Paint by numbers for adults: choosing a kit and getting a neat finish
Paint by numbers for adults is a canvas printed with numbered shapes, plus numbered acrylic paints and brushes. For a neat finish, pick a size you will finish, flatten the canvas, photograph it before you start, paint one colour at a time from the top down, give pale colours a second coat where numbers show, and keep the pots sealed between sessions.
What is paint by numbers for adults?
It works the same way as the children's version: every shape on the canvas carries a number, and you fill it with the paint that has the same number. The adult kits have smaller shapes, more colours and more detail, so the finished picture looks like a painting rather than a colouring sheet. The paints are ready-mixed acrylics, so there is no blending, and the drawing is done for you. What you bring is a steady hand and a few evenings.
How do you choose a paint by numbers kit?
- Size. A bigger canvas has more, smaller shapes and takes much longer. An 8x12 inch canvas is a good first try; a 40 x 50 cm canvas is a longer project.
- Framed or not. Some canvases come already fixed to a wooden frame, ready to hang. Others are a rolled sheet that you hang with hooks, put in a frame or stretch over one.
- Subject. Landscapes, flowers and seascapes are forgiving, because a stray edge in a cloud or a petal looks natural. Faces and fur show every wobble.
- One big or several small. A pack of four small canvases gives you a finished picture sooner and a set that hangs together.
| Kit | Canvas | Frame | Also in the box |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint by numbers kit, landscape | 40 x 50 cm | Frameless, 2 hooks | 3 brushes, acrylic paints, reference card |
| Highland cow | 16x12 inch | No frame | 3 brushes, acrylic colours, sample picture |
| Wild flowers | 12x16in | Hooks listed | 3 brushes, acrylic paint, paper copy of the numbered canvas |
| 4 packs: cats, plants, beach, scenery | Four at 8x12 inch | Already nailed to the frame | 4 paint sets, 8 brushes, bracket wood, screws, 8 nail hooks |
Single canvases
Paint by numbers kit, 40 x 50 cm canvas
£14.99
Highland cow paint by numbers, 16x12 inch
£8.99
Wild flowers paint by numbers, 12x16in
£13.99
Paint by numbers bundle, 3 canvases
£34.99 £37.97 separately
The paint by numbers bundle puts the landscape, the highland cow and the wild flowers in one order for less than buying the three separately.
How do you set up before you start?
- Flatten the canvasA rolled canvas wants to curl. Lay it face down on a clean surface under a few heavy books overnight. Framed canvases are already taut, so you can skip this.
- Photograph it blankTake a clear photo of the numbered canvas before you paint anything. Once a shape is painted you cannot read its number, and the photo lets you zoom in and check. Some kits also give you a reference card or a paper copy for this.
- Get good lightPaint by daylight or under a bright lamp. The numbers are small, and some colours look alike in dim light.
- Check the paintsMatch each pot to the colour key before you open anything. Open only the pot you are using.
- Lay out the restHave a jar of water, kitchen roll and a scrap of paper for testing the brush. Rest your hand on a clean sheet of paper so you don't smudge the canvas.
Paint by numbers tips for a neat finish
- Work from the top down. Your hand stays clear of wet paint. If you are right-handed, work left to right as well.
- One colour at a time. Find every shape with that number, paint them all, close the pot, move on. It is quicker and the pots stay fresher.
- Big shapes with a bigger brush, small ones with the finest. Use the tip of the brush to reach right into the corners.
- Don't overload the brush. A little paint on the tip lets you paint up to the line instead of over it.
- Two thin coats beat one thick one. Pale colours such as white and yellow often let the printed lines and numbers show through. A second coat once the first is dry hides them.
- Close every pot. The pots are small and acrylic dries in the air. Press each lid down firmly when you stop.
- Rinse the brush often. Don't let paint dry on the bristles, and don't leave brushes standing on their tips in the water jar.
- Fix mistakes when dry. Paint over a stray edge with the right colour once everything is dry. Dark colours cover pale mistakes more easily than the other way round.
- Stand back. Up close it can look patchy. From across the room the shapes blend into a picture, and you can see which bits really need another coat.
What are the common problems, and how do you fix them?
- The paint has thickened or dried out. Stir in a drop or two of water, a little at a time, until it flows again.
- A pot is running low. Mix a close match from the kit's other colours on a palette, test it on scrap paper, and use it for the last few shapes.
- You can't read a number under paint. Check your photo of the blank canvas, the reference card or the paper copy.
- The numbers still show. Wait until the paint is dry and add another thin coat.
- Brush marks show. Use less paint and brush in one direction within each shape.
- The finish looks patchy, part shiny and part dull. A coat of acrylic varnish once the painting is fully dry evens out the sheen. Follow the varnish label.
How do you finish and hang a paint by numbers?
Let the painting dry fully before you touch the surface. Varnish is optional: it protects the paint from dust and gives an even matt or gloss finish. For hanging, the framed four-packs come already nailed to their frames with bracket wood, screws and 8 nail hooks, so they go straight up. The 40 x 50 cm landscape comes with 2 hooks, and the highland cow canvas comes without a frame, so allow for one if you want it on a wall.
Framed packs of four
Is paint by numbers worth it if you can't paint?
Yes. The drawing and the colour mixing are already done, which are the two things that put most people off, so you can concentrate on putting paint where it belongs. Plenty of people who say they can't paint find it a relaxing way to spend an evening, and a finished canvas on the wall is a good feeling. It also teaches brush control you can use elsewhere.
If you enjoy it, try diamond painting, which works on the same numbered-chart idea with tiny drills instead of paint, or rock painting for something freer. A small framed pack also makes an easy present: see craft kits for adults and Christmas crafts for adults. Every kit is in the paint aisle.
Questions
How long does a paint by numbers take?
It depends on the size and the detail. A small 8x12 inch canvas is a much shorter project than a 40 x 50 cm canvas full of fine shapes. Work in short sessions, close the paint pots between them, and stop before your hand gets tired and the edges start to wobble.
Do you need to mix the paints?
No. Each paint is numbered to match the shapes on the canvas, and our kits whose listings mention it say no blending or mixing is needed. The only time you might mix is to match a colour if a pot runs low.
What do you do if the paint dries out?
Stir in a drop or two of water, a little at a time, until it flows smoothly again. Too much water makes it thin and patchy. To stop it happening, open one pot at a time and press each lid down firmly when you finish.
Should you varnish a paint by numbers?
You don't have to. A coat of acrylic varnish, once the paint is completely dry, protects it from dust and evens out shiny and dull patches. Choose matt or gloss to suit the picture and follow the label on the varnish.
What size paint by numbers is good for a beginner?
A smaller canvas, such as one of the 8x12 inch framed canvases, gives you a finished picture sooner and teaches you the method. Once you have finished one, a 40 x 50 cm canvas makes a good longer project.
How do you stop the numbers showing through?
Give pale colours such as white, cream and yellow a second thin coat once the first is dry. Thin coats cover better than one thick coat, which can stay patchy and still let the printed number show.
