The purpose of this exercise is to involve participants in a shared process more deeply and also to help them to orientate in it, which frees their mental resources for the actual tasks of the project. This is an excellent way to start a project that is new to the participants. It is also very useful if the participants have difficulties in organising their thoughts or following the steps of practical activities.

Ideal number of participants: 2–10

Duration: 20–60 minutes

Materials required: A large paper, at least 50cm x 200 cm, preferably larger. Pencils, wood colors, water colours, oil pastels etc.

Step-by-step description

1. Tell the participants the rough timeline planned for the project. What is the starting date and final meeting? How many times do you meet in between?
2. Decide together what form your timeline could take. Rivers, paths and railways are very useful. The idea is to choose something that can serve as a metaphor for a journey.
3. Draw and paint together the chosen timeline, e.g. road or subway chart. Mark the meeting dates clearly in the drawing as platforms, piers, towns or whatever suits your chosen timeline.
4. Ask the participants to add by drawing, painting or writing things that they hope will happen during the project. These can be activities, themes, questions etc.
5. Ask the participants to look at what the others have done and to maybe add something there.
6. You as instructor can also add the plans you already have for the project.

Tips to the instructor: It is good to be very clear in the beginning when you are giving the instructions. The meeting dates should be marked in the painting with strong colours and big letters/numbers so that they stand out also in the final result. However, the participants should be encouraged to have as much fun as possible. There are no things that are too strange or unfitting for the shared painting (except for any insulting content, but in most cases this is a shared value for the participants and doesn't need to be stressed).