Tricks to Finish Your Painting by Numbers Faster

 

Paint by numbers can be a great way to relax and produce interesting artwork, even for someone without previous experience painting on a canvas. You can be working on a beautiful scenic landscape, a colourful animal portrait, or a Custom painting by numbers picture based on a photograph of your choice; every painting is a great escape into the world of creativity. Unfortunately, some paintings take much longer than others, especially in the detail areas and if you are working on a large canvas to begin with. If you want to finish your completed artwork faster without terribly compromising the quality of the piece, the following tips and tricks will help to speed up your painting process. 

1. Get Organised Before You Start

To improve your productivity, the very first thing to do is to create a well-organised working space. Before you begin painting, lay out everything you will be using - paints, brushes, a water container, rags or tissues, and canvas. Next, group your paint pots in order from 1 to 8, so that you can find the colours quicker while painting. A well-lit and clear area will help you maintain focus and avoid mistakes.

2. Start with Larger Areas

Start your painting with the larger blocks of colour. These sections can be done faster, give something visible to show progress march along the way. You need to do the big sections first so that you feel more comfortable moving into the smaller, more detailed segments. After completing the background or messier sections, you can move into the smaller sections.

3. Paint One Colour at a Time

Instead of bouncing around from one number to the next, try to finish all the areas for one colour before moving on to the next colour. This approach does a couple of things. First, limit waste paint and brush cleaning. Second, it helps you to paint more efficiently as you won't have to change colours to keep painting the pattern. You will save time by not changing colours so often, and your finished painting will look cleaner and uniform.

4. Use Multiple Brushes

Although many kits include only one or two brushes, having multiple sizes of brushes is beneficial in terms of saving time and ensuring accuracy. Use wider brushes for large areas and finer brushes for more detailed aspects. You may also leave dedicated brushes for light and dark colour, which allows the artist to avoid cleaning brushes too frequently and are also less likely to cross-contaminate.          

      

5. Thin the Paint (When Needed)

Acrylic paints, which are most often included in Painting by Numbers kits, can be rather thick or dry too quickly. If you find that the paint is too hard to spread, add a tiny drop of water and mix it very well; this will allow you a smoother application with faster coverage.

6. Use a Magnifying Glass for Details

If you're straining with squinting eyes trying to see numbers or lines in small or detailed places, this could slow you down. Next time, grab a magnifying glass (or wear your reading glasses if appropriate) to help reduce eye strain and speed up and improve accuracy. Some artists like to use a magnifying lamp for light and for real detail visibility.

7. Work in Sections

They divide their canvas into sections and complete one area of the canvas at a time. You start, for example, in the top left quadrant and work engaged, and once it is complete, move to the next section. This ensures your portion remains within your control, even if you have repeated paint lengths on the back of your hand, avoids accidents of smudging wet paint, and provides obvious progress – and it is amazing how that will facilitate your motivation.

 8. Dry Paint Faster with a Fan

If you find you're waiting for the paint to dry is holding you back, consider using a small fan or painting in a well-ventilated room. The faster the paint dries, the more you can move on to adjacent sections and/or extra coats in a shorter amount of time. Just be careful not to blow dust onto your wet painting.

9. Don’t Strive for Perfection  

The best thing about Painting by Numbers is that it will look good even if you aren't a great painter! Don't worry about it being perfect! As long as you stay within the lines and use the proper colours, any slight imperfections usually won't show in the result. Don't fiddle too much with the area as you might cause the paint to clump or peel.

10. Keep a Progress Schedule

If you're working to a timeline, maybe a gift from a Custom Painting by Numbers kit, create a painting plan. Designate a specific amount of time to paint each day or week. If you allocate even just 30-45 minutes every day, you'll be able to keep producing and gain consistency without losing momentum.

11. Use a Paint Sealer to Finish Quickly

After finishing your painting, you might think about sealing it with a clear acrylic varnish. This way, you are protecting your painting from dust and moisture, but it will also give it a saturated colour, which can make your painting look more complete and professional. You will also save time when doing your painting because you won't have to go back and fix spots!

12. Store Paints Properly

Store paints in a cool, dry storage area with the lids tightly closed to prevent delays from dried or spoiled paints. Beware of long delay project times as paints can dry up very quickly, especially nasties like enamels, shellacs and lacquers. On the multi-day project, put plastic wrap under the lid of the paint containers to keep the air out until the next session. A fresh paint means smooth painting and not having to deal with the headaches of weighing paint replacements.

13. Personalise with Caution

A lot of artists like to personalise Custom Painting by Numbers kits, which is a great way to make the artwork one-of-a-kind! However, making too many modifications can waste your time. If you want to personalise, know what you would like to modify ahead of time to avoid stopping and making modifications, decisions, and changes while you are painting. This will help you be quicker and feel more positive about your modifications.

14. Take Short, Refreshing Breaks

When painting for hours on end, you may experience exhaustion, hands that shake or mistakes. Take short, frequent breaks to stretch your hands and give your eyes a rest. A refreshed mind will let you return more efficiently and accurately to your canvas.

Celebrate Progress

Pause and take time to notice your progress, and even more after you have completed a section or colour group. Noticing progress is a great way to keep you motivated and nourished to move onto the next phase of your painting experience.

Final Thoughts

Completing a Painting by Numbers project in a reduced time frame doesn't mean completing it too quickly and carelessly! If you have the correct setup, efficient painting techniques (and some consistency!) can you can enjoy both the process and your completed project. You may be painting a relaxing seascape, or a personal memory through a painting by numbers custom kit, you can utilize these time-saving 'hacks' that will allow you to finish your painting with pride, and maybe even start the next one quicker than expected.