10 Paint by Numbers Tips & Tricks for Stunning Results
10 Paint by Numbers Tips & Tricks for Stunning Results
Whether you're tackling your first kit or your fiftieth, these proven paint by numbers techniques will help you achieve cleaner lines, richer colour, and a more professional finish.
Prepare Your Canvas Before Starting
If your canvas arrived rolled, flatten it before you begin. Roll it in the opposite direction gently, then place heavy books on all four corners for 30 minutes. Painting on a flat canvas is far easier and produces cleaner results than fighting a curved surface.
Also take 5 minutes to scan the full canvas and identify the smallest, most detailed sections. Mentally plan to paint these last when your technique is at its sharpest.
Work One Colour at a Time
Rather than filling sections as you encounter them, find every section with the same number and paint them all before moving to the next colour. This is the single biggest time-saver in paint by numbers.
It reduces how often you clean brushes, ensures colour consistency across all sections of that number, and lets you see large areas of the design come together quickly — which is hugely motivating.
Use a small sticky note to mark which number you're currently working on. It's easy to lose track when you step away and come back later.
Start with the Background
Always paint large background areas first — sky, water, landscape, wall. These areas are the most forgiving; slight imprecision blends in. More importantly, finishing the background early means you won't accidentally drag your sleeve or brush handle across a freshly painted foreground detail.
Background sections are also ideal for loosening up your technique at the start of a painting session before moving to more precise areas.
Use Thin, Multiple Coats
Thick blobs of paint look amateurish and can obscure canvas numbers you haven't filled yet. Instead, thin your paint slightly with a drop or two of water and apply two thin coats, letting the first dry before applying the second.
Two thin coats produce richer colour depth, smoother coverage, and a more professional finish than one thick coat. This is one of the most impactful technique changes you can make.
Keep Your Brushes Meticulously Clean
Even a trace of the previous colour on your brush will muddy the next section. Rinse thoroughly in your water cup, then wipe firmly on a paper towel and inspect the bristles — they should look clean and free of any colour tinge before you dip into a new pot.
Change your rinse water frequently. Once the water turns murky grey-brown, it can reintroduce colour contamination even to a rinsed brush.
Lighting Makes a Huge Difference
Natural daylight is the best light source for paint by numbers. It renders colours accurately and makes canvas numbers easy to read. If painting in the evening, use a daylight-balanced LED lamp positioned to one side so it doesn't cast shadows across your work area.
Warm yellow indoor lighting can make blues and greens look similar, and it makes very light colours (such as pale yellows and whites) nearly invisible against a white canvas. Good lighting solves both problems instantly.
Don't Rush — Let Each Layer Dry
Acrylic paint dries in 5–15 minutes under normal conditions. Resist the urge to paint an adjacent section before the current one is dry — wet paints from neighbouring sections can bleed together and create muddy edges.
If you're painting in a humid environment (or in winter with heating on), drying time varies. Touch the painted section lightly with a clean fingertip — if no paint transfers, it's safe to paint adjacent sections.
Touch Up the Entire Canvas at the End
Once all sections are painted, step back and assess the whole canvas from a distance. You'll notice areas that need a second coat, edges that could be tidied, or sections where the canvas still shows through.
A systematic touch-up pass at the end takes 20–30 minutes and dramatically improves the overall quality of the finished piece. Pay special attention to the edges between dark and light sections where overlap is most visible.
Seal Your Finished Painting
Sealing your finished painting with a clear acrylic varnish protects it from dust, UV fading, and moisture. It also unifies the sheen across all sections — which can look slightly different before sealing due to variations in paint thickness.
Apply varnish with a wide, soft brush in long even strokes once the painting is completely dry (ideally leave it 24 hours). A satin finish is the most popular choice — glossy can be too reflective under certain lighting, while matte can dull the colours slightly.
Store Paint Pots Properly Between Sessions
Acrylic paint dries quickly in open pots. Between sessions, ensure every pot lid is pressed firmly closed. If a pot partially dries, add one drop of water, replace the lid, and let it sit for 10 minutes before stirring.
Store your pots upright in a cool location away from direct sunlight. Some painters keep them in a small zip-lock bag to prevent any lids from loosening in a craft bag or drawer.
Bonus Tips from Our 15-Tip Masterclass
Invest in Better Brushes
Your kit comes with brushes, and yes, they work. But here's a trade secret: quality matters.
Upgrade to artist-grade synthetic brushes (not natural hairânatural bristles absorb water and don't work well with acrylics). A good brush costs £5-15 but lasts for years if cared for properly. Your brush control improves instantly, your strokes look cleaner, and you'll actually enjoy painting more.
Look for brushes labelled "acrylic" or "craft." Soft synthetic bristles like nylon or polyester glide across the canvas smoothly. Hard bristles are too scratchy for the delicate work paint by numbers demands.
Pro tip: Get a size 4, 6, and 10 brush. Use the small for details, medium for sections, and large for big areas. This gives you more precision and makes painting faster.
Use Proper Paint Consistency
Paint that's too thick? Too thin? Both cause problems.
Straight from the bottle, acrylic paint is usually perfect. But if it's been sitting a while or is especially thick, add just one tiny drop of water per brush load. Don't add water directly to the bottleâthat ruins the whole lot.
Ideal paint by numbers consistency feels like peanut butter: spreadable but not runny. When you apply it to canvas, it should be completely opaque (no see-through patches) and flow smoothly without dragging.
If paint is too thin, it'll need multiple coats. If it's too thick, it'll look goopy and uneven. Find that sweet spot and your paintings will look professional.
Damp Brush, Not Wet Brush
One of the most common paint by numbers tips beginners miss: water control.
A damp brush helps paint flow smoothly. A soaking-wet brush dilutes your paint and creates transparent, weak coverage that needs multiple coats. There's a sweet spot between damp and wet.
Touch your brush to the water cup once, then gently squeeze out excess water with your fingers or on a paper towel. You want a brush that's moist, not dripping. This single change transforms your painting speed and quality.
Paint in Short, Controlled Strokes
Don't try to fill a large section with one long stroke.
Use short, overlapping strokesâlike you're layering brushstrokes. This gives you better coverage and more even colour distribution. First, paint in one direction; then, lightly go over it perpendicular to create uniform coverage.
It's the difference between trying to paint a wall in one swipe (messy) versus multiple controlled passes (professional).
Try Gentle Blending for Extra Depth
This is optional, but it's a significant improvement.
Once your painting is complete and dry, use a slightly damp (not wet) brush to gently blur the lines where two colours meet. This creates soft transitions instead of hard edges. It adds dimension and makes your painting look more professional.
Use a clean, barely-damp brush. Swipe gently where colours meet. You're not trying to mix coloursâyou're just softening the boundary. This technique elevates a good painting to stunning.
Find Your Next Kit
Browse Paintly Kits' full range of paint by numbers kits for all skill levels. Every kit ships with premium paints, quality brushes, and a high-definition canvas. Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $49.
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