PAINT BY NUMBERS

By  //  December 3, 2020

Are you on the hunt for stepwise instructions to help you with paint by numbers along with some handy tips and tricks from someone who has mastered the art? Many questions are revolving in your mind that needs to be highlighted and answered to assist you in starting your new hobby, Paint By Numbers.

Then you are just at the right place but there are some instructions that you will need to follow before diving in.

Prep Your Painting Space.

1. The room should be airy and well lit.

Find yourself a pace that is well lit and airy. The finer the picture the smaller the pieces will be with tiny numbers. If the pieces are extremely small you will need a magnifying glass or lamp to aid your vision. You don’t want to strain your eyesight at the very beginning of your new-found passion.

2. Choose a comfy sitting space.

Since you’ll have to hunch back for a long period, it’s advisable to use a proper study desk or coffee table to paint. Stay comfortable and change your positions frequently. For some time sitting on the floor, then move to the table, and then repeat the process. This way you can be sure that you’re not causing unnecessary strain on your backbone.

3. Be cautious about paint spills.

Clear your desk or floor of any stuff that can spoil with paint stains. No matter how cautious you are, there will still be some unpleasant surprises. Better to be safe than sorry.

4. Go for digital reference.

Take a snap of your canvas with your phone or camera. This way you can zoom in on all the details for reference. Moreover, if your paper gets torn or misplaced you will have the reference as a backup option.

5. Have paper towels and water handy.

You will need some paper towels and some water (obviously) to begin with. It is sensible, to begin with, one color at a time. You won’t run into the risk of drying out all colors at once. You have to keep your brush damp, not wet. Before proceeding to a new color, clean your bush and absorb any lingering moisture or paint on a fresh paper towel.

Prep your canvas.

After preparing your workspace it is now time to work on your canvas but here also you need to pursue some guidelines. There are endless ways to prepare your canvas. Some painters will advise you to frame your canvas before painting while some will consider doing it after completing the procedure. Let’s find suitable answers to your question below.

1. Usage of gesso as a primer.

A lot of people inquire about the usage of gesso as a primer. Gesso is a glue base solvent that enables the paint to cling to the canvas more firmly and smoothly. It is recommended by many because the primer makes the canvas surface more absorbent and will allow your paints to stick to your canvas better.

If you are using acrylic paints then the need for gesso can be omitted because acrylic paints have a natural tendency to adhere to canvas surfaces. Always prefer transparent gesso over a white one. The latter will block your view, making it difficult to see through numbers and spaces for painting.

2. Stretching and framing the canvas before painting.

This is another point to ponder before you start stroking your brush on the canvas. It’s a matter of personal preference though beginners shouldn’t stretch the canvas.

If you insist on doing so, do it before you start painting. It is a little bit different from stretching a regular canvas but follows the tips on the box and you are good to go. If you do the stretching before painting, it will make your canvas portable, and placing it for drying makes it easier and hassle-free.

Start the kit

Now is the time to start your kit. Paint by Number Kits are available online. Follow the simple steps given below and you are sure to rock the paint by number canvas:

1. Empty your package and take out all the tools; canvas, paints, and brushes on a flat and clean surface.

2. Open your canvas and flatten out any creases or folds. You can use a hot iron to straighten out the canvas. Now place your canvas on a flat surface. It is recommended to use painters’ tape to mask all the sides, as this will not leave any glue or adhesive residue on your canvas as well as your surface.

3. Take a cup of clean water and some paper towels. The paper towels are vital for keeping your brushes clean in between color swatches.

4. Use a camera or your phone’s camera to take a digital shot of your canvas sheet. This way if you miss the original in any way, burning, spilling, tearing, or misplacing, you will have the original as a reference.

5. To prevent your paints from drying out, make sure that you are opening the paint pots one at a time. Match the numbered paint pots with numbers on the canvas. As a rule of thumb, go from darker to lighter shades then transition from top to bottom.

For right-handers, make your way from the right to left while moving from top to the bottom of the canvas.

For left-handed individuals, you should make your way from the right towards the left while moving from the top to the bottom of the canvas.

PRO TIPS

1. All you dip in the paint pot is just the tip of the brush. This way you will preserve paints, the precision will be accurate when your tip is barely coated and your bristles close to the handle of the brush will remain clean. Contrary to that, they will get clogged and hamper the performance of your brushes. Using just the tip will leave you lots of paint at the end of the painting session for touchups or your freehand paintings.

2. After completing your masterpiece if you want to hang it but don’t want holes in your walls, use double-sided tape, glue dots, or reusable adhesive tabs easily available in most craft shops. These are the most economical ways to display your masterpieces.

3. If you find your paint drying up, add 1 portion of a flow improver to 20 portions of clean water in a cup. This will make your paint flow smoothly right off your brush compared to diluting it in water.

4. If the spaces are too tiny for even your professional brushes to reach, use toothpicks, and thank us later for the tip.

5. Remove all excess paints with a Q-tip and nail polish remover.

So fellows these were a few handy solutions to all your paint-by-number queries. We hope that we have satisfied you by now. There’s nothing left to hamper your hobby from pursuance now, isn’t it?