Paint by numbers is one of the most accessible art activities - you don't need any artistic experience, just patience and a steady hand. Each canvas comes with numbered sections that correspond to specific paint colors. Match the numbers, fill in the sections, and a beautiful painting emerges.
What You'll Need
Getting started is simple. Here's your essential supply list:
- Acrylic paint set: Most paint-by-number kits include paints, but if you're working from a printable template, a basic set of 24 acrylic craft paints covers most palettes. Apple Barrel and FolkArt are affordable and widely available.
- Brushes: You'll want at least three sizes - a fine detail brush (size 0 or 1), a medium round (size 4), and a flat brush (size 8) for larger areas.
- Water cup and paper towels: For rinsing brushes between colors.
- Palette: A disposable paper plate works fine for mixing small amounts.
- Good lighting: A desk lamp aimed at your work surface helps you read the tiny numbers.
Choosing the Right Paper
If you're printing a paint-by-number template at home, paper choice matters more than you'd think:
- Best option: Watercolor paper (200 gsm / 140 lb) or mixed media paper. It won't buckle with wet paint.
- Good option: Heavyweight cardstock (110 lb / 300 gsm). Holds up to thin layers of acrylic.
- Avoid: Standard printer paper - it warps immediately with any moisture.
The Golden Rules of Paint by Numbers
1. Work Top to Bottom
Start at the top of your canvas and work downward. This prevents your hand from dragging through wet paint - the most common beginner mistake.
2. Paint One Color at a Time
Instead of jumping around the canvas, pick one color and fill in every section with that number before moving to the next. This is much faster and keeps your brushes cleaner.
3. Light Colors First, Dark Colors Last
Start with the lightest colors (whites, yellows, light blues) and finish with the darkest (blacks, dark browns, navy). Dark colors cover light mistakes easily; the reverse is nearly impossible.
4. Two Thin Coats Beat One Thick Coat
Acrylic paint looks best in thin, even layers. If you can still see the number through the first coat, let it dry and apply a second. This gives a much smoother finish than one thick, gloppy application.
5. Close the Lid
Acrylic paint dries fast. Keep paint pots sealed when you're not actively using them, and only squeeze out small amounts onto your palette at a time.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using too much water: Acrylics are water-soluble, but you want them thick enough to be opaque. Just use water to rinse your brush, not to thin the paint.
- Rushing: Let each color dry before painting adjacent sections. Wet-on-wet will blend at the borders and create muddy colors.
- Ignoring small sections: Those tiny numbered areas are what give the painting its detail. Use your finest brush and take your time.
- Quitting too early: The painting looks terrible at 30% done. It looks mediocre at 70%. It looks amazing at 100%. Trust the process.
Ready to Start?
Browse our free paint-by-number collection with 400+ designs across animals, landscapes, florals, and more. Each design includes a numbered template and a color palette with exact hex codes for color matching.