Virgin and Child Icon Paint by Numbers

A Virgin and Child icon paint by numbers kit with golden drapery

The scene is set inside a church. Mary wears a blue veil and holds the infant Jesus, and each of them has a golden halo. Two angels stand on either side, each holding a cross. Gold, ochre and red drapery fills much of the canvas, while a dome and columns close the space behind them. The portrait format suits this vertical composition.

The detail is dense. Folds of cloth, crowns, faces and a sandal slipping off a foot are all small areas that need a steady hand, which is why we class this kit as advanced. Expect around 20 to 40 hours depending on the size you choose. Anyone who prefers