How to Paint by Numbers: Tips for Beginners and Beyond

You've got your paint-by-number design — now what? Whether this is your first time painting or you're looking to improve your technique, these tips will help you get the best result from your custom design.

Setting Up Your Workspace

• Good lighting is essential: Work near a window or under a bright lamp. You need to clearly see the numbers and the edges of each region. Overhead lighting that doesn't cast shadows on your work surface is ideal.
• Protect your surface: Acrylic paint doesn't wash out of fabric and is difficult to remove from wood. Cover your table with newspaper, a plastic sheet, or an old tablecloth.
• Keep water handy: You'll need a cup of water to rinse brushes between colors. Change the water when it gets murky — dirty water tints your colors.
• Paper towels or a rag: Dab your brush after rinsing to remove excess water. A wet brush dilutes the paint and makes it harder to get even coverage.

Painting Order: Where to Start

There's no single “right” order, but some approaches work better than others:

Option 1: Dark Colors First (Recommended)

Start with the darkest colors and work toward the lightest. Dark paint covers any pencil lines or numbers completely, and if you accidentally paint outside a line, a lighter color can cover a dark mistake more easily than the reverse. This approach also gives you a sense of the image's depth and structure early on.

Option 2: Background First

Paint the background and large areas first, then work inward toward the subject and fine details. This prevents you from accidentally smudging detailed work while reaching across the canvas to paint a large background section.

Option 3: One Color at a Time

Open one paint color, fill in every region that uses that number, then move to the next color. This minimizes brush washing and ensures color consistency. The downside is you'll be jumping around the canvas, so be careful not to rest your hand on wet paint.

Brush Technique

• Use the right brush size: Use a larger brush for big regions (backgrounds, skies) and switch to a smaller brush for tiny regions and edges. If your kit includes multiple brush sizes, use them — they're there for a reason.
• Don't overload the brush: Dip just the tip into the paint. Too much paint creates thick, uneven coverage and makes it harder to stay inside the lines. You can always add more paint; taking it away is much harder.
• Paint the edges first, then fill: For each region, carefully outline the edges with the tip of your brush, then fill in the center. This gives you clean borders and even coverage.
• Two thin coats beat one thick coat: If the paint looks streaky or the canvas shows through, let it dry and apply a second thin coat rather than piling on more wet paint. Acrylic dries fast — usually 5–10 minutes between coats.
• Brush direction matters: For large areas, paint in consistent strokes (all horizontal or all vertical). Random brush directions create a patchy look. For small regions, a single dab or short stroke is often enough.

Handling Small Regions

Small numbered regions are the trickiest part of any paint-by-number. Here's how to handle them:

• Use the smallest brush in your kit, or invest in a fine detail brush (size 0 or 00)
• Use a magnifying glass if the numbers are hard to read — there's no shame in it
• For very tiny regions, a single dab of paint with the brush tip is often enough
• If two adjacent small regions are the same color, just paint them as one
• Refer to your color guide if a number is too small to read on the canvas

Fixing Mistakes

Mistakes happen. Here's how to deal with them:

• Catch it wet: If you notice immediately, wipe the paint off with a damp cloth or cotton swab before it dries. Acrylic is water-soluble when wet but permanent when dry.
• Paint over it: If the paint has dried, just paint the correct color over the mistake. Acrylic is opaque enough to cover most errors in one or two coats. Light colors over dark may need an extra coat.
• Don't stress about it: Small imperfections disappear when you step back and look at the whole painting. Paint-by-number is forgiving — the overall impression matters much more than any individual region.

Finishing Your Painting

• Check for missed spots: Hold your painting up to a light source. Unpainted areas will show through as bright spots where the canvas is visible. Touch up any gaps.
• Let it dry completely: Give your painting at least 24 hours to fully cure before handling, varnishing, or hanging.
• Optional: apply a varnish: A clear acrylic varnish protects the painting from dust and UV damage, and gives it a professional finish. Available in matte, satin, or gloss. Apply with a wide, soft brush in thin, even strokes.
• Display it: Your painting is ready to hang. Canvas-based kits can go directly on the wall or into a frame. PDF prints can be trimmed and mounted or framed.

Common Beginner Questions

How long does a paint-by-number take?

It depends on the size and complexity of the design. A typical 8"x10" design takes most people 4–8 hours spread across several sessions. Larger canvases can take 15–20+ hours. There's no rush — many people enjoy working on their painting for 30–60 minutes at a time over several weeks.

Do I need to mix colors?

No. PBNify kits come with pre-matched paint colors. Each pot corresponds to a number on your canvas. If you're working from a PDF, the color guide provides exact color codes you can use to buy matching paint at any art supply store.

What if I run out of paint?

This is rare with PBNify kits, which include enough paint for full coverage with a margin. If it does happen, use the color code from your color guide to buy a matching acrylic paint at any craft store. Even a slight mismatch won't be noticeable once the painting is complete.

Can I paint with someone else?

Paint-by-number is a great activity for two people. One approach: each person takes a different color and works through all its regions, then swap. Or divide the canvas into halves. For group experiences with more people, see our murals guide.