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Van Gogh Paint by Numbers: Inspired Designs and Painting Tips
The best options for a van gogh paint by numbers kit feature clear colour sections and recognisable shapes. Starry Night suits painters who enjoy layered blues and swirling brushwork, while Sunflowers offers larger areas and a gentler starting point. A well-designed canvas helps you manage subtle colour blends, cover the printed guides cleanly and add brushstroke texture without losing the character of the original painting.
This guide is for beginners, experienced painters and anyone choosing a thoughtful gift. The collection includes designs inspired by Van Gogh, such as sunflowers and starry skies, alongside a personalised option that turns your own photograph into a numbered canvas. We cover how to compare canvas quality, paint coverage and brush sizes, before working through preparation, painting and finishing touches. You will also find practical advice on choosing a scene, correcting small mistakes, sealing your work and selecting a frame.
Orders are dispatched within 48 hours, with free delivery by post to the UK and Ireland. You have a 14-day cancellation right, although personalised photo kits are excluded, and every purchase comes with a 1-year guarantee alongside your rights under the Consumer Rights Act. Payment is by card or Apple Pay.
In short
- Van Gogh's Starry Night and Sunflowers are highly popular choices for paint by numbers because their clear shapes and bold colours translate well to numbered sections.
- Choose a kit with a pre-printed numbered canvas and enough paint colours; kits with a wider colour range give smoother gradients for skies and fields.
- Paint from light to dark, working by colour rather than by section, and thin the acrylic paint slightly to capture swirls and texture.
- A finished Van Gogh canvas can be framed and displayed; our kits include optional frames to display your finished artwork.
Which Van Gogh paintings work best as paint by numbers?
For a first van gogh paint by numbers project, The Starry Night is the strongest choice. Its famous curls create movement, while the sky, moon and stars still divide into clear colour areas. The design gives beginners a recognisable image to work towards and enough repeated sections to practise controlled brushwork.
Sunflowers comes next for a calmer project. The flowers have simple, readable shapes, and the warm yellow, ochre and green palette makes progress easy to see. Café Terrace at Night also suits many painters: its building edges provide manageable perspective, while the blue evening sky and golden café lights create distinct areas of colour. These designs are useful starting points when choosing from adult paint by numbers kits.
Irises offers more floral detail, with clear sections that reward careful painting around petals and leaves. The Starry Night over the Rhône features a similar swirling sky, though its water and reflections require more attention, and the wider composition takes longer to fill. Wheatfield with Crows is the most demanding of these choices: the dramatic sky, layered field and dark birds involve more small areas and colour changes. It suits experienced painters looking for a longer project, especially among landscape paint by numbers options.
The kits we stock include designs inspired by Van Gogh rather than exact reproductions of his paintings. The personalised option can turn your own photo into a custom canvas, which is excluded from the 14-day cancellation right. Orders are dispatched within 48 hours, with free delivery by post to the UK and Ireland. Payment is by card or Apple Pay, and every kit comes with a one-year guarantee alongside your rights under the Consumer Rights Act.
What to look for in a Van Gogh paint by numbers kit
Choose a kit with materials that support small details, smooth coverage and a clean finish.
- The pre-printed canvas should have clear numbers and fine, well-defined lines, so each section is easy to identify beneath the paint.
- The numbered acrylic paints should provide solid coverage over the printed guides, offering enough colours to capture the painting's tonal shifts, with a consistency that isn't too runny.
- A useful brush set includes a fine brush for narrow sections, plus a flat brush for larger areas.
- A canvas measuring 40 x 50 cm or more provides enough space to recreate Van Gogh's swirling brushstrokes and fine details, making smaller areas easier to paint accurately.
- An optional frame provides a straightforward way to finish and display the completed canvas, especially when the painting is intended as a gift.
- Our paint by numbers kits for adults come in multiple canvas sizes, with optional frames and free delivery by post to the UK and Ireland. Orders are dispatched within 48 hours, and the personalised photo kit can turn a favourite picture into a canvas to paint.
How to Complete a Van Gogh Paint by Numbers Kit: Step by Step
Prepare your workspace
Set up in good, even light with your canvas flat and your numbered paints within reach. Keep a cup of water, paper towels and your brushes nearby. You can find other helpful tools in our paint-by-numbers accessories collection.
Begin with light colours
start with pale yellows, creams and light blues, then work towards darker shades. Light paint is easier to cover if a small amount crosses a boundary, and the darker areas will sharpen the image later.
Work by colour
Choose one colour and fill its numbered spaces across the canvas before moving to the next shade. This minimises the number of times you need to open and close each pot, keeping your paints fresh and helping you spot any missed areas more easily.
Follow the swirling brushstrokes
Use a fine brush for curved lines and short, deliberate strokes that follow the movement of the original design. Slightly thin the paint with a small drop of water if it feels too thick, making sure to cover the printed numbers completely.
Build up the layers
Let each colour dry before adding paint beside it or applying a second layer. Thin, even coats usually give cleaner edges than one heavy coat. Check the canvas from a short distance to see where extra coverage is needed.
Clean the brushes
Rinse your brushes thoroughly between colours, then press them gently into paper towels to remove excess water. A clean, lightly damp brush keeps pale shades bright and prevents unwanted colour mixing.
