Try painting together over a video call - with Mum, Dad or a grandparent.

Keeping in touch with a parent or grandparent from interstate or overseas can feel simple on paper and harder in real life. The call gets booked, the time difference is worked out, and then the conversation has to carry the whole visit. Sometimes that’s easy. Sometimes it isn’t.

A guided painting kit gives families a practical way to share time when they cannot be in the same room. It turns a video call into something gentle and interactive, without needing a big plan. You can still talk, but you also have something enjoyable to focus on together.

Whether you are an adult child or a grandchild living away from home, it is another way to stay involved. You can help choose colours, share stories and watch a painting take shape, even from the other side of the country.

Why a Shared Activity Helps on Long-Distance Calls

When you only have a short window to connect, the pressure to keep the conversation going can be surprisingly heavy. Once you have covered the weather, the family and what happened during the week, it can be hard to know what to say next.

A shared activity can ease that pressure. Instead of trying to fill every pause, you can settle into the painting and let the conversation come and go naturally.

With a guided template, there is no need to decide what to draw or where to begin. Mum, Dad, Nan or Pop can choose a colour, try a few brushstrokes and take their time. You can encourage them, paint along or simply enjoy being part of the experience.

Get Everything Ready Before the Call

A little preparation makes the experience easier, especially if your parent or grandparent is less comfortable with technology.

An Artful Connections box brings the main painting materials together, including:

• acrylic paints and a Mont Marte brush set
• three guided painting templates designed by Deb
• conversation cards
• a laminated mess mat
• access to Deb’s step-by-step video guidance.

Before the call, help them choose a comfortable table with good lighting. Ask them to lay out the mess mat, a template and a few colours. Have water for rinsing brushes and a cloth or paper towel for wiping them nearby.

If opening paint containers or arranging the materials is difficult, a nearby family member or support worker can help. They might also check the device and start the call.

The aim is to make joining in feel easy.

Decide How You Will Join In

Painting together does not have to mean doing exactly the same thing.

If you would like to paint along, have your own kit or painting materials ready. You could work on similar pictures or use the same colours, then hold up your paintings to compare them.

You can also join without painting yourself. Help choose between two colours, ask about the picture or chat while they paint.

Perhaps a beach scene reminds you both of a family holiday. Perhaps flowers bring back memories of Nan’s garden. Following those conversations can be just as enjoyable as following the painting steps.

Let your parent or grandparent decide how much help they want. Sometimes a little encouragement is welcome; sometimes they will be happy experimenting while you keep them company.

Start With One Small Section

The first call does not need to be a full painting session. Keeping it simple often works best.

Choose one small section. Pick colours, make the first brushstrokes and stop there if that feels right.

This gives you both a clear starting point and keeps the call manageable if either of you is feeling tired or finding it difficult to concentrate. There is no need to finish the whole piece in one sitting.

You might paint for ten minutes, pause for a cup of tea and spend the rest of the call chatting. Or you might both become absorbed and want to continue.

Leave room for either. Once you have started, the painting gives you something to return to on another day.

Position the Phone or Tablet Comfortably

Place the phone, tablet or laptop somewhere stable so hands are free for painting. A suitable device stand can help.

Check that your parent or grandparent can see the screen and hear you without leaning forward or holding an uncomfortable position. Keep the device clear of paint and water.

You do not need to see every brushstroke throughout the call. Seeing each other comfortably matters more. They can lift the painting occasionally to show you their progress.

Before you begin, check the sound and camera angle together. A few minutes spent getting comfortable can make the rest of the call much more relaxed.

Keep the Video Guidance Simple

Deb’s step-by-step guidance can help you get started, but using it during a video call may need a little planning.

If your parent or grandparent uses one device for both, it may be easier to watch a short part of the guidance before you call. They can then try those steps while you keep them company.

With a second device, they could watch the guidance on one screen and speak to you on the other, if that feels manageable.

There is no need to keep the video running throughout. Pause, replay or return to it later. Choose whatever makes the activity easiest to enjoy.

Give the Next Call a Starting Point

A painting in progress gives you something to ask about next time:

• “Which colour did you enjoy using?”
• “Does the picture remind you of somewhere?”
• “Would you like to paint another section together?”
• “Where might you put it when it’s finished?”

Keep these as invitations, rather than a list of questions to work through. Some days Mum, Dad, Nan or Pop may have a story to share. Other days they may simply enjoy showing you what they have done.

You can share your own memories too. A picture might remind you of afternoons in their garden, a favourite family outing or something you enjoyed together when you were younger.

Once finished, the painting can be displayed, photographed or shared with family. It becomes a reminder of time spent together.

A Simple Way to Make Distance Feel Smaller

Living far away can make regular visits difficult, but you can still have something enjoyable to do together. Start with a few colours, one small section and time for a chat. You can always pick up where you left off on the next call.

Whether you are calling Mum across the state or Pop from overseas, a shared activity gives you another way to enjoy each other’s company.

Send them a box, choose a time and make your next video call a little more colourful.

Related Reading

Planning an in-person visit too? Read Make Visits Feel Natural With a Shared Painting Kit for simple ways to enjoy painting together when you’re in the same room.