The Art of Mastering Paint by Numbers

Turn your canvas into something greater by following our seven-step comprehensive paint by numbers instructions.
Paint by numbers has been around for ages, and has been listed as one of the best hobbies of the century and we surely can’t get enough of it. With paint by numbers, everyone can unleash their inner Picasso as long as you follow the classic paint by numbers instructions: step by step, color by color, match each number according to its corresponding color.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive paint by numbers guide, continue reading this article because we will provide you with step-by-step paint by numbers instructions. Pack out your paint by numbers kits (or order one if you don’t have one yet!) because it’s time to create your very own masterpiece!

Seven steps to a perfect paint by numbers painting:

Step 1: Choosing your Paint by Numbers kit
One of the things that you can enjoy from painting by numbers is the beginning stage—choosing your paint by numbers photo. There are plenty of photos to choose from such as colorful animals, hyper-realistic animal art, pop art, cityscapes and nature landscapes, flowers, skies, and so much more. The selection is almost endless.

There are really no rules when selecting your paint by numbers photo, as long as you can finish the painting, then go for it. If you’re a beginner, it is advised to choose kits with lesser details and as you cultivate your skills, you can opt for the more detailed and complex ones.

You can also opt for custom paint by numbers kits where you can have your favorite photo turn into a pre-printed canvas that you can paint. If you wanna learn how to select your perfect customized paint by numbers photo, click here.

Step 2: Preparing your workspace

Keep in mind to find an area with a clean surface. Cover your table with old newspapers so that you won’t create a permanent mess on your table. Also, it is highly recommended to work on a nicely lit area so that you can see the details, numbers and segments correctly.

Make sure that your workspace is distraction-free. In that way, you can focus and concentrate better and you don’t have to worry about making mistakes.

Step 3: Preparing the canvas

Start this step by unpacking your paint by numbers kit. The kits include the pre-printed canvas, a set of acrylic paint, and three brushes.

If you feel like your canvas has too many wrinkles or creases, you can iron it from the back, as long as you make sure that the heat is on low or medium range to avoid unwanted damages. DO NOT spray your canvas with water as it may ruin the printed numbers on the canvas.

Although there is no need to stretch out your canvas (this step is hard to do for beginners but it is certainly doable), you can clip or tape your canvas to a sturdy and flat foam board or card board as an alternative. It also makes your canvas portable, too.

Once all the materials are prepared, get a small cup of water and a few paper towels. This will keep your brush moist, but not saturated. Having a cup of water and a few paper towels will also make the cleaning process of the brush more efficient when transitioning to another color.

Step 4: Take a digital photo of your canvas

This step is optional, but it is highly recommended to do before starting so that you can have your digital reference (that you can never lose) that you can use to avoid mistakes. This step can be helpful when you don’t have a magnifying lens to zoom in the numbers in times of confusion.

Step 5: Start painting

Of course, the most obvious paint by numbers instructions are to match each color according to its corresponding number, and do it step by step. There is really no conforming rule on how to do paint by numbers other than that. Be the master of your artwork. Don’t forget to have fun!

Be sure to only open the paint color you will use and close the lids of the ones that you’re not using. In that way, the paints won’t dry.

Step 6: Wait for the canvas to dry

Just take a moment and stare at your masterpiece. Doesn’t it look great?! You should definitely feel proud towards yourself for finishing your artwork. Now, the most challenging step is to wait for your canvas to dry before doing anything to it. You can stare at it, but make sure not to touch it to avoid the wet pigment from smudging.

Step 7: Display your canvas

You might want to frame your finished artwork and display it somewhere in your house.
Framing your canvas might be daunting at first but as long as you follow the instructions carefully, then there’s really nothing to be afraid of. But if you want to save yourself some time, then you can definitely let a professional do it for you.

Time for your artistic side to shine!

Now that you’ve learned the seven essential paint by numbers steps, go start painting your own masterpiece or if you don’t have one yet, click here to purchase your very own kit. Despite the several paint by numbers instructions given on this article, don’t be afraid to experiment and bend up the rules a little bit—use your artistic freedom to your own advantage. 

Have fun and learn the essentials of painting with Paint by Numbers that will definitely unleash your inner artistic potential.