Quick Summary: How Paint by Numbers Works
- The idea: An image is broken into numbered shapes, and each number tells you exactly which paint colour goes there. No drawing, no colour mixing, no guessing.
- The skill needed: None. This is the whole point. A paint by numbers kit removes the two hardest parts of painting, composition and colour matching, so you can focus on simply applying the paint.
- What's in the box: A pre-printed canvas, a full set of matching acrylic paints, a few brushes, and a reference image showing the finished painting.
- The result: A genuinely frame-worthy painting, usually finished in 8 to 20 hours depending on size, that looks like it took real artistic skill to create.
What you'll find in this guide
If you've never tried painting before, starting with a blank canvas is intimidating. You'd need to understand composition, perspective, and how to mix the right shade of every colour you see. That's a lot to ask of someone who just wants a relaxing hobby and a nice piece of art for their wall.
Paint by numbers solves that problem completely. It's one of the most accessible creative hobbies for adults in Canada precisely because it removes every barrier that normally stops people from picking up a brush. This guide walks you through exactly how it works, what's inside a kit, and how to paint your first canvas with confidence.
Every shape on the canvas is numbered, and that number tells you exactly which paint pot to use.
How Paint by Numbers Actually Works
At its core, paint by numbers is a system for turning any image into something anyone can paint. A piece of artwork or a photograph is digitally broken down into hundreds of small, distinct shapes. Each shape is then assigned a number, and that number corresponds to a specific pot of pre-mixed paint.
Your only job is to match the number on the canvas to the number on the paint pot and fill it in. When every shape is filled, the individual sections blend together visually to form a detailed, accurate version of the original image, just like a photo mosaic comes together from individual tiles.
Because all the hard creative decisions, composition, colour selection, colour mixing, have already been made for you, you get to focus entirely on the satisfying part: the actual painting. This is exactly why paint by numbers for adults has become such a popular stress-relief hobby across Canada. There's no pressure to "get it right" creatively. You just follow the map.
From Photo to Finished Painting, In Four Steps
An image is mapped
The artwork or photo is digitally divided into numbered shapes based on colour and tone.
Paint is matched to each number
Every numbered shape is paired with a specific, pre-mixed acrylic paint colour.
You fill in each shape
Using the included brushes, you paint each numbered section with its matching colour.
The full image emerges
Once every section is painted, the shapes blend together into a complete, detailed painting.
What Comes in a Paint by Numbers Kit
A good paint by numbers kit needs the right materials to actually work. If the canvas is cheap, thin paper, the paint bleeds across the lines and ruins the crisp edges that make the finished painting look clean. Every kit from Paint On Numbers Canada is built around four core components, each one chosen for a specific reason.
| What's Included | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Pre-printed canvas | A high-density woven fabric printed with your numbered design. The slight texture, or "tooth," helps the paint grip properly instead of sliding around. |
| Acrylic paint set | A full set of pre-mixed, ready-to-use paints matched to your specific design. No mixing or measuring required, just open the pot and paint. |
| Brush set | Multiple brush sizes, fine, medium, and broad, so you have the right tool for both large background areas and tiny detail sections. |
| Reference image | A printed copy of the finished painting, useful for checking which number belongs where if a section gets painted over before you're done. |
Most standard paint by numbers kits in Canada come in 24, 36, or 48 colour options, and you can read our full breakdown of 24 vs 36 vs 48 colours if you're deciding which level of detail is right for your first kit. As a general rule, 24 colours is the easiest and most forgiving starting point for a true beginner.
Step-by-Step: Painting Your First Canvas
Once your kit arrives, getting a great result comes down to following a simple process. Here's exactly how to approach your first canvas.
1. Set up your workspace
Find a flat, stable surface with good lighting. Natural daylight is ideal, but a bright desk lamp works well too. Keep a cup of water and a paper towel nearby for cleaning your brush between colours.
2. Check your paint consistency
Open your first paint pot. It should flow smoothly off the brush, similar to the consistency of cream. If it feels thick or sticky from sitting unused, our guide on how to thin acrylic paint shows you exactly how to fix it with a single drop of water.
3. Choose your painting order
You can work through the numbers in order, but most experienced painters get better results by following a light-to-dark strategy instead. Painting your lightest colours first means any small mistakes near a boundary are easy to cover later with darker, more opaque paint.
4. Apply the paint evenly
Use light, even coats rather than one thick layer, which tends to look uneven and can leave visible brush marks. If you can still see the printed number after your first coat, that's completely normal, just let it dry fully and apply a second thin coat to fully cover it.
5. Rinse your brush between colours
Give your brush a proper rinse every time you switch paint pots. Leftover colour hiding in the bristles will dull or muddy the next colour you use.
Ready to Try Your First Kit?
Find a Design You'll Actually Want to Finish
Beginner-friendly kits with larger sections and a forgiving 24-colour palette are the easiest way to start, and the most likely to get finished.
Browse Best-Selling KitsCan You Make a Custom Paint by Numbers From Your Own Photo?
Yes, and it's one of the most popular ways to use this hobby. Standard kits with pre-designed landscapes, animals, and abstract art are great for learning the basics, but the same numbered system can be applied to almost any photo you own.
Using our Custom Paint by Numbers or Custom Pet Portrait options, you simply upload a clear, well-lit photo. A real designer reviews the image, maps out the colours, and builds you a completely unique numbered canvas with a matching paint set, ready to paint exactly the same way as any standard kit.
Common Questions, Answered
Do I need any art experience to do paint by numbers?
No. That's the entire point of paint by numbers. Every creative decision, the composition, the colour choices, has already been made for you. All you're doing is matching numbers to paint colours and applying them, which makes it genuinely beginner-friendly regardless of age or experience.
How long does it take to finish a paint by numbers kit?
Most standard kits take 8 to 20 hours depending on the canvas size and how many colours are in the design. Most people paint in one to two hour sessions a few times a week, which turns a kit into a relaxing three to four week project rather than something you need to rush.
What kind of paint is used in paint by numbers kits?
Quality kits use pre-mixed, non-toxic acrylic paint that's ready to use straight from the pot. Acrylic dries quickly, cleans up easily with water, and gives solid, opaque coverage once you've applied two thin coats.
Do you need to paint inside the lines exactly?
Not perfectly. Small imperfections at the edges of sections blend in naturally once the whole canvas is painted, especially in busier designs like landscapes or florals. A steady hand helps, but precision down to the millimetre is not required for a great result.
Is paint by numbers just for kids?
No, the opposite is actually true. Paint by numbers for adults has grown into one of the most popular stress-relief hobbies in Canada, with more detailed designs, richer colour palettes, and larger canvas sizes than children's versions. Kids' kits use simpler designs with bigger sections, while adult kits offer real artistic depth.
What size canvas should a beginner start with?
A 30×40 cm or 40×50 cm canvas is the most beginner-friendly starting point. It's large enough to feel like a real painting once finished, but small enough to complete without feeling like an overwhelming commitment.
Ready to Paint Your First Canvas?
Now that you know exactly how paint by numbers works, the only thing left to do is pick your first design. Browse our full collection or turn your own photo into a custom kit. All orders over $75 CAD ship free across Canada.
Browse Adult Kits Create a Custom Kit