How to Paint by Numbers With Acrylic Paint
An acrylic paint-by-number project is a fun way to get familiar with using acrylic paint and creating a high-quality project to display in your home or give as a gift. Paint by numbers come in a range of skill levels and mediums. Acrylic paint is also a vibrant and versatile medium for portraits or landscapes, so you can choose a paint-by-number kit for any decorating style.
Things You'll Need
- Paint-by-number kit
- Liner paintbrush
- #4, #6 or #8 flat paintbrush
- Cup with rinsing water
- Paper towel
Instructions
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Choose a high-quality acrylic paint-by-number project. You have many options from which to choose, including textured canvas board or real stretched and treated canvas.
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Review the included instructions, since they will tell you where each color goes and whether mixing is necessary.
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Arrange your painting area by putting newspaper or an old towel underneath the spot where you will be painting to protect from spills.
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Fill a cup with water for rinsing your paintbrushes between colors and use a paper towel to blot the brush dry or quickly sponge up any mistakes you make while completing your art.
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Paint in the order the instructions suggest, since most paint by numbers have a specific strategy for painting detailed or background areas first or for painting from one direction.
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Paint background areas with a wide or flat brush to minimize brushstrokes and finish large areas quickly before the paint starts to dry.
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Paint detail areas with a small or liner brush to keep details accurate.
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Mix paints if necessary on a separate area from the acrylic paint pots included with your kit, such as a white plastic or ceramic plate, to avoid accidentally altering the original color of the paints.
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After the paint has dried, you may need to do a second coat of acrylic paint in areas where the lines or numbers show through.
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Mat or frame your project using pre-cut mats and frames available at your local craft store -- most paint by numbers come in standard frame sizes for easy display.
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Tips & Warnings
Don't worry if you mess up an acrylic paint-by-number project, since acrylic paints are thicker than watercolors and can cover a previous layer of color if necessary. If you need to repaint an area, wait for the first layer of paint to dry, then cover with the correct color. Repeat for several layers of the desired color until the original color no longer shows through.
