How to Paint by Numbers, From First Stroke to Finished Art
Everything we've learned about painting clean, vivid, confident pieces, gathered in one place. Master the setup, the brushwork, and the little techniques that make a finished canvas look its best. No art background required.
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What is paint by numbers?
Paint by numbers takes a finished image and divides it into small, numbered sections. Each number matches a pot of pre-mixed paint, so all you do is fill each area with its color. Section by section, a complete painting appears, no drawing, no color mixing, no guesswork. It's one of the easiest ways to make something you're proud to hang up, and it quietly teaches you real skills along the way: brush control, edge work, layering, and an eye for how colors sit next to one another.
What's in the kit
Everything you need, packed to arrive flawless
Every Nummora kit comes complete and ready to paint, including a printed reference sheet to guide you and premium, wrinkle-free packaging so your canvas arrives smooth and ready for its first stroke.
Premium numbered canvas
A pre-printed canvas with light outlines and a number in every section. Shipped flat and wrinkle-free, so it's ready to paint the moment you open it.
Non-toxic acrylic paints
Water-based, fast-drying acrylics pre-matched to your design and numbered to the canvas. Rich pigment, safe for the whole family.
A set of brushes
A range of sizes, from a wide brush for broad fills to a fine tip for the smallest details, so every section paints cleanly.
Printed reference sheet
A paper copy of your design with every number marked. Keep it beside you to check sections at a glance, no squinting at the canvas.
Before you dip a brush
Set up a workspace you'll enjoy
Your kit has the essentials covered, so you only need a few everyday things from around the house: a cup of water to rinse your brush between colors, a cloth or paper towel to blot it dry, and good lighting, ideally daylight, so the numbers are easy to read and the colors easy to match.
Find a flat, well-lit table where you can leave things out between sessions. Because your canvas ships flat and wrinkle-free, you can start right away, with no ironing or flattening needed. Lay down a sheet to catch drips, line your paint pots up in numerical order, keep your water cup and cloth within reach, and study the reference sheet so you know where each number lives before you begin.
The method
Paint by numbers, step by step
Follow these in order and your painting will come together cleanly. They're the same habits experienced painters lean on for crisp edges and vivid color.
Read the reference sheet first
Match each number on the canvas to its paint pot using the reference sheet. A quick mental map keeps you from second-guessing mid-stroke.
Work from the top down
Start at the top of the canvas and move toward the bottom. Your hand never rests on a section that's still wet, so nothing smudges. Lefties may prefer top-right to bottom-left.
Fill the large areas first
Big background shapes are an easy warm-up and build momentum before you reach the fiddly detail. They also let you settle into a rhythm with the wider brush.
Finish one color at a time
Paint every section that shares a number before switching colors. You'll rinse less, keep shades from mixing, and make steady, visible progress.
Load the brush lightly
Dip just the tip and wipe off the excess. Thin, even coats stay inside the lines and dry smooth. Keep the consistency like soft ketchup, not watery, or the printed number shows through.
Paint non-touching sections, then fill between
Within an area, dot in sections that don't touch first. By the time you come back for the gaps, the neighbors have dried, so edges stay crisp and clean.
Rinse and reshape between colors
Swish the brush in water, blot it on the cloth, and draw the bristles back to a point before loading the next shade. Clean brushes mean true colors.
Save the fine details for last
Switch to the thinnest brush for tiny sections. Rest your hand on the edge of the canvas, rotate the canvas toward you, and take these slowly.
Cover stubborn numbers with a second coat
Lighter colors can let the printed number peek through. Let the first coat dry, then add a second. Two thin coats always beat one thick, gloopy one.
Fix mistakes once they're dry
Strayed over a line? Let it dry fully, then paint right over it with the correct color. Acrylic is opaque and forgiving, so it covers itself beautifully.
Brushwork that levels you up
Small technique shifts, big difference
- Hold the brush closer to the bristles for control on detail, further back for loose, relaxed fills.
- Pull strokes toward you rather than pushing, the bristles stay pointed and edges come out sharper.
- Check if paint is dry with the back of a knuckle; if it feels tacky, give it a couple more minutes.
- Some colors are naturally less opaque, so don't panic if one needs a second pass to look solid.
- Rotate the canvas freely. Painting an awkward edge is far easier when you turn the work to meet your hand.
Care & consistency
Habits that keep paints and brushes happy
Cap pots the moment you're done
Acrylic dries fast in open air. Closing each lid right away keeps your paints fresh and usable down to the final section.
Revive thick paint with water
If a pot starts drying out, stir in a drop or two of water to loosen it. Add slowly, you can always add more but you can't take it back.
Never soak your brushes
Rinse, reshape the bristles to a point, and stand them upright to dry. Soaking splays the bristles and ruins fine detail work.
Let the rhythm relax you
There's no clock here. Spread a kit across a few evenings, the slow, repetitive flow is the part most painters come back for.
The finishing touch
Drying, touch-ups, and showing it off
When the last section is filled, let the whole canvas dry fully before you handle it. Step back and look for spots that dried lighter or thinner than expected, a quick second coat makes those colors pop. Once everything's set, choose a frame and a wall and enjoy a piece you made entirely by hand. If you'd like a glossier, more protected finish, a coat of acrylic varnish deepens the colors and guards against dust.
Good to know
Painting questions, answered
Do I need any painting experience?
None at all. Kits are designed so a complete beginner can finish a piece they're proud of, while still being relaxing for seasoned painters. If you can match a number to a color, you can do this.
The printed number shows through my paint, what do I do?
That's normal with lighter or less opaque colors. Let the first coat dry completely, then add a thin second coat. Two thin layers cover far better than one thick one.
How do I keep my edges clean?
Use a light touch, pull your strokes rather than push, and paint non-touching sections first so neighbors dry before you fill the gaps between them. Rotating the canvas helps too.
My paint is getting thick, can I save it?
Yes. Stir in a tiny drop of water to bring it back to a smooth, soft consistency. Add water sparingly, over-thinning makes the paint streaky and lets the number show through.
What's the reference sheet for?
It's a printed copy of your design with all the numbers marked. Keep it next to you to check which color goes where without leaning in over wet paint on the canvas.
How do I care for the brushes?
Rinse them in lukewarm water after painting, gently reshape the bristles to a point, and stand them upright to air-dry. Avoid leaving them soaking in the water cup.
Ready to start your first canvas?
Pick a design you love, everything you need is in the box, including the reference sheet and a wrinkle-free, ready-to-paint canvas. Just open it and begin.
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