Common problems and care

A thin layer of acrylic paint is usually touch dry in 15 to 30 minutes, while a thick layer can stay soft for several hours. Allow around 24 hours for a full dry before varnishing. If the paint stays tacky, the layer is probably too thick or the room too damp.

In practice, work in thin layers and let each one dry before adding the next. Acrylic dries faster than oil, so keep the pot closed when you are not using it and rinse your brush promptly. A warm, well-ventilated room helps; a cold or damp one slows drying and can leave a tacky surface.

With our kits, the numbered pots are ready to use, so there is no mixing to judge. Load the fine, medium or wide brush lightly rather than flooding an area, especially on the pre-printed numbered linen canvas, where a heavy layer can obscure the numbers and take much longer to set. The paper colour guide is useful for planning which areas to paint in one session so that each can dry undisturbed.

If you are working across one of the larger canvas sizes, paint in sections and let them dry in turn. Once the whole design is fully dry, it is ready for varnish if you choose to add one.

Acrylic paint dries fastest when it is applied thinly and the air around it is moving. Keep your layers thin rather than loading the brush heavily, and work in a room with good ventilation. A little warmth helps too, but gentle airflow is usually more effective than heat.

A hairdryer on a warm setting, held 20 or 30 cm away, will speed things up. Keep it moving and avoid hot air close to the surface, as that can make the paint crack. Between layers, let each one dry until it feels firm to the touch before adding the next.

If you are working on one of our kits, the pre-printed numbered linen canvas and numbered pots of acrylic paint behave in the same way. Thin layers also help keep the printed numbers and outlines visible, which makes the finished picture easier to follow.

For a longer break, see our method for reviving a dried paint pot. Our adult paint by numbers range has over 1,300 designs, and we also offer kits for children and beginners or your photo as a paint by numbers.

If it has only thickened, add a few drops of warm water, close the pot and stir after a few minutes. Paint that has completely hardened cannot be revived: replace the pot.

Dried paint pot: the guide · Replacement paint pots