Painting by numbers! This is a fun activity that you can do with your kids or as a grown-up. It’s different than traditional painting in that you just follow the numbers on the template to make an absolutely stunning piece of art.
All Paint by numbers is an incredibly popular pursuit for people both young and old. And for good reason too, it’s mesmerizing to watch a blank canvas come to life with color and detail.
However, there are a lot of people who seem to struggle with the act of painting by numbers. This can be frustrating for them and those around them, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
It should be a relaxing activity where you get satisfaction from being creative, exercising your brain, and creating something beautiful. But that doesn’t happen if you fall into one of these common traps:
Painting over your numbers
Painting over the numbers is a common mistake that can be frustrating when you realize you’ve done it.
If you paint over your numbers you’ll need to wait for the paint to completely dry and then scrape back through with a scribe or something similar to reveal them again.
It’s easy to accidentally paint over your numbers. One tip for not doing this is to always sort your colors before you start painting and put them in order from lightest color to darkest color. That way, if you skip a color, you’ll know straight away because the colors will be out of order.
Another good tip is to paint in rows and start at the top left-hand corner, not the opposite end of the canvas! You don’t have to use these tips but they are commonly used and could help avoid some frustration.
Using low-quality supplies
Quality does matter and it is something that many beginners don’t realize until they are in the middle of the painting and realize that their paint isn’t mixing well, that the paintbrushes look like a rat’s tail or the canvas has already started to warp.
This can be very frustrating but it can easily be avoided by doing some research on paint by numbers tools before you buy them and choosing brands that are well known for producing high-quality materials.
It is so frustrating to see your painting ruined by the improper use of low-quality supplies. Don’t be fooled by the countless ads from companies claiming that you can use any paint on any canvas. It just is not true!
Choosing a quality paint and canvas that are designed to work together will ultimately produce a better result.
For instance, oil paints need to be applied to a flexible surface or they will crack as they dry. Good quality linen or cotton canvas is recommended for oil paints. The same goes for acrylic paints. They need to be applied on a rigid surface like the wood board.
Low-quality brushes made with cheap synthetic bristles will shed in your paint causing unsightly speckles in your painting. Quality brushes are worth the investment because they last longer, hold their shape, and apply the paint evenly.
Not holding your paintbrush properly
Holding your paintbrush the wrong way can make it harder for you to control what you’re doing and lead to sloppy results. If the bristles of your paintbrush are too far apart, the strokes may appear uneven or feathery.
If they are too close together, the strokes will look heavy and more pronounced.
You can use tape as a guide for holding your brush at the correct angle – about 45 degrees is ideal. Holding your brush between thumb and index finger, with three fingers below it to support it, will help with control and ensure a smooth finish.
Don’t hold your brush like a pencil; instead, hold it lightly with your thumb and forefinger and keep the rest of your fingers relaxed. The closer you hold it toward the middle of the handle, the more control you will have when painting.
Going against the flow of the brush strokes
Not following the direction of the brush strokes on your paint by numbers image will make it look odd and will cause the paint to bleed under the tape in some places.
You need to follow the flow of the strokes on your paint by numbers canvas as it is one of the fatal paint by numbers mistakes. Go from top to bottom, left to right, and if you need to go back, do so in a way that still allows you to follow the direction of the brush strokes.
Painting in this way will keep your lines crisp and prevent any paint from bleeding under the tape.
If you do this, your painting will look messy because there will be many streaks on it, which will ruin its overall appearance.
Removing the canvas from the frame before it has dried completely
You may be tempted to remove your artwork from the frame so that it can dry faster, but don’t do it! If you remove the paintings before it has had a chance to fully dry you risk damaging your piece.
The paint may not stick to the canvas as well as intended if you take it off too soon, and this can result in the paint peeling off the canvas. This can happen if you apply the paint too heavily or if you use acrylic paints instead of oil paints (more on this later).
If you do decide to remove your painting, try to wait at least a couple of days before doing so.
In the end, there are a lot of ways that you can create art. Some ways are more practical than others, but ultimately the best way for you to create what you want will depend on your skills, interests, and goals.
However, if there’s one thing that’s clear from all this, it’s that artists shouldn’t dismiss every creative avenue within their reach—there may be some hidden gems out there just waiting to be discovered.