Wrapped in green and red paper, with a white bow taped to the front, it was a little bigger than the size of a standard piece of paper. So light weight, I thought it might be an empty box. Maybe Santa or his elves forgot to put something in it? Surely, they wouldn’t play a trick like that on me because I was certain I had made the Nice list that year. Once I tore off the gift wrap, on the cover I saw images – side by side – of two brown beauties! One a foal perhaps, gazing out into a pasture and the other, possibly a mare, looking right at me! Without hesitation, I shook out the contents. Two 8 x 10-inch cardboard panels etched with various shapes and each section numbered, nine acrylic paints in numbered plastic tubs attached to each other, and two skinny paint brushes. Oh, happy day! I got just what I wanted – a Craft House 1, 2, 3 Painting Set!
From my journal: December 18, 2023, Newbury Park, California
“Nice party…Kathy and I got talking about art. She mentioned that she just finished a paint by number piece and showed me a picture of it on her phone…Beautiful!”
So amazed at what my neighbor painted and reminiscing about the paint by number pictures of my youth, I ordered an adult beginner’s kit right away!
Commercially sold since the 1950s, the origin of paint by number art may go back even further. Way back to the late 1400s, when Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci sketched scenes in sections and had his assistants paint them in with designated colors. Closer to home, it was Max S. Klein, an engineer and owner of Palmer Paint Company in Michigan, who got together with an artist named Dan Dobbins to co-create kits. While some artists pooh-poohed painting by numbers, saying it was not “real art”, the public disagreed. That may be why the Craft Master brand sold over 12 million sets back in the day!
Recently, paint by number kits have made a comeback. Perhaps, spurred on by the pandemic, there are many reasons this type of art is now in the hands of kids, teens, and adults alike. The main appeal however, may be that everyone, literally everyone, regardless of artistic ability, can create an eye-pleasing masterpiece.
In addition to the final result, it could be the process that draws many to take up this pastime. Easy, fun, even therapeutic, you can do this activity on your own or with others. If just starting out, painting by numbers helps you understand perception, shading, and the use of color. If more experienced, it allows you to expand your skills, and practice brush techniques that can then lead to painting freehand pieces. Benefits for all levels include increased hand-eye coordination, decreased stress, and better focus.
The instructions that come in each box are really just basic tips. Paint one color at a time and allow the paint to dry thoroughly before changing colors. That way you won’t have to wash off your brush constantly. Paint from top to bottom. This will keep your canvas from being smudged. Start with the darkest color and end with the lightest or visa versa. This will give you a better understanding of colors and how they affect each other. And use just a small amount of paint on your brush while you work, to prevent clumping or dripping. So simple!
Opening my Craft Barn kit, I felt like a nine-year-old kid all over again! Filled with awe and wonder, I got ready for fun. First, I cleared my desktop and laid a plastic sheet over it. Next, I placed my fourteen tubs of bright colors, two brushes, a ramekin of water, and paper towels within reach. Then at last, I chose an image of two lemons to paint and propped the 10 x 10-inch canvas up onto my tabletop easel.
With each dab of my brush, I saw a little more of my creation emerge. Number by number. Color by color. Section by section. Without having to worry about the outcome, I thoroughly enjoyed each step and took my sweet time. When done, I was left with a tangible piece of art and more so, a sense of accomplishment, joy, and well-being. So no matter my age, painting, and the feelings that go along with it, will never ever get old.
A Journal Journey 