Top 11 team building painting activities to try in 2023

If your team is hesitant about traditional team building sessions, it’s time to do something different. Art team building activities are a fun and unusual twist, promoting employee creativity and nurturing team connections simultaneously. Keep reading for 11 team building painting activities that cover a range of challenges with no previous painting experience required.

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Were you looking for virtual team building activities with an artistic spin? Make sure you read this article on virtual painting activities.  

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Creativity in the workplace

Encouraging creativity in the workplace brings with it many benefits, from encouraging freedom to experiment and 'fail' to learning new communication skills and building personal confidence.

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At Gomada, we know what an impact this can have on remote teams in particular who may not have the chance to meet up in person for team building activities like these painting sessions. That’s why our platform provides expertly picked games developed to help creative thinking flourish, even when you can't meet face-to-face.

1. Make an office canvas painting 

How about joining together for a team building canvas painting session where you create a piece of artwork for your workplace? Discuss what style and color schemes would suit your office, delegate team members to sketch out different aspects or take charge of certain painting techniques, and see what you can come up with. 

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2. Try a self-portrait session

For hilarious group painting for adults, set up a self-portrait session by providing everyone with a mirror, paints, and paper. At the end of the session, share your results. Be prepared for a laugh or to be amazed by the secret Rembrandts in your team. 

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3. Book ‘Painting with a Twist’

‘Paint with a Twist’ are known for their team building paint parties, providing a professional service for those who want to take the hassle out of organizing a paint session. You provide the space, and they’ll provide all the materials required to explore painting while you hang out as a team.

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4. Hold a ‘paint and sip’ party

For a casual and creative team building session you can easily pull together in the office, try a ‘Paint and Sip’ party. Organize a selection of tipples and an array of paint materials and papers for your employees to have a good at expressing themselves through art. You could give your team a prompt (like ‘Paint your idea of an amazing view’ or ‘Create an abstract artwork to express your personality) or leave out artbooks and postcards for inspiration. 

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5. Take a group painting class

If you want to take painting seriously, invest in a team building painting class where you learn how to improve your art techniques together. All you need to do is pick a style (think: pop art, surrealism, impressionism, etc.) and find an online painting class or local artist to lead the session.

6. Host a painting show & tell

When you’re not comfortable bringing paint into the workplace, how about setting your teams a painting challenge and holding a show & tell session? Give your employees a budget to buy their own paint supplies and create a work of art they’ll have to later present to their team. You could even take a vote and have a prize for the best painting.

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7. Go paintballing

When even easy group painting ideas intimidate your team, how about getting painty another way: paintballing? This fun and messy game will unleash your employees' competitive side and encourage your teams to communicate in the subteams that go head-to-head. A great choice if you’ve got a team of thrill seekers!

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8. Paint your own pottery

Create keepsakes together with a paint-your-own pottery session. Book with your local pottery cafe or purchase a paint-your-own pottery kit you can do in the office. Pottery painting can act as an excellent mindfulness project to connect with employees in a low-pressure fashion.

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9. Take a landscape painting trip

Get out of the office for some fresh air and creativity with a landscape painting trip. Choose a picturesque destination and equip your employees with sketchbooks and watercolors to capture the beauty. Finish with a picnic lunch to socialize over. 

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10. Become street artists

For one of the most unique group painting ideas for adults, try a graffiti session. If you’re feeling brave, choose an outside wall on your office venue and let your employees go wild with spray paint. Or book a graffiti team building lesson with a professional who can show you how to create real art. 

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11. Free their imagination with an art box 

Let your employees explore the joy of painting with complete creative freedom; simply gift them an art box and an afternoon of free time. Items worth including are: quality paint brushes, quality paints (watercolor, acrylic, gouache), sponges, mixing palettes, sketching pencils, sketch pads, and paper.

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For more gift ideas to encourage team building, read this one.

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Interested in more unique team building ideas? Take a look at these other blogs:

• Our review of the best virtual team building kits [+providers]
• Beyond the brainstorm: team building for creative thinking
• 9 team building activities without materials that don’t suck

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Remember, team building isn’t the only activity to focus on when it comes to strengthening employee connection and productivity. Paying attention to employee engagement is crucial.   

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Look at our articles on the best employee engagement apps, virtual employee engagement platforms, and employee engagement solutions for more insight.