02-04:00

Accessible Painting Ideas for Group Art: Fun, Inclusive Projects for Everyone

Hi there,

One of the things I hear most often is:

"I'd love to do a group art project, but what if some people aren't confident painters?"

It's a fair question.

It can feel tricky to create something that is both easy to join and genuinely creative.

I see the same challenge come up with young children, teenagers, adults, seniors, and mixed-ability groups.

That's one of the reasons I developed my Pattern Play Collaborative Art approach.

Instead of expecting everyone to start with a blank canvas and come up with ideas on the spot, participants begin with simple patterns, colours, and playful exploration. People can contribute at their own level, build confidence as they go, and enjoy being part of something larger than themselves.

What I love most is watching the moment people realise they don't need artistic experience to take part.

They relax.

They experiment.

They start having fun.

And together, they create something none of them would have made alone.

To help you find ideas that might suit your own group, I've put together six round-up articles featuring accessible collaborative painting projects and approaches.

If you're looking for ways to make group art feel achievable, inclusive, and enjoyable, I think you'll find something useful there.

Have a browse and see what sparks an idea for your next session.

Happy Painting,

Charndra

P.S. Thanks for being here.

This week, I'm grateful for the magpies I see on my various driving errands. The "teenager" groups of maggies are out having fun at the moment. Just today, as I dropped my son off at school after a late start, we watched some young maggies chasing dried leaves across the grass in the wind and rain. It was fun to watch.

What's one good thing that happened in your week?

Reply and tell me, I'd really like to know.

www.PaintingAroundisFun.com

Charndra
Your Inclusive Social Art Guide
Website: paintingaroundisfun.com
Email: charndra@paintingaroundisfun.com

Helping groups create fun, collaborative art experiences worldwide!

28 Pemberton Street
Oaklands Park
Adelaide SA 5046
AU

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Explore Collaborative Art: Podcast Insights

2026-05-25T19:30:12-04:00

Hi ,

Collaborative Art Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters

Have you ever wondered what makes collaborative art truly different from just doing an art project in a group? While it might sound like “painting together,” real collaborative art is much more than that. It’s about everyone bringing their unique ideas, marks, and choices to a shared canvas—so the final artwork is a true blend of each person’s creativity, not just one vision.

In my own group painting sessions, I see how collaborative art can help even the most hesitant participants feel confident and connected. It’s about following simple, clear instructions and copying a sample patterns used by hundreds of other and building something together, layer by layer, where everyone’s contributions matter. That sense of shared ownership is what makes the process so powerful and rewarding!

To make it easy for anyone to get started, I use the Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework of course! It guides groups through three simple stages: Messy Playing (for loosening up and getting started), Exploring (adding patterns and interacting with others’ marks), and Bling (finishing touches and highlights). This gentle structure helps everyone feel included, especially beginners or those who doubt their creative skills.

If you’re looking to bring more connection and creativity to your next group art session - my Pattern Play resources are designed to make collaborative art accessible and fun for all ages and abilities. They offer step-by-step support, colour schemes, and playful prompts so everyone can participate (and enjoy the process!).

This week's post is called "Collaborative Art Explained: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters", and it's a round up post (first of 5) based on Season 1 of my Easy Collaborative Art podcast, pointing to key episodes about this theme. Most episodes are c 5 minutes, all have three points- just three key ideas about Pattern Play Collaborative Art - helping share the process to new audiences who find about group art that way. The post now has the YouTube version (still audio) linked in case you prefer to listen straight away.

Happy Painting!
Charndra

P.S. Remember art classes? Your 25% off code is like opening that supply cupboard. Peek into the product descriptions - your first time code applies to any number of single products in one checkout.

Read the product descriptions for ideas.

Unlock the magic of collaborative painting!

2026-05-18T19:30:04-04:00

Hi there,

If you’ve ever tried collaborative painting with a group, you’ve probably noticed something.

When it works… it really works.

Students settle.
Conversations flow.
Ideas build naturally.
And the pressure just… drops.

So what actually makes collaborative painting so effective?

It comes down to three things:

1. Shared responsibility
No one is carrying the whole artwork alone. That reduces fear of getting it “wrong” and builds confidence.

2. Clear structure + creative freedom
With a simple framework (like Pattern Play’s three stages), students know what to do — but still have room to explore.

3. Natural connection
When students respond to each other’s marks, copy ideas, adapt patterns, and rotate across the canvas, cooperation happens organically.

