Beginners and basics

Paint by numbers is suitable for beginners, including people who have never painted. The printed linen canvas has outlines and numbers to guide you as you work, and each numbered section matches a numbered acrylic paint pot. You do not need to mix colours. The fine, medium and wide brushes help you practise different painting techniques while creating a finished picture. A paper chart is included to help you match the sections and colours.

To paint on canvas, lay it flat on a table or set it on an easel, in good light so you can see the colours and edges clearly. Work from the large areas to the small ones, and from dark colours to light, letting each coat dry before adding the next. Thin acrylic slightly with water if it drags, and keep brushes rinsed between colours.

1. Set up your canvas flat or on an easel in good light.
2. Start with the large areas and the darker colours.
3. Let each coat dry, then move on to the details.
4. Rinse and dry your brush when changing colours.

With paint by numbers, the design and colours are already worked out: you simply match each numbered area to its numbered pot and follow the guide.

If you use a frame, assemble and stretch the canvas before painting so the surface stays taut. Work in thin layers rather than one thick coat, and allow the paint to dry fully between them.

For a first canvas painting, choose a paint by numbers design with few colours and large, open areas. These are the most forgiving: there is less switching between pots, fewer small sections to fill, and the printed numbers are easier to read. Simple subjects such as a single flower, a landscape with a broad sky, or a bold animal shape work well. Avoid designs with lots of tiny detail or many similar shades until you have some practice.

Paint by numbers is the simplest way to start, because the design is printed on the canvas and each colour comes in a numbered pot, so you are not mixing paints or drawing the image yourself. Work in thin layers rather than loading the brush heavily, and paint the largest areas first. Rinse the brush between colours and blot it dry.

If you are unsure, a smaller canvas with 24 colours is a sensible place to begin.

Paint the background first, then work through the petals from darkest to lightest, and finish with the highlights. This order keeps the flower reading clearly against its surroundings and stops you having to paint around finished detail.

1. Lay in the background and let it dry fully.
2. Block in the darkest petal tones, following the shape of each petal rather than colouring flatly.
3. Build up the mid tones, then the lighter ones, keeping edges soft where petals curve away.
4. Add highlights last with a fine brush, along with any outlines or stamens.

Acrylic dries quickly, so keep the brush moving and load it lightly for fine work. A fine brush suits outlines and small centres, a medium brush handles most petal shapes, and a wide brush is useful for backgrounds.