How Do You Start Collaborative Art? (Messy Playing Stage)

Wondering how to start a collaborative art project? In this episode, we explore the Messy Playing stage—the fun, fearless first step of my Pattern Play method.

How Do You Start Collaborative Art? (Messy Playing Stage)

Ever stared at a blank canvas and thought, “Where do I even begin?”

In Episode 3 of the Easy Collaborative Art Podcast, I share the very first stage of my Pattern Play method—Messy Playing—and why it’s the perfect way to start any collaborative art project.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why starting loose and messy melts fear and sparks creativity.

• How random marks and layers build depth, movement, and energy.

• The power of overlapping marks to create true collaboration.

Resources & Links:

• Read the full transcript and highlights: Episode 3: How to Start a Collaborative Art Project

• Get my free beginner’s guide with your first Pattern Play resources: Join my email list

• Podcast Home: Easy Collaborative Art

If you enjoyed this episode, thank you for following the podcast and please share it with someone who might just love to try collaborative art!

- Charndra

Your inclusive social art guide.

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:

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 foradditional 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.