Struggling to run your first group art session?
Learn a simple three-stage framework to guide beginners with confidence and creativity.
In Episode 15 of Easy Collaborative Art, I talk about how to teach collaborative art skills to beginners. You’ll discover how a simple three-stage framework can help both painters andfacilitators gain confidence while creating engaging group artworks. I share practical tips for structuring sessions, scaffolding activities, and encouraging confidence over perfection. Following is a simple how-to guide for creatingcollaborative art with inclusive groups - beginner-friendly!
What you’ll discover in this episode:
• Why starting with structure using the three Pattern Play stages (Messy Playing, Exploring, Bling) helps beginners feel confident and clear.
• How to scaffold your group art session to make participation easy and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of skill level.
• Why focusing on confidence and connection rather than perfection encourages participants to explore, experiment, and enjoy the creative process.
Links and Resources:
🎨 Read the full episode transcript: Episode 15: How to Teach Collaborative Art Skills to Beginners
📘 Grab your free Beginner’s Guide toCollaborative Art
🎧 Podcast Home: Easy Collaborative Art
Happy Painting!
Charndra
Your Inclusive Social Art Guide
How-to Guide for Creating Collaborative Art with Inclusive Groups - Beginner-friendly!Collaborative art can be adapted for participants with diverse abilities, encouragingself-expression, inclusion, and shared creativity. Perfect for beginners, as adapting for accessibility benefits everyone.
Tips for Collaborative Art Projects for Inclusive GroupsImagine you have a beginner group of mixedabilities, including people with special needs. You want to run some simple sessions doing collaborative art to get people together in a fun, creative and accessible way.
This is the process you might follow:
Step 1 – Messy Playing 🎨Use large brushes or tools and 2–3 harmonious colours to keep the process simple and accessible. Encourage broad, expressive marks. Use the Pattern Play Page and Cards in my Beginner's Guide to Collaborative Art - it's all you will need for your first group art work!
Step 2 – Exploring 🌀Layer a variety of patterns, simple shapes, or clusters of marks in a slightly smaller brush than that used in the Messy Playing stage. Repetition and size variation help create structure while leaving room for easy creativity. Pattern Play prompts will guide participation.
Step 3 – Bling! ✨Add finishing touches: highlights, stickers, or simple embellishments. This stage allows everyone to contribute in a meaningful way.
💡Facilitator tip: Using three stages, three colours, and three brushes simplifies the process and supports inclusive participation for diverse abilities - beginners, experienced painters slot right in, and painters with special needs find it equally as easy to join in!
Pattern Play Collaborative Art is all about connection and creativity.