How to Open Paint by Numbers Paint Pots Safely

What paint is used in paint by numbers kits?

The paint in a kit is water-based acrylic, mixed in advance and numbered to match the printed canvas. Each pot holds one colour, so you never need to blend anything yourself. The numbers on the lids correspond to the numbers in the canvas sections, which keeps the process simple for anyone trying adult paint by numbers for the first time.

Acrylic starts to form a skin once it meets the air, and in a small pot that can happen within a single sitting if the lid is left off. Open only the colour you are using, and press the lid back down firmly as soon as you lift your brush away. A pot left open while you paint a large area in another colour is the most likely to be stiff next time.

This is not oil paint, so it needs no white spirit or thinners. Water is all you need to thin it. If a pot feels thick or sticky, add one tiny drop of clean water and stir with the handle of a brush until the colour looks smooth and moves easily. Add the water a drop at a time, because too much makes the colour streaky and thin on the canvas.

How do you stop the paint drying out between sessions?

Acrylic dries when air reaches it, so keeping paint workable for weeks comes down to a few small habits at the end of each session.

• Press each lid firmly back onto its pot after every use and listen for the click, because a lid that sits slightly proud lets air in overnight.
• Wipe any paint from the rim with a damp cloth before closing, as a dried crust stops the lid from seating properly.
• Store the kit flat in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and radiators, since warmth thickens the paint and a tilted pot can push paint towards the seal.
• If you are pausing for more than a few days, place the closed pots in an airtight food box, ideally with a slightly damp piece of kitchen roll beside them but not touching the lids.
• Rinse your brushes and lay them flat to dry, and never leave them standing in water, which bends the bristles and loosens the glue around the ferrule.

If you want a dedicated place for pots and brushes, our paint by number accessories are worth a look.

How do you get more paint for paint by numbers?

Start by checking the kit, because some include a few spare pots of the colours that get used most, usually the large background areas. If a pot has run dry, look at the number on the lid and find the same number on the colour chart printed on the canvas or in the instructions. That tells you the shade you are replacing, and it is worth holding a dried sample of the paint, or the pot with a little paint left in it, beside the canvas in daylight to judge it.

For a small gap, a tube of artists' acrylic in the same colour family will usually do. Squeeze out a pea-sized amount onto a palette, add a touch of white or a darker shade a little at a time, and test it on the edge of the canvas margin or a scrap of paper. Acrylic dries slightly darker, so wait until the test patch is dry before you judge the match. Mix a bit more than you think you need, since you will often need to mix the same shade again later, and matching it a second time is harder.

When the colour has to be exact, contact the shop where you bought the kit and give them the kit details and the pot number. We can advise on replacements for our own kits, and you can also look at paint by numbers accessories for brushes and other extras.

How long does a paint by numbers kit take?

The time a kit takes depends on three things: the canvas size, the number of colours, and how much fine detail the design contains. A small canvas with a handful of colours and broad sections can be finished in a few relaxed evenings. A large canvas with dozens of tiny numbered areas will take noticeably longer, and the small sections are usually what slow things down, because each one needs a steady hand and a careful edge.

We would not give a target number of hours, since pace varies so much from one painter to the next. Beginners often find the first few colours take the longest and the work speeds up once they settle into a rhythm. Our paint by numbers kits for adults come in a range of canvas sizes, so you can choose one that suits the time you have.

Short sessions work well. Twenty minutes at the table is enough to complete a few sections, provided you press each lid down firmly before you stop. There is no deadline, and a canvas that takes a few weeks will look just as good as one finished in a weekend.