Team Building Made Easy—Without a Huge Investment

An Easy Way to Bring People Together, Create Something—and Have a Few Laughs Along the Way

Throughout the year, organizations look for creative ways to bring people together.

Team-building activities can take many forms—cooking a meal together, bowling, attending a special event, or trying something completely unexpected. These experiences can be wonderful, but when you have a larger team or a limited budget, the cost can add up quickly.

Sometimes the simplest activities are the ones people remember most.

During COVID, Caron Designs helped several organizations create virtual team-building experiences. Craft kits filled with paint and wooden ornaments were shipped to participants around the country. Then, during a Zoom gathering led by the team organizer, everyone opened their box and painted together.

One organizer told me afterward how much everyone laughed and how connected they felt—even though they weren’t physically in the same room.

That experience reinforced something I have believed for a long time:

You don’t have to spend a lot of money—or be an artist—to bring people together through creativity.

One of my favorite ways to do that is an activity we call Pass the Canvas.

What Is Pass the Canvas?

Pass the Canvas is exactly what it sounds like. Each person begins with a small canvas or painting surface and paints for 15 minutes. Someone sets a timer. Then everyone stops. And passes their painting to the next person. Reset the time but this time for 10 minutes. That person adds something new before passing it along again. The process continues until each participant has contributed to every painting.

The result? A collection of completely unexpected collaborative artwork—and usually a lot of conversation and laughter along the way. The paintings aren’t meant to be masterpieces. In fact, that’s part of what makes the activity work.

Why Does It Work So Well for Team Building?

Pass the Canvas takes away many of the things that make people nervous about creating art. No artistic experience is required. There is no right or wrong way to participate. Everyone contributes something. But there is another interesting part of the exercise: you have to give up a little control. You may start a painting with a very clear idea of where it is going—and then hand it to someone else.

They might take it in a completely different direction. The next person builds on their idea. And then someone builds on that. Sound a little like working on a team? Pass the Canvas encourages participants to:

• Build on someone else’s idea
• Adapt as something changes
• Let go of perfection
• Contribute without controlling the outcome
• Talk and laugh with one another
• Take a small creative risk
• Become part of something created collectively

By the end, everyone has a connection to every finished piece.

A Team-Building Activity That Doesn’t Require a Huge Budget

Another reason I love Pass the Canvas is that you don’t need elaborate supplies. A few basic painting materials can serve an entire group, and many of the supplies can be reused for future programs. You also don’t need dozens of individual tubes of paint.

One basic set of primary colors can be plenty for a group.
Red, yellow and blue can be mixed to create an incredible range of colors. Add white and black and you have even more possibilities. I am also putting together a simple Paint Mixing Guide that shows some of my favorite color combinations. It makes a handy reference for anyone who hasn’t mixed paint since elementary school!

Download the free Paint Mixing Guide – Caron Designs version coming soon!

What You’ll Need to Host Your Own Pass the Canvas

You can keep the setup very simple.

Small Painting Surfaces
I like small surfaces because they keep the activity approachable and allow the paintings to move easily from person to person.

One option: Ampersand Gessobord, 5” × 5”⁠
A small canvas board that works beautifully.

Acrylic Paint
You don’t need a separate paint set for every participant. One basic set can go a surprisingly long way: Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Set⁠

Keeping the color selection somewhat limited actually makes the activity easier—and encourages participants to experiment with mixing their own colors.

Assorted Paintbrushes
Provide a variety of brush shapes and sizes so people can make different marks. An economical multipack works well: Blick Super Value Golden Taklon Brush Set⁠

Paint Palettes
Traditional plastic palettes work just fine: 10-Well Plastic Mixing Tray⁠
But here’s one of my favorite inexpensive art-room tricks: Use aluminum foil. Place a piece of foil at each painting station and use it as a disposable paint palette.

When you’re finished, allow the remaining acrylic paint to dry if you are using the plastic pallet. The dried paint can often be peeled right off, and cleanup is incredibly easy.

Sometimes the simplest solution really is the best one. 🤭

Small Easels
Small tabletop easels aren’t necessary while you’re painting, but they are wonderful for displaying the finished artwork: Blick Mini Easels⁠. A group of these little collaborative paintings displayed together can make a great visual reminder of the experience.

You’ll Also Want
Have a few simple cleanup supplies nearby:

• Water containers
• Paper towels
• Table coverings or inexpensive drop cloths
• Extra brushes
• Aprons, if desired
• Paint markers for optional finishing touches

That’s really all you need.

What Do You Do with the Paintings when You’re Finished?

Don’t pack them away! Part of the fun is seeing the entire collection together.

You could:

• Display the paintings together in your office or conference room
• Create a rotating team-art display
• Let participants take their original painting home
• Photograph the complete collection
• Display them on mini easels at a company event
• Bring them out again at next year’s gathering

You could even ask everyone to sign the backs and add the date of the event. The finished artwork becomes a small record of something your group created together.

Tips from a Teaching Artist

I’ve learned that Pass the Canvas works best when you don’t overcomplicate it. Here are a few things I recommend:

Keep the painting time to 10 minutes for each round except the first round is 15 minutes.  A few minutes is usually enough before it’s time to pass. Keeping things moving prevents people from getting too attached to what they’ve created. Have everyone right their names on the back of the canvas/panel when they start. This will be the one they take home.

Limit the paint palette. Too many choices can actually make creating harder. A smaller selection encourages color mixing and experimentation.

Don’t over-explain the project. Give people the basic instructions and let the experience unfold.

Don’t “fix” someone else’s contribution. Build on what is already there rather than painting over it because it isn’t what you would have done. That’s part of the exercise.

Remind everyone that perfection is not the goal. Some of the funniest and most interesting paintings come from unexpected choices.

Most importantly: The goal isn’t to create a masterpiece. It’s to create a connection.

Want Someone Else to Bring the Paint?

Prefer to enjoy the experience without organizing all the supplies yourself? Caron Designs offers Pass the Canvas as a facilitated creative program for businesses, libraries, community organizations, private gatherings and other groups. I can help with the supplies, setup and instruction so your group can concentrate on the most important part—creating, laughing and spending a little time together. Interested in bringing Pass the Canvas to your organization or gathering? Contact me to learn more.

Because sometimes all it takes to bring people together is a little paint, a blank canvas—and permission to see what happens next.