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Welcome to the BASICS of Paint By Numbers
Paint by Numbers is a simple art of putting together a fine artist's best work OR a skill you were afraid to try first hand. Hard to believe but it's as easy as our childhood coloring book days. Our kits will instantly set you in a flow: Find a relaxing spot, unpack your Paint By Number, take a minute to glance at the easy steps to follow and Voila! YOU ARE ALL SET!
ART is a form of relaxation and therapy. Painting with numbers has narrowed down the strain in applying your imagination to beginning tips of art, where you follow guidance like colouring inside the lines. As Robert Greene would say ‘Creativity is a combination of discipline and childlike spirit’. We have the best of both worlds in our kit. There’s no paper crunched next to a bin for the many takes your art went wrong, here with a few steps you have something extraordinary!
The first thing you need to know is that Paint By Numbers is form of relaxation art therapy. It uses the simplest of techniques so quite literally anyone can do it without any prior knowledge or skill required. The process itself is soothing so it will help you unwind, destress and focus without you even knowing. It’s an activity that you can do at any time you like, indoors or outdoors, day or night. You could say it’s the perfect little escape from everyday monotonous routines.
It will make you feel relaxed
Painting is scientifically proven to reduce anxiety
It makes you focus better
Cognitive skills are proven to be improved through art
It takes your mind off daily stress
By finding time to switch off and channel into a relaxing activity
It Improves your overall mental health
It’s a journey to self-discovery and in the quiet time spent in with painting it revives your whole being
It makes you feel happier
By achieving a sense of accomplishment
It enhances your painting skills
“you can’t use up creativity. The more you use it the more you have” - Maya Angelou
It will make you feel relaxed.
Painting by numbers has been scientifically proven to reduce anxiety
It makes you focus better.
It takes your mind off of daily stress.
All that you need to complete your painting is in our kit! In the kit is a paper linen canvas, optional frames, paint sets of 24, 36, 48 and 4 brushes with hooks and screws to frame.
Canvas - comes rolled up in a cardboard box or framed. This is your main play area where sections to colour inside are marked with a darker outline and which colour goes where is easily traced with a number on top of each paint-pod, matched with the numbered sections on the canvas.
Paint Pots - A set of acrylic paints, each holding a number on the lid - to match it with the numbered areas on the canvas.
Paint Brushes - A set of four different sized paint brushes are in the kit to cover large, small and detailed areas.
Other things you would need to grab from around the house
A water cup - with clean water to rinse the brushes before picking the next colour.
Paper towels or old rag - to clean the brushes after rinsing them and remove any excess water absorbed into the bristle so you have a clean brush to pick the next colour.
That's all there is to it. But read on and we'll explain in detail everything you need to know.
A few handy tips to make your whole painting experience smoother
There are a few things that you can do to make the whole experience smoother. Pick and choose which one you think you would want to do!
A sticker sheet of numbers (e.g. 1-24 numbers) are given in each kit. These numbers are what you’ll be pasting on the lid of your paint-pods. A separate sheet on how to match the sticker sheet numbers with the paint-pod is given.
A swatch test is when you test your colours on a rough sheet of paper prior to directly applying paint on the artboard (canvas) you’re about to work on. This is important to notice if your pigments are in good condition.
E.g. Dry or how it seamlessly applies on a surface.
As the canvas comes rolled in, to flatten it; roll it out and place a heavy object on top of it. Next tape the edges with duct tape so the canvas doesn’t move. This would help you finish your painting leaving out any mess
It is better to work on a framed canvas so that the canvas stays tight while you work, and you are not likely to create creases on it thus have your working surface move. Most of our kits have a frame option. We offer a range of frame sizes to fit to your likingIt is best suggested that you work on a canvas stretched over frames so that the canvas stays tight while you work, and there won’t be any creases on it thus having your working surface (the canvas) move. All of our kits have a frame option. We offer a range of frame sizes to fit to your liking
In order to protect your canvas from long term pigment fading (discolouring) and colour peeling, try using gesso translucent primer. It’s a protective coating for your canvas and paint.
A clean and tidy work space will instantly uplift your mood thus securing your canvas from any accidental paint spill or the floor getting messy for that matter is very important therefore having a couple of newspapers beneath your canvas can prevent any unnecessary mess.
Start painting from the top and work your way downwards to avoid any smudging.
Start by painting the background first. This creates an outline to the main focal character(s) or feature of your chosen design. Once you’ve completed painting a large section allow the paint to dry out.
Keep a water cup next to you to rinse your brush before switching to use a new colour. Acrylic is fast drying therefore, wetting the brush frequently before it hardens is important.
Always be sure to close the paint pod lid air tight as acrylic by nature is a fast drying paint. Incase the paints dry out you can always add some water and stir to restore it’s texture
If you accidentally fill in a field with the wrong colour, worry no more; wait until the area dries out completely and apply the correct colour on top. If the wrong colour is still showing through, simply apply another coating of paint.
a lot of paint isn’t needed to cover a tiny portion. Using too much colour will only run you short from covering the rest of the canvas. Make sure to mix in water with paint to form a consistency which is not too runny.
Last but not least, allow yourself to take intervals in between your work-in-progress as it’s vital to catch a breath of fresh air along the way as you feel free and flowy into the process
It is better to work on a framed canvas so that the canvas stays tight while you work, and you are not likely to create creases on it thus have your working surface move. Most of our kits have a frame option. We offer a range of frame sizes to fit to your liking
It's important to cover the area where you plan to paint with old newspapers to keep it clean from paint catching on the floor. Yet, having a clean and tidy surrounding will help you focus on your painting and be able to heighten a sense of calm even better if it’s overlooking greenery
Start painting from the top of your canvas and continue downwards to avoid any smudging. If you are left-handed, it's better to start from the top right, similarly if you are right-handed start from the top left corner. This way you can avoid any smudges
Paint one colour at a time, preferably starting with darker tones. Usually the background is darker which will help you create an outline to your focal image. As soon as you finish with the background, continue with the rest of the areas
Clean the brushes every time you switch from one color to another. The paint dries very quickly and will ruin your brush if you do not wet it in your brush cleaning bowl frequently. A wet towel is also useful to drain out extra water from what the brush may hold
Always be sure to close the paint lid when you are not using it, as acrylic may dry out faster. If the paint dries, you can gradually try adding water to restore its creamy texture.
If you accidentally fill in a number with the wrong corresponding colour, worry no more, you can wait for the paint to dry out completely and cover the surface with the correct colour again. If the wrong colour still shows, double coat the correct colour over it
A lot of colour is not necessary to cover even the tiniest areas on the canvas. Using too much colour would only result to smudging. Make sure to mix the paint with water forming a consistency which is not too runny
The whole point of paint by Numbers is that you relax into your painting so don’t rush into it. Do it in sections and allow yourself to breathe and feel free into the process
The great advantage of DIY is that you’ve got complete control to make sure the job is done correctly!
Join the wooden frames (stretcher bars) together to form the selected shape you ordered ( square, e.g. 50x50 or rectangle, e.g. 30x40 ). You’ll notice there’s a blocking area more like a cut out hollow in the corner ends of the wood to interlock its belonging piece with the rest of the wooden pieces.
Gather your frames before you start locking the ends to form the frame. Place it on top of your canvas. Keep in mind the printed side of the canvas stays facedown. Now have the shape arranged before you to start so it’d make it easier to reach out for the next piece to assemble
Placing the frames over the canvas make sure to keep 1 ½ inches of a margine which would be the edges of the canvas to fold inwards and pin them onto the frames using thumbtacks provided in our kit
When folding the corners of the canvas to pin it onto the frame, once one side of the canvas is pinned, switch to the neighboring side using a wee bit of pressure in stretching the canvas and pinning it. This step is essential to avoid any creases. You will also find your paints glide seamlessly when applying on a firmly stretched canvas over its frame.
Fold the corners of the canvas to tuck one side over the other. You could fold the edges in a triangular shape when bending it’s fold to pin so any excessive part gets tucked in or simply fold the edges as you wish and cut out any excess material that juts out
Add a few more thumbtacks if you find the canvas isn’t firm.
This painting is for you and your relaxation. Do it the way you want it! You can make paint by number simple and fun.
Take breaks so that you don’t strain your eyes and back. Don’t stress too much and remember that your canvas is a judgment-free zone.
For more advanced tips on how to personalize your paint by numbers kit read on our other art tutorial pages!
