How to Paint by Numbers: Step-by-Step Beginner Guide

New to Paint by Numbers? This step-by-step guide covers setup, brush use, paint order, common beginner mistakes and how to keep your first project simple.

September 20, 2026 3 min read

Paint by Numbers is simple once you understand the basic system: every numbered section on the canvas matches a numbered pot of paint.

Quick answer: set up in good light, organise the paints, choose a starting colour, use a small amount of paint on the brush and work through matching numbered sections at your own pace.

Step 1: Check what is in your kit

Before you begin, lay everything out. You should have the numbered canvas, the correct paint set and brushes.

Our 20×20 cm framed kits also include a wooden tabletop easel. Our 40×50 cm kits are supplied rolled and include double paint quantity.

Step 2: Set up somewhere with good light

A stable table and bright light make the printed numbers easier to read. Keep a small cup of clean water and a cloth or paper towel nearby for rinsing and blotting brushes.

If the canvas is rolled, flatten it before painting so your hand is not fighting creases while you work.

Step 3: Match the paint numbers to the canvas

Each paint pot corresponds to numbered areas on the canvas. You do not need to mix colours unless your specific kit tells you to.

Open only the paint you are using and close it again as soon as you finish. Acrylic paint dries when exposed to air.

Step 4: Choose where to start

There is no single compulsory starting point, but beginners usually find it easier to use a consistent method.

Work from the top of the canvas downward if you tend to rest your hand on the surface.
Work one colour at a time if you want fewer brush washes.
Use lighter colours before very dark colours when neighbouring sections make this practical.

For the full explanation, read What Order Should You Paint by Numbers?

Step 5: Use less paint than you think you need

Load enough paint to cover the section without creating a thick ridge. Two thinner coats usually give you more control than one heavy coat.

Try to guide the brush toward the printed edge rather than flooding the area and hoping the paint stops in the right place.

Step 6: Use the brush size that fits the section

Use a finer brush for small numbered shapes and a larger brush for broad areas. Do not force a large brush into a tiny section; that is where messy edges usually begin.

Step 7: Let neighbouring wet areas dry

If two sections touch and the colours are very different, allowing one to dry before painting the other can help keep the boundary cleaner.

Step 8: Rinse brushes before paint dries on them

Rinse when changing colours, then blot the brush rather than leaving it dripping wet. At the end of a session, wash brushes thoroughly and reshape the bristles gently.

Step 9: Close every paint pot properly

Acrylic paint can dry surprisingly quickly around an open lid. Wipe paint from the rim if necessary and make sure the pot seals fully before putting it away.

Step 10: Stop before you get careless

You do not need to finish a kit in one sitting. When you stop enjoying the detail, close the paints and come back later. Paint by Numbers is easy to restart because the canvas keeps your place for you.

Common beginner mistakes

Using too much paint on the brush.
Leaving paint pots open while working elsewhere.
Trying to cover every printed number with one very thick coat.
Using the same brush for every section size.
Rushing because you think the painting should be finished quickly.
Choosing a first design purely because it looks impressive rather than because you want to paint it.