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Intermediate

A Friend in Need - Dogs Playing Poker Paint by Numbers

by Cassius M. Coolidge

$29.95 USD
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Cassius Marcellus Coolidge painted A Friend in Need in 1903, and his poker playing dogs became a piece of American art history.

Watch the table closely. One dog is slipping an ace to his friend underneath it, the sneaky detail everyone loves. This Dogs Playing Poker paint by numbers belongs in a game room, a man cave, or right above the card table on poker night.

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Superior Quality Materials

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Unique Licensed Designs

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Detailed Artwork = Stunning Results

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Tube or box package. NO wrinkles

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  • A Friend in Need - Dogs Playing Poker Paint by Numbers (This item)

    $29.95 USD

  • Extra-Fine Detail Premium Brushes

    $16.95 USD

  • Artist Glove for Paint by Numbers

    $8.95 USD

🎨 Standard Detail – A great choice for a simpler, more relaxed painting experience. With 24–32 colors, it offers nice detail and a beautiful finished piece while keeping the project easier and quicker to complete.

🖌 Premium Detail – Our most popular option for the best overall result. With 48 colors, you’ll get finer details, smoother shading, and a more realistic finished painting. It takes a bit more time, but the extra depth and richness make it well worth it.

🏆 Master Detail – Our highest level of detail. With up to 60 colors, you get the widest range of shades and the smallest areas to paint, for the most lifelike finish. It is the longest project of the three and suits painters with some experience.

ℹ️ Please Note – The image shown is the original artwork for reference. We convert this artwork into a numbered painting design, so some differences in colors, fine details, and overall appearance may occur.

How It Works

  1. Unbox

    Open your kit and set out your numbered canvas and paints.

  2. Paint

    Match each paint to its number. No experience needed.

  3. Display

    Frame or hang your finished painting.

Why Canvas by Numbers

Artist Linen Canvas

Artist Linen Canvas

Color-printed numbers that are clear and easy to read.

Vibrant Colors

Vibrant Colors

Pigment-rich acrylic paints with strong coverage.

Designed by Experts

Designed by Experts

Every pattern is prepared by our team for a detailed result.

Ready to Hang

Ready to Hang

Choose a pre-stretched canvas and skip the framing shop.

Real Results, Real Masterpieces!

With an average rating of 4.8 stars and over 200,000 satisfied artists, see why we're the top choice for paint by numbers enthusiasts everywhere.

Kit Specs

Canvas sizesRegular (16"x20"/40x50cm), Large (20"x24"/50x60cm), X-Large (24"x30"/ 60x75cm)
ColorsStandard (24-32 colors), Premium (Up to 48 colors), Master (Up to 60 colors)
FormatsNo Frame (Rolled Canvas), DIY Frame, Pre-stretched on Frame, Canvas Board
Kit levelIntermediate
Time to finishA little more than a week (a guide, everyone paints at their own pace)
PriceFrom $29.95

Frequently Asked Questions

Not at all! Our kits are designed for both beginners and experienced artists. The numbered guide makes it easy to follow along, and many users find the process meditative and relaxing. Simply match the numbers on the canvas with the numbers on the paint and start creating!

Some colors, mostly yellows, whites, light pinks and pale blues, are semi-transparent, so the printed numbers and lines can show through after one coat. That is normal. Let the first coat dry, then add a second one. Painting the light areas before the dark ones next to them also helps, and avoid adding water, which makes the paint thinner.

If the paint is still wet, wipe it off with a damp cotton swab. If it has dried, simply paint over it with the right color once it is completely dry. Covering a dark color with a light one may need two or three thin coats. Acrylic paint is very forgiving, so a small slip is easy to hide.

Close each pot tightly after use, since acrylic paint dries quickly when left open. If a color has become thick, add one or two drops of water and stir. If it has dried out completely, contact us with the color number: within 60 days of delivery we send replacement paints for free.

It depends on the kit level, the size and your own pace. As a guide, Beginner kits take about a week of relaxed painting, Intermediate kits a little more than a week, and Advanced kits two weeks or more. A larger size or Premium detail adds time. It's not a race, so enjoy the process.

A pre-stretched kit is ready to hang once the paint is dry, with a hanging kit included. A rolled canvas can go on our DIY frame or to a local framer. Our canvases are made in metric sizes (40x50 cm is slightly smaller than 16x20"), so measure the painted area before buying a frame.

Most orders ship from our California or Texas locations and arrive in 3 to 7 business days in the US. Canvas board kits and orders outside the US take 7 to 14 business days. The Shipping Information tab on this page shows the estimate for this item.

We will send tracking information to the e-mail address associated with your order once the item has shipped.

At Canvas by Numbers, we're proud of our exceptional customer service. Understanding the intricacies of art creation, we offer a 60-day guarantee where we'll send extra paints for free should you run out of any color.

Yes, safety is a top priority for us. The paints used in our kits are water-based, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly. Likewise, the materials in our diamond painting kits are non-hazardous. Always use the kits as directed and keep them out of reach of small children.

The Story Behind A Friend in Need

In 1903 the advertising firm Brown and Bigelow hired Cassius Marcellus Coolidge to paint a series of sixteen dog pictures for cigar ads and calendars. A Friend in Need became the most famous of them, so famous that most people simply call it Dogs Playing Poker.

Coolidge, nicknamed Cash, was born in Antwerp, New York, in 1844 and worked as a drugstore clerk, sign painter and cartoonist before the dogs made his name.

What to Look For at the Table

The joke is in the details. Under the table one dog slips an ace to his neighbor with his paw, while the others study their cards or size each other up. Each player has his own poker face, and that cast of characters is what keeps people looking.

From Cigar Ads to American Folk Art

Brown and Bigelow printed the pictures on calendars and advertising, and that steady circulation is what fixed them in American memory. The other paintings in the series put the dogs in all kinds of human situations, but the poker scenes became the favorites, and A Friend in Need above all.

A Friend in Need Paint by Numbers: Painting the Cheat

Coolidge's humorous portrayal of dogs is full of small jokes, from sideways glances to cards held close. Paint the dark background and the green tabletop first, then give each dog its turn, saving faces and cards for last.

Love the theme? See the earlier Dogs Playing Poker scene, the diamond version of A Friend in Need, or Dogs Playing Pool.

A Friend in Need - Dogs Playing Poker Paint by Numbers. Rediscover iconic art with Cassius Marcellus Coolidge's A Friend in Need - Dogs Playing Poker Painting by Numbers kit. A collection of Canvas by Numbers.

A Friend in Need - Dogs Playing Poker Paint by Numbers

$29.95 USD

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