10 Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Paint By Numbers Skills

These paint by numbers tips for beginners and for painters with more experience will help you turn your canvas into a masterpiece, without added stress and smudges. 

Use a Framed or Pre-Stretched Canvas 

Nothing's worse than unrolling your new paint by numbers canvas to find it covered in wrinkles. That's fairly typical, since many kits get packed tightly for shipping. 

That packing method helps with shipping, sure, but it doesn't do us any favors once we're trying to paint smooth and clean lines. That's why we always recommend a framed or pre-stretched canvas whenever you can. 

If you're dealing with a rolled canvas, flip it over, place it number side down, and give it a light press with a dry iron on low heat.  

Apply a Thin Coat of Gesso 

Gesso can take your paint by numbers canvas to the next level, and a quick trip to your local craft store is all it takes. 

Why does it matter? Richer color payoff, for one. Gesso gives a little texture, what artists call tooth, so your acrylic paint holds onto the canvas better and produces sharper, more saturated hues. Cleaner lines too, since gesso cuts down on bleeding or feathered edges between numbered sections and keeps your shading crisp. 

Most paint by numbers canvases already come pre-primed, so gesso is optional rather than required, and it's more common in oil painting than in acrylics. If you do try it, use the thinnest coat possible and let it dry fully, since a heavy coat can blur the numbers underneath. 

Set Up a Bright, Comfortable Workspace 

Before you even dip the brush, think about your space. A beautifully lit, airy corner can change your whole painting experience. 

Natural light makes it easier to see the numbers and colors clearly, and it lifts your mood too. A UCLA Health review of natural light research from 2022 found that spending time in natural light measurably improves mood and increases happiness. 

Painting can be a mess, though. Acrylics like to travel to your tabletop, your hands, and your floor. So, we always suggest setting up a designated art zone, with your water, paints, and brushes within easy reach, so you're not reaching across a wet canvas mid-stroke. 

Start Top to Bottom (and Left to Right) 

When you start your paint by numbers canvas, you want every stroke landing exactly where you intend, which is why starting at the top and working your way down just makes sense. If you paint with your right hand, move left to right as you go. Left-handed? Work right to left instead, so your hand keeps moving away from wet paint instead of dragging across it. 

It's the simplest habit for getting the order right, and it's the answer whenever you're unsure what order to paint by numbers sections in. It also keeps your hand gliding freely, so the odds of accidentally swiping wet paint with your palm go down, and that’s how to paint by numbers neatly, section by section, instead of jumping around. 

Start with Darker Colors First 

One of the simplest paint by numbers hacks is to begin with the darker shades. These bold colors are often used for backgrounds or shadows, and painting them first does more than just set the scene. 

Starting dark gives you an early feel for color relationships, helps your eyes adapt to contrast, and creates a base that guides the rest of your painting. Once the shadows are in place, the midtones and highlights tend to fall into place on their own. 

Double-Check the Color and Number 

You're in the zone, favorite playlist humming in the background, and a color lands in the wrong numbered section. It happens to almost everyone at some point. 

Good news. It's fixable. Let the paint dry and apply the right color over it, adding a couple of extra coats if the original color was dark. If you'd rather avoid that mix-up entirely, one of the easiest ways to avoid paint by numbers mistakes is to paint one color at a time across the entire canvas. 

A few seconds spent double-checking the color card can save a lot of cleanup later. 

Use Flow Improver or Paint Thinner Sparingly 

Acrylic paints are dependable, but if you forget to close the lid even once, your favorite shade can dry into a chunky blob and become unusable. 

Acrylics are water soluble, though, so you can often bring them back to life with a few drops of water. If your paint feels only a little thick, add a small amount of clear water at a time and stir gently. 

You can also reach for a flow improver or acrylic medium to help with consistency and improve color vibrancy and flow. For paint that's gone completely dry or very stiff, try a small amount of paint thinner or an acrylic retarder. Just add these products carefully, since too much can weaken the paint's grip on the canvas. 