Dry the canvas flat
Leave the finished canvas flat until every area is fully dry. This helps the paint settle evenly and gives you a clear surface to inspect before deciding whether it is ready for framing.
Choosing between Starry Night and Sunflowers
Pick Starry Night if you want a dramatic evening scene and don't mind slower progress; pick Sunflowers if you'd rather work with warm tones and larger, easier shapes. Both are designs inspired by Van Gogh and come with all the materials included in our adult paint by numbers kits. We don't sell exact reproductions of his paintings, so treat these as our own interpretations of the sunflowers and starry skies he is known for.
| Feature | Starry Night | Sunflowers |
|---|---|---|
| Colours | Cool blues, deep tones and bright yellows create a strong evening palette. | Warm yellows, ochres and browns give the image a softer, sunny feel. |
| Painting style | The swirling sky contains many small sections and changing colour areas. | The flowers have clearer shapes, with larger areas that are easier to follow. |
| Time and difficulty | It may take longer and requires patience around the curved sky strokes. | It is a straightforward starting point for beginners learning brush control. |
| Display and mood | A framed canvas feels lively and atmospheric, with movement across the sky. | A framed canvas feels warm and welcoming, with a calmer still-life composition. |
Delivery is free by post to the UK and Ireland, and orders are dispatched within 48 hours. You can cancel within 14 days, though personalised photo kits are excluded from that right. Every kit also comes with a one-year guarantee, on top of your rights under the Consumer Rights Act. Pay by card or Apple Pay at checkout.
Finishing and framing your Van Gogh painting
Let the finished canvas dry completely for at least 24 hours before moving, varnishing or framing it. Place it flat in a clean, dust-free area while the acrylic paint sets. Check the surface in good light, and add small touches where a numbered section remains visible or the paint looks thin.
If you want extra protection, apply a thin, even coat of varnish made for acrylic paintings. Follow the product instructions and allow the coating to dry fully before handling the canvas. Varnish can slightly change the finish from matte to satin or gloss, so test it on a small painted area first if possible.
An optional frame is available with our kits, providing a neat finish for display. You can also place it in a standard frame that matches the canvas size, provided the frame has enough depth for the painted surface. Hang the finished piece away from direct sunlight to help reduce fading. A framed piece also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who enjoys Van Gogh paint by numbers kits.
Van Gogh-inspired gifts and personalised kits
A Van Gogh paint by numbers kit is an ideal present for anyone who enjoys quiet, creative time. Starry skies, sunflowers and expressive landscapes give the recipient a recognisable subject to recreate, while the numbered canvas and paints provide clear guidance from the first brushstroke.
For a more bespoke present, our Custom Paint by Numbers service turns a favourite photo into a numbered canvas with matching acrylic paints and brushes. You can choose from 12 canvas sizes, with an optional frame for a finished display piece. A favourite portrait, holiday photo or pet picture becomes a deeply personal project.
Because custom kits are created from your own photos, they are excluded from our 14-day cancellation right. Orders are dispatched within 48 hours, with free delivery by post to the UK and Ireland. These kits make a practical gift for birthdays, Christmas or a quiet weekend project, with canvas sizes and framing options to suit any space.
The most useful habit is to paint one colour across the canvas, moving from lighter tones to darker ones, adding a few drops of water to help the acrylic paint flow into fine details. Let each layer dry before adding texture. Once finished, your canvas can be framed for display. See our Paint by Numbers for Adults kits, which come with optional frames and a one-year guarantee.
Ready to paint your own Van Gogh?
Browse our sunflower and starry-sky designs inspired by Van Gogh, or turn a picture into a personalised kit, with free delivery to the UK and Ireland.
View Paint by Numbers for AdultsFrequently asked questions
Which Van Gogh painting is the most popular for paint by numbers?
Starry Night is consistently one of the most popular choices for a Van Gogh paint by numbers kit, along with Sunflowers. Both paintings have clear shapes and bold colours that work well on a numbered canvas. Starry Night suits painters who enjoy curved brushstrokes and movement, while Sunflowers offers larger areas that are simpler to fill.
Are Van Gogh paint by numbers kits suitable for beginners?
Yes, these kits are suitable for beginners, especially Sunflowers and Starry Night. A larger canvas gives you more room for careful brushwork, while a kit with a wider colour range allows you to achieve smoother gradients. Our kits include a pre-printed canvas and numbered paints, so you can begin by matching each paint pot to its marked section.
How long does a Van Gogh paint by numbers kit take?
The time depends on the painting, canvas size and your pace. Starry Night can take longer because its swirling sky contains many small sections, while Sunflowers is often quicker to complete. Most people spread the project over several relaxing sessions, allowing each painted area to dry before adding nearby colours.
Can I get a Van Gogh paint by numbers kit with a frame?
Yes, an optional frame is available with our kits. You can add one when ordering, giving the finished artwork a neat way to hang at home or present as a gift. Check the product options before checkout to select the framed version that matches your chosen Van Gogh design.
Is delivery free?
Yes. Delivery by post is free to the UK and Ireland, and orders are dispatched within 48 hours. Orders are typically dispatched promptly, and we accept all major payment methods. Check that your delivery details are correct at checkout so the package can be processed without delay.