Painting Area:
16 x 20 in (40x50cm)
20 x 24 in (50x60cm)
24 x 30 in (60x75cm)
Total Canvas Area: painting area + 2.75 in (7 cm) for the white borders.
Skip to product information
Boost Your Paint Game!
-
Van Gogh’s Skeleton Smoking (This item)
$29.95 USD
-
Extra Paint Kit to Elevate Paint by Numbers Experience
$14.95 USD
All our Canvas by Numbers painting kits include everything you need:
Finely woven linen blend canvas.
Pre-mixed acrylic-based paint set.
3x artist paint brushes.
Reference sheet of the canvas.
Getting Started quick guide.
Choose the finish that best fits how you like to paint and display your artwork:
- Rolled (No Frame) – The canvas is shipped rolled inside a sturdy PVC tube. It’s easy to store, travel with, or take to your local framer.
- DIY Frame – You receive a rolled canvas plus four wooden stretcher bars. Simply assemble the frame, stretch the canvas at home, and enjoy a snug, custom fit.
- Pre-Stretched on Frame – The canvas arrives already mounted on a wooden stretcher frame. Start painting right away and hang it up as soon as you're done.
- Canvas Board – The canvas is securely fixed to a 0.2-inch thick wooden panel, giving you a sturdy, warping-resistant surface ideal for tabletop painting.
Beginners: Perfect for newcomers or those seeking a relaxing painting session. These kits are designed to complete within a week and offer a delightful way to unwind.
Intermediate: Step up your game with kits that offer a bit more challenge. Ideal if you're ready to dedicate more than a week to create your artwork.
Advanced: For those who love detail! These kits feature tiny sections for an intricate finish and may take two weeks or more to complete. Prepare for a stunningly detailed masterpiece!
Please keep in mind that our kit levels are just a guide. Everyone paints at their own pace, so you might find a kit easier or harder than expected based on your experience. Happy painting!
- Fast U.S. Shipping: Most orders ship from our California or Texas locations and arrive within 3–7 business days.
- Please note: Canvas board kits and orders outside the U.S. may take 7–14 business days, as they are shipped from a partner facility.
- Tracking & Shipping Protection: Every order is tracked and includes free shipping insurance.
- Free Returns: If you are not fully satisfied, you can return your kit free of charge. See our Canvas Guarantee below for details.
- 30-Day Free Returns
We want you to love every part of the experience. If you’re not fully satisfied, you can return your kit free within 30 days. - Free Paint Refill Promise
Every kit includes plenty of paint to complete your artwork. If you ever run low, we’ll send extra paint at no additional cost.
- Designed for Exceptional Results
From our premium canvas quality to our exclusive artwork, every detail is chosen to help you create a piece worth displaying.
Join 200,000+ Happy Painters
You May Also Like
How It Works
-
Unbox
Open your kit and set out your numbered canvas and paints.
-
Paint
Match each paint to its number. No experience needed.
-
Display
Frame or hang your finished painting.
Why Canvas by Numbers
Artist Linen Canvas
Color-printed numbers that are clear and easy to read.
Vibrant Colors
Pigment-rich acrylic paints with strong coverage.
Designed by Experts
Every pattern is prepared by our team for a detailed result.
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 sizes | Regular (16"x20"/40x50cm), Large (20"x24"/50x60cm), X-Large (24"x30"/ 60x75cm) |
|---|---|
| Colors | Standard (24-32 colors), Premium (Up to 48 colors), Master (Up to 60 colors) |
| Formats | No Frame (Rolled Canvas), DIY Frame, Pre-stretched on Frame, Canvas Board |
| Kit level | Beginners |
| Time to finish | About a week (a guide, everyone paints at their own pace) |
| Price | From $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.
When Did Van Gogh Paint the Smoking Skeleton?
Vincent van Gogh painted Head of a Skeleton with a Burning Cigarette in Antwerp in the winter of 1885 to 1886, while taking classes at the city's Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Drawing skeletons was a standard anatomy exercise, and the cigarette was his joke on it. The painting is now in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
A few weeks later he left for Paris, where his palette brightened dramatically.
Van Gogh in Antwerp
He arrived in Antwerp in late 1885, after the dark peasant pictures of his Dutch years, including The Potato Eaters. In the city he studied the paintings of Rubens, bought Japanese prints for the first time and grew restless with the academy's strict drawing rules. He stayed only about three months.
Why Is the Skeleton Smoking?
Nobody knows exactly, and that is part of the fun. Most see it as student humor, a jab at the dry routine of copying bones. It also belongs to an old tradition of skulls in art as reminders that life is short, though here the message comes with a wink rather than a sermon.
Skeleton Smoking Paint by Numbers Tips
Most of this canvas sits in grays, browns and dark backgrounds, so the challenge is keeping close tones distinct. Paint the dark background first, then the skull from shadow to highlight, and add the glowing cigarette tip at the very end.
It fits right into our Halloween paint by numbers collection, a historical alternative to the usual spooky designs.
Van Gogh’s Skeleton Smoking
$29.95 USD
