Two Toronto computer programmers are trying to create the world's largest piece of collaborative abstract art while raising funds for medical charities.

At MillionArtists.com, Eugene Pik and Anthony Barker hope to create the masterpiece by offering users the chance to purchase one pixel in any colour for a minimum of $1 US.

The duo want the final product to contain one million pixels, thus shattering the current Guinness World Record of 25,297 "artists" contributing to a single piece of art.

Each pixel -- the tiny dot units that form images -- gets placed randomly on the website's digital pixel picture, adding to the abstract image.

With only 150 or so donors to date, the pair have a long way to go before their names are added to the record books.

"The world's largest painting, as of right now, doesn't look like too much," says Barker, with a smile on his face.

"But I think as it develops, we're going to see something interesting coming out of it."

The world record for most painters of one picture was set by Texas-based artist Jim Campbell in 1998, who had participants add their flair to his 15-metre wide and two-metre high Western-themed picture.

"Over the Internet, I can bring not just 26,000, but a million people," Pik says.

Money raised from donors will go to support SickKids Foundation and Doctors Without Borders.

Barker and Pik, who are working on launching the site in 27 languages, hope other medical charities will sign on.

Contributors donate through a secure online credit card payment form, and those who give more than $25 receive a tax receipt.

Everyone who helps the cause has his or her name listed on the site, along with their hometown and their website address, if they have one.