Collaborative painting supports:

• Inclusion
• Confidence
• Cooperation
• Creative thinking

And it works just as well in classrooms as it does in community groups, therapy settings, and intergenerational spaces.

After facilitating 60+ projects with over 2,000 participants, I can confidently say this:

The magic is in a simple structure done well - in layers.

If you’re curious about easy ways to start, I’ve shared practical activity ideas in this week’s post — including pattern-based painting, rotating sectioned canvases, and cooperative turn-taking approaches.

You don’t need anything elaborate.
You just need the right starting point.

Want the full breakdown, plus simple activity ideas you can try straight away? Look at the post here:

Happy Painting!

Charndra

Your Inclusive Social Art Guide

P.S. Every artwork starts with a sketch line. Your 25% off code is the first line. Look at the product descriptions to help you finish it:

Read the product descriptions for ideas…

www.PaintingAroundisFun.com

🎁 Something for Your Creative Time

2026-05-11T19:30:04-04:00

Colouring Pages or Doodling Pages?

I’ve just created my first set of digital pages based on the “Ethereal Forest” collaborative painting. This piece came from a small group project where a few friends (adults and children) added their own marks, patterns, and layers to build a shared artwork for my Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art.

Now I’ve taken that painting and turned it into pages you can use in your own way — for slow colouring, relaxed doodling, or even a simple shared activity for a pair or in small groups.

I’ve also set up a Patreon page for my 'Creative Pages'.

There’s a Community Tier (free) where I’ll be sharing updates and creative ideas. The two designs I share with you here are there for free too.

And there's a paid tier called Pattern Play Creative Pages, where I’ll be adding downloadable pages regularly. $5 per month.

Each project will be released as a series of 10 designs, each available as both a colouring and doodling page. I’ll be sharing 4 designs per month (8 pages total).

I’d really love your input on these first two designs:

What do you think of my idea to turn collaborative paintings into creative pages?
Do you prefer colouring or doodling?
Do you find these too simple or too detailed?

These are my first digital designs. Previously, after a community project, I’d hand-draw colouring pages based on the artwork and share them back with the schools for their classes to use.

I quickly realised I enjoyed doing them for myself too, so I started thinking… why not create them for every project and begin sharing them online?

I’m a doodler myself — I find it relaxing. I enjoy colouring too, but I notice I become a bit more perfectionist about it. Having a simple colour scheme definitely helps.

You can print these at A4, A3, or A2 for individual or group creative sessions. If you try them, I’d love to see what you create.

Colouring Page

These colouring pages start from a hand-drawn layer over a print of the original painting, then are refined digitally in Procreate into an A2 format.

Here’s a detail of a colouring page, completed using regular pencils (not specialist art pencils), using my “Aura” colour scheme — pink, yellow, purple, and light blue (plus black and white):

Doodling Page

These pages are more open-ended, with a simple structure and a strip of starter patterns to continue or extend.

You can use a fine liner or just a regular black pen.

Here’s a detail of a completed doodle page using a simple black pen:

Explore the Creative Pages

I’d genuinely love your feedback because it will help shape what I create next.

For example, these first two designs use a couple of line thicknesses, but my first ten in the 'Thrive' series use one line thickness throughout (see a preview below). Do you prefer that, or do varied line thicknesses feel more interesting to you? I personally prefer slightly thicker lines. A lot of the “adult colouring books” I’ve seen are so intricate and fine-lined that I honestly wonder how people finish them!

And then there’s the flood of AI-generated colouring pages online now. Part of what interests me here is creating something genuinely human-made — real collaborative artworks transformed into unique colouring and doodling designs.

Thanks for being here as I explore this new direction. It’s fun turning collaborative paintings into another form of shared creative experience.

Happy Painting,

Charndra

P.S. My first Pattern Play Creative Pages are called the Thrive Series. They’re based on a mural I created with 106 students and staff at a specialist disability school here in Adelaide. I’ll be sharing more of these inside the free Community Tier on Patreon as the first designs are released this month.

www.PaintingAroundisFun.com

Case Study: Encouraging Success

2026-05-04T19:30:15-04:00

Case Study: “Encouraging Success”

Hi ,

Case Study: “Encouraging Success”

127 Staff and Students at IQRA College

At IQRA College, 127 students and staff came together to create this collaborative artwork inspired by the school value of Aspiration.

Two large panels were developed using turquoise drawn from the school logo, and the finished works now sit within the school as a visible reminder of wellbeing, connection, and pride.

What made this project work so well

Like all my collaborative art projects, we moved through three simple stages:

Messy Playing → Exploring → BLING

But this one stood out for scale.

During the Messy Playing stage, we filled two large canvases using:

texture sponges
masking techniques
templates for layered patterning
sgraffito mark-making

It was the biggest messy painting session I’ve ever facilitated.

Around 50 Reception students painted at the same time across two wide canvases, while others rotated through a social colouring page before swapping over. (Which was based on one of my social art projects - stay tuned, 😉)

There was paint everywhere.

Even with smocks… it still found its way onto hands, sleeves, and tables.

And honestly—it was exactly as it should be.

The moment that stayed with me

One quiet moment really stood out.

A young student who had previously been hesitant about making her own artwork stepped into this group process—and fully participated.

No hesitation. No worry about “doing it right.”

Just painting.

This is what collaborative art does so well:
it lowers the pressure and makes participation feel possible.

Her teacher was thrilled.

Community support

A number of the paint pens used in this project were generously donated by Officeworks Marion, and their support made a real difference to what we were able to create together.

What this shows

When a group creates together like this:

participation increases
confidence grows
and the artwork becomes something the whole community owns

Not just something displayed… but something felt.

If you want to create something like this

If you work with a group—school, community, or support setting—you can run collaborative art projects like this even if your participants don’t see themselves as “artistic.”

My Pattern Play resources give you a simple structure to make that happen:

clear steps so you can guide a group with confidence
easy pattern prompts to reduce “blank page” anxiety
less planning, more painting
a way to build connection through shared making

Explore Pattern Play resources below:

Read the product descriptions for ideas…

Happy Painting,

Charndra

P.S. If this project inspires you to try collaborative art with your group, you can use code WELCOME25 for 25% off your first Pattern Play resource.

Updated Beginner's Guide to Collaborative Art

2026-04-28T05:27:46-04:00

The Beginner’s Guide—Now Easier to Follow

Hello

I’ve just updated my Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art.

It’s now clearer, more structured, and easier to follow—while keeping the same simple, flexible Pattern Play approach.

If you’ve been meaning to try collaborative art with a group, this is a great place to start.

Download the NEW guide here:

Beginner’s Guide to Collaborative Art

I’d love to see what you create with it.

NB: If the links don’t work in preview, click the download icon to open the full PDF.

Charndra
Your Social Art Guide

P.S. I’ve expanded the guide with more examples and clearer guidance, and reworked the structure to make it easier to follow.

www.PaintingAroundisFun.com

Art Projects That Bring Communities Together

2026-04-27T19:30:06-04:00

Art Projects That Bring Communities Together

If you’re working with a community group - a neighbourhood centre, local residents, carers, families, seniors - you already know this:

People want connection.

They just don’t always know how to begin.

That’s where collaborative art shines.

I’ve gathered six community art project ideas that have all been tested in real group settings - simple, inclusive, and designed so everyone can contribute, no matter their skill level.

Inside you’ll find ideas that:

• Encourage relaxed, playful participation
• Build focus and shared creativity
• End with a celebration of everyone’s contribution

And if you’re wondering how to structure a session so it flows smoothly, I also share the three-stage Pattern Play approach:

Messy Playing → Exploring → Bling!

Each stage has a purpose — emotionally and creatively — and together they help groups move from hesitant… to engaged… to proud of what they’ve made together.

You can explore all six ideas here:

Art Projects That Bring Communities Together

If you’ve been thinking about running something for your group this year, this might be your starting point.

You don’t need artists.

You just need a structure.

Happy Painting,

Charndra

P.S. Click the image below to see all six community projects in one place.

P.S. Every painting starts with a first layer. Your Welcome25 code is simply there to help you begin.

Each Pattern Play resource is a practical tool within the Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework.

It gives you:

• A clear structure to guide your group
• Confidence to facilitate with ease
• Less planning, more painting
• A simple way to build group connection

Read the product descriptions for ideas..

www.PaintingAroundisFun.com

Collaborative Art Ideas: From Simple Patterns to Group Creativity

2026-04-20T19:30:02-04:00

Collaborative Art Ideas: From Simple Patterns to Group Creativity

Hi there,

If you’ve ever searched for collaborative art ideas, you probably noticed something.

Most ideas look great in theory… but when you’re actually standing in front of a group, things feel very different. How much freedom do you give? How much structure? What sort of structure actually works?

That’s exactly why Pattern Play evolved the way it did.

When I first began facilitating group paintings, I didn’t start with big concepts or complicated plans. I started with simple patterns. Repeating shapes. Playful lines. Easy marks anyone could try.

Three clear stages to keep engagement and interest high.
Three colours to keep things simple.

And something surprising happened.

As people repeated those patterns — in their own style, at their own pace — the artwork began to grow. Confidence grew. Conversations grew. Connection grew.

Simple pattern play quietly turned into real group creativity.

Over time, that process became my Pattern Play Collaborative Art framework:

Messy Playing
Exploring
Bling

It’s structured enough to feel safe.

Open enough to feel creative.

And flexible enough for all ages and abilities.

I’ve now facilitated more than 60 school and community projects with over 2,000 participants, and the same thing happens again and again:

When people are given simple, repeatable starting points, they relax.

When they relax, they contribute.

When everyone contributes, something beautiful forms, together.

In my latest post, I share how Pattern Play developed via a round up series of 8 posts recounting my collaborative art ideas that show how pattern play can grow into shared creativity.

As you’re planning your next group art project, or even just thinking about it, I’d love you to read it.

Because collaborative art doesn’t need to be complicated.

It just needs a simple, inclusive starting point.

Happy Painting,

Charndra
P.S. Check out the article for many ideas from real projects with real people of all ages and abilities!

Collaborative Art Ideas: From Simple Patterns to Group Creativity

www.PaintingAroundisFun.com

🌀 ONE?

2026-04-13T19:30:17-04:00

(Easy) Pattern Play Pages

Hi {{ subscriber.name }},

Here's a wild challenge: Pick one Pattern Play Page (each has 5 simple and accessible patterns) and create an artwork with ONLY that page of patterns.

Well, it's not really that wild - wild would be using just one PATTERN. (I'd use a spiral - 🌀)

My Pattern Play Pages are printable art prompts designed to spark creativity—no matter your age or experience level.

Click here to read the Product Description

Just print a set, pick a pattern, and start exploring. Use your favourite colours to layer shapes, mix and match designs, or invent your own twists.

These prompts are great for anyone looking to loosen up, experiment, and enjoy the process of painting.

The girls you can see working on the Bling stage of this collaborative mural called 'Find Your Confidence' are using Pattern Play Pages - they picked a set that caught their eye and used it to add patterns using paint pens - and inspire them to use their own creative ideas from those simple, accessible prompts. You can see how engrossed they are in the process!

Click here to read the Product Description

Happy painting!
Charndra,

Your inclusive social art guide

P.S. Your code is like finding a hidden crayon at the bottom of the box. (Welcome25) Pattern Play magic, ready when you are tap this week's product description to see what's inside!

www.PaintingAroundisFUN.com

Case Study: '4.4 Million' Artwork

2026-04-06T19:30:20-04:00

Case Study: "4.4 Million"

Hi ,

'4.4 Million' *WIP

by Mt Barker Our Voice SA in Adelaide, SA.

There are 12 panels in this beautiful social artwork. It’s still a Work in Progress in these images - the paint’s still wet and the final BLING layer was yet to come - but they're already stunning! The 4.4 million of the title represents the estimated number of Australians living with a disability - which is a marginal community that anyone can join at any time of our lives.

All my social art projects follow three stages: Messy Playing, Exploring, and BLING.

In this case, during the Exploring stage, we used medium and small brushes to paint circles big and small, then added patterns from my Pattern Play resources, displayed on pull-up banners around the room for easy access and inspiration.

The finished panels were displayed in the Community Library and featured in the regional newspaper — much to the pride of all who participated.

The UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities is held each year on December 3. I love helping groups create artworks to celebrate this important day, focusing on ability over disability.

If you know someone who might be interested in creating an inclusive artwork for this occasion, please forward this email to them.

👉 Visit the UN IDPwD site

From the site: Did you know?

An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us.

Stay tuned for next week’s email — we’ll explore ‘Our Painted Elephant’, a social artwork inspired by the Jaipur Elephant Festival in India.

Kind Regards,

Charndra of

Painting Around is Fun!

P.S. Nothing’s better than squeezing out a brand-new colour.
Your 25% off code is exactly that — see how it works in the product description below.