Technical aspects

Acrylic paint is the simplest choice for painting on canvas. It thins with water, dries quickly and covers well, which makes it forgiving for beginners and easy to build up in layers. Oil paint also works on canvas, but it dries over several days and needs solvents for thinning and cleaning, so it suits those with more experience and a well-ventilated space.

If you are using a paint by numbers kit, you do not need to buy paint separately.

For general canvas painting, keep acrylic paint workable by adding a little water, and clean brushes promptly before the paint dries. Work in thin layers rather than one heavy coat, and let each layer dry before adding the next.

Once dry, gouache can be reactivated with water, whereas acrylic becomes resistant. Acrylic holds up better on canvas and over time; gouache is mainly suited to paper.

Gouache or acrylic: which should you choose?

For paint by numbers and for most beginners, acrylic is the practical choice. Acrylic dries in a few minutes to a few hours and cleans up with water, so you can work steadily without worrying about wet paint lifting or smudging as you move around the canvas. Oil dries over several days and allows longer blending, which suits slower, more deliberate work, but it needs solvents for cleaning and is less forgiving of mistakes.

Our kits are built around acrylic for exactly this reason. Each one contains a pre-printed numbered linen canvas, numbered pots of acrylic paint, three brushes (fine, medium and wide) and a paper colour guide.

If you are new to painting, start with acrylic and keep the paint pots closed when not in use, as acrylic skins over quickly. Work one colour at a time across the numbered areas, rinse your brushes in water between colours, and let each section dry before adding a neighbouring colour if the areas touch. Oil is worth trying later if you enjoy blending and want slower drying times, but it is not necessary for paint by numbers.

You can use watercolour and acrylic together if you apply them in the right order. Start with the watercolour and let it dry completely before painting acrylic over it. Applying watercolour over acrylic works badly because watercolour does not grip onto a layer of acrylic. Keep this order in mind whenever both paints are used in the same artwork.

Thin acrylic paint with clean water, added a drop or two at a time and mixed in thoroughly. The paint in our kits is ready to use, so only thin it if it has thickened in the pot or you need a more fluid consistency for fine detail.

1. Put a small amount of paint on your palette or into a mixing well.
2. Add one or two drops of water and mix with the brush until smooth.
3. Check the consistency: aim for creamy, not runny. If it drips, it is too thin; if it drags, add another drop.
4. Test on a discreet corner of the canvas or on white paper before applying it for good, as acrylic paint lightens slightly as it dries.

Keep water below about one third of the mix. Beyond that the paint covers less well and can flake once dry. For small details, slightly more thinning helps a fine brush flow; for large areas, keep the paint thicker for better coverage. If you want to thin paint without lightening the colour, an acrylic medium works well, particularly for large areas.