In today's hectic and stressful world, we all need something that gives us a fulfilling and calming balance. Painting by numbers is on the list of the 100 most popular hobbies of the century and is now not only popular with children. It is also a creative way for adults to spend their free time and have a lot of fun. Unfortunately, not all of us are born artists. Number by number, piece by piece, color by color – with the right onesTips and tricksyou will be amazed at what you can achieve. Whether as a self-made wall design or an original gift - in this article we will explain to you how you can create your own works of art without any prior knowledge!
How does painting by numbers work?
Fortunately, the principle ofPaint by numberspretty simple. A canvas with numbered fields is painted with the correspondingly marked colors. For example, all fields with the number two are colored blue. A finished painting is created step by step and the painting technique enables even those with no artistic talent to create their impressive works of art. A little patience, a steady hand and of course a paint by numbers set - that's actually all you need. The sets consist of a canvas, brushes, paints as well as instructions and paper template for painting the picture.
It's all about the right preparation
When painting by numbers, the right preparation is essential. The more detailed the picture is, the smaller the fields and numbers are. Therefore, it is important to find a well-lit and comfortable space. Of course, the best light source is daylight, but if that's not possible for some reason, a lamp and magnifying glass can be very helpful. To really have fun and so that you can concentrate on the work of art in peace, we recommend that you cover your work area with old newspapers. If the canvas included in the set is wrinkled or slightly creased, place a tea towel on top and iron out the wrinkles. Have you completed all of the steps above? Then prepare the numbered canvas, brushes, paints and 1-2 bowls of water and you can start painting by numbers!
Painting by numbers made easy
Simply color the numbered fields with the corresponding color and you're done? Well, unfortunately painting by numbers is not that easy. For a successful result, it is important to organize the painting process. Try starting with a color and use it to color in the squares with the numbers that correspond to that color. To avoid possible smudging, always start at the top and work your way down. Left-handed people should best start in the upper right corner and right-handed people should start in the upper left. It would also be helpful if you use the darker colors first and slowly move on to the lightest. This will give you a better idea of the image itself and help you figure out how light and dark tones correspond with each other.
Keep an eye on the colors
Most paint by number kits includedAcrylic paints. While they are a great choice, they also dry within minutes. This is exactly why when painting by numbers, it is always recommended to use one color at a time. To prevent the containers from drying out and opening unnecessarily, be sure to close the paint cup when not in use. The paint has thickened anyway? No panic! It can be remixed with a few drops of water. To do this, stir the paint thoroughly and repeat the process until it has reached the right consistency. To check whether it is still usable, you can carry out a small “finger test” by lightly touching the paint surface with your finger. If a little bit of paint still sticks to it, then you're lucky and the paint is still usable.
Take care of your brushes
While this may seem obvious, some people tend to neglect this step. To achieve a perfect paint by number artwork, you need to clean your brushes thoroughly with water between colors. This ensures that the canvas stays clean and the paint is applied smoothly without being stained by another. It is also important to slightly moisten the brush before dipping it into the paint container. In addition, when it comes to acrylic paints, “less is sometimes more”. It can be tempting to sink your brush into the paint, but it's actually not a good idea. Instead of applying the colors too thickly, you should only use as much acrylic paint as is actually needed. Too much paint can break when it dries and cause small “mountain gorges”. So that you don't ruin your picture, it's better to go over it several times thinly.