Hide the Numbers Like a Pro 

Stepping back from a nearly complete masterpiece only to see numbers ghosting through your light colors happens to most of us. Darker shades and additional layers usually keep those digits hidden, but lighter colors have a tougher time concealing the printed numbers, no matter how careful you are. 

Here's a pro tip for that. Outline the printed number in a white gel pen or fine tip paint marker before using lighter colors, then layer on two or more thin coats, with ample drying time between each. 

Layered like that, coverage improves, and your painting stays looking clean and polished instead of patchy. 

Master Paint By Numbers Blending Techniques 

The abstract paint by numbers kit is known for its bold, separate blocks of vibrant color. At times, though, when you want a smooth, gallery-ready finish, a little blending goes a long way. 

Tackle two adjacent color zones at once while both are still wet. Gently work your brush where the two meet, moving back and forth in light strokes. That feathering softens the harsh line and creates a smooth, blended transition. 

Keep Brushes Clean 

If you want your artwork to look good, your brushes have to feel good too. Acrylics are beginner-friendly, but they dry fast, so paint caked on your bristles for too long will dry stiff, fray, and become unusable. 

Always keep three essentials at your painting station—a bowl of water to rinse after every color, a cup of thinner for the stubborn bits, and a towel to blot and reshape the bristles before moving on. Our guide to paint by numbers brush types covers which shapes work best for detail versus larger background areas. 

Your Masterpiece Starts with These Simple Moves  

Armed with these paint by numbers tips and tricks, you are ready to create something spectacular. Breathe, trust the process, and enjoy every stroke.  
 
We always recommend to begin slow. There's no rush when creativity's involved. Start with one of our easy paint by numbers kits to build your confidence and get a feel for the process, or try our custom paint by numbers kit builder to turn your own photo into a canvas. 

Ready to pick up a brush? Pick a Paint By Numbers kit and start your next canvas today. 

FAQs 

How can I improve my paint by numbers skills? 

Practice a few habits on every canvas. Paint dark colors first, work top to bottom, keep your brushes clean between colors, and blend wet edges lightly where two sections meet. Small, consistent habits beat expensive tools every time. 

What are the best paint by numbers tips for beginners? 

Use a pre-stretched canvas, paint one color across the whole canvas before switching to the next, and check the color card before each section. These three habits prevent most of the mistakes new painters make early on. 

Should I paint light or dark colors first? 

Paint dark colors first. Dark shades usually cover backgrounds and shadows, and painting them early gives you a base to compare the rest of your colors against. Light colors and highlights go on last, once the darker tones are dry. 

How do I keep paint from going outside the lines? 

Use a smaller detail brush near edges, load only a small amount of paint at a time, and paint from the center of a section outward toward the printed line. Working slowly near borders, and letting neighboring sections dry first keeps lines clean. 

How do I blend colors in paint by numbers? 

Work on two neighboring wet sections at the same time. Drag your brush lightly back and forth along the border where they meet, using short strokes rather than heavy pressure. This feathers the edge into a smoother transition between colors. 

Why do the numbers still show through my paint? 

This usually happens with light colors like white, yellow, or pale pastels, which are less opaque. Outline the number first with a white gel pen, then apply two or three thin coats, letting each layer dry before adding the next. 

What order should I paint a paint-by-numbers canvas in? 

Work from the top of the canvas down, moving left to right if you're right-handed, or right to left if you're left-handed. This keeps your hand moving away from wet paint instead of dragging across sections you already finished. 

How do I stop my paint from drying out? 

Keep lids closed when you're not actively using a color and pour out only small amounts at a time. If paint does thicken, stir in a few drops of warm water or add a small amount of flow improver to restore its consistency. 

Can I use my own brushes instead of the included ones? 

Yes. Many painters swap in their own brushes for detail work, especially finer round brushes for small numbered sections. The included brushes work fine for most kits, but better bristles can make fine lines easier to control.
 

How do I fix mistakes on a finished area? 

Let the paint dry completely first, then repaint the section with the correct color, adding a second thin coat if needed to fully cover the mistake underneath. Painting one color at a time across the canvas avoids this issue in the first place.