Thanks for being a part of my list. Right now, you’re in a mere classroom full of subscribers – and that’s awesome! I used to be an art teacher, helping many classes of 30 students over my 12 years of teaching art, so it helps to consider you as my first 'class' of future social artists.

I’m dropping into your inbox to let you know I’ve just completed my first social art eBook as part of my big goal for the year: to help more people start creating their own collaborative art projects. It’s a simple 7-page guide called Starting Your First Social Artwork at Home, and it includes:

• Ten stages from preparation and planning to celebrating your creation.
• Insights into three simple stages you’ll discover for yourself: Messy Playing, Exploring, and Bling!
• A helpful visual checklist to ensure you have the necessary materials and equipment.
• A unique Pattern Play visual resource featuring simple patterns that you can copy by repeating them in different sizes and colours, or use as inspiration to create your own patterns. #copyorcreate

I’d love it if you would take a look: Starting Your First Social Artwork at Home. I’m pretty excited to put it ‘out there’. In my mind, I imagine families creating a wonderful painting together at home, a group of friends gathering for a creative night in to make a unique painted gift for a loved one, or your children collaborating over the school holidays to create a shared piece of art for your family room.

Then, inevitably, as a normal function of the human brain, I felt a confidence crash within days – what if no one likes it, what if it doesn’t help them?

BUT I’m looking at some mindsets etched on a metal key tag attached to my phone as I write this. It was given to me recently by a friend during a meet-up where a few parent carers and I gave our ‘young carer’ daughters a playdate, which is a difficult role that we support each other in.

Little Reminders:

• You are enough.
• It’s OK to have bad days.
• Don’t believe everything you think.
• You are so very loved.
• Be kinder to yourself.

These remind me to keep moving forward, something I advise my kids to do in similar situations. I remind myself I’ve been refining this idea for years now, everyone has a blast and it always seems to look AMAZING – I am continuously thrilled by what a unique combination of humans can create.

So, here I am, doing a couple of ‘firsts’ – sending out a broadcast message to you, and asking you to download and read through my free guide, and let me know what you think!

Happy Painting,

Charndra.

P.S. After taking a look, please hit reply and share your thoughts. Your feedback will help me improve it over time. From now on, any new subscribers will receive this free guide when they join the list.