Just thought I'd share this canvas that my students and I made a couple of years ago. It is one of my favorite collaborative pieces that we have ever created. This is an art form that I highly recommend that you do with your art students.

What is collaborative art?

Although there are many types of art projects, making its way to the top of the charts is collaborative art. Simply put, collaborative art involves working as a team to create a particular kind of art. Each person contributes to the artwork in some way, shape, and form. There are many types of collaborative art that you can do:

• Collaborate on canvas

• Paint a river of rocks

• Plastic bottle cap mosaic

• Form a fascinating fish

• Set up a weaving station

These are just a few ideas, but there are many more you can do.

Benefits of Collaborative Art

As with any art project and/or lesson, there are a lot of benefits that students encounter when doing them. When it comes to collaborative art, there are many benefits to keep in mind. When you decide to do this art style with your students you are fostering skills such as:

• Creativity

• Working with others

• Critical thinking

• Sensory awareness

• Patience

• Techniques

Collaborative Octopus Canvas

Depending on the collaborative art you choose to do with your students, your supplies will vary. For the collaborative octopus canvas we used paint, school glue, tissue paper, a sewing pattern, and the poster to put it all on.

To set up this activity with my students, I pulled them into small groups.  After we sketched the shape, we painted the background blue and the octopus orange. Then, we used paint brushes to brush school glue over tissue paper. We also used an old sewing pattern. 

The sewing pattern is just like working with tissue paper and gives the most amazing lines and texture. Then, we painted pink polkadots and outlined everything. We worked on it while it was wet, not stopping to let any of the parts dry. 

It turned out so well we decided to hang it in our media center! I have fond memories of this because it was one of the first successful collaborative pieces I ever did with kids! I’d love to know if you try a collaborative art project with your students. Let me know in the comments below if it’s something you’ve already done or something you’d like to try!