painting by numbers
How does painting by numbers work?
Painting by numbers is a popular do-it-yourself trend that has excited people of all ages in recent years - from schoolchildren to seniors. No wonder, because this hobby is not only fun, but also relaxing, promotes motor skills and concentration and requires neither previous knowledge nor artistic talent. All you need is a place to paint, some time and patience, and the right painting supplies. How does it work? It's very simple: our step-by-step instructions provide you with helpful tips and tricks to get started with this exciting new hobby and create impressive works of art.
The principle of painting by numbers
Many people know painting by numbers from their childhood. For adults, however, it works the same, only the motifs are more complex. Your template is printed on a canvas and divided into small fields, each with a number. Each number stands for a specific color (for example 1 - white). The paint pots in your set are numbered accordingly, so you can quickly find the right color. You can decide for yourself which color you want to start with and then carefully paint the appropriate fields with the brush included in the set.
Tip: Close each paint pot after use to keep the paint fresh and prevent it from drying out.
The correct order
If possible, avoid changing colors too often to save time and minimize the amount of time spent cleaning your brush. It is more practical to use one color completely and paint all the squares of that color before moving on to the next. This saves time and at the same time protects the colors from drying out by only having one paint pot open.
Tip: Let the paint dry completely before painting adjacent squares with the next color to avoid smudging or mixing the colors.
Color Selection Order: Tips
You are free to choose the order in which you choose the colors, but there are some approaches that make painting easier. Many painting by numbers fans develop their preferred order over time, which they use for each new picture.
From Dark to Light
Start with the darkest colors and work your way to the lighter ones. This will make it easier to see the contrasts and mosaic structure of the image.
From Light to Dark
Painting by Numbers artists prefer to start with the light colors and then move on to darker tones. This has the advantage that mistakes can be painted over more easily if you go over the edge with the light colors.
Other sequences
From Big to Small
Start with the larger fields and then work your way to the smaller ones. This way you will see progress more quickly and the contrast of the colors will become clearer as you paint.
Top down
Especially important for left-handed people: Avoid smudging fresh paint by working from top to bottom and from left to right for right-handed people (vice versa for left-handed people).
How to clean brushes properly
Clean your brush thoroughly before changing colors. This will prevent colors from mixing and will preserve their clarity. Carefully dry the brush with a cloth before dipping it into the next color. Thorough cleaning is also important during longer breaks so that the brush hairs do not harden.
More tips for your painting by numbers
Tip: Paint with the brush tip
Use only the tip of the brush to paint more precisely and apply the paint sparingly. Even if there is enough paint in the set, this will prevent excessive consumption.
Tip: Moisten the brush slightly
Dip the brush briefly in water and dab it dry before dipping it into the paint. The residual moisture ensures that the paint can be applied more evenly.
Tip: A good painting spot
A quiet painting space is important for a relaxed and successful experience. Pay attention to:
- a sufficiently large table
- a comfortable chair
- good lighting to accurately recognize color nuances
Tip: Painting on the go
You can also paint outside or on the go by attaching your canvas to a drawing board. This way you can be creative anywhere!
Tip for advanced users: Smooth transitions
The "zigzag technique" can be used to create smooth color transitions. Lightly smudge the edges of the color fields with a clean brush before the paint dries to create a smooth transition.
What to do if problems arise?
Canvas has a crease
If your canvas is slightly wrinkled due to shipping, you can carefully iron the back to smooth out the wrinkles.
numbers difficult to recognize
If numbers on the canvas are too small, you can photograph the canvas and enlarge the image or use a magnifying glass to see details better.
Numbers shine through the color
If numbers are visible through light colors, first color the box with a white pen and then apply the color.
painting errors
If you make a mistake, let the paint dry and paint over the field with the correct color.
paint dried
If the paint has dried out a bit, you can smooth it out with a drop of water.
Leftover paint
If you have any paint left over at the end, throw it in the trash or try creating your own picture without a template to stay creative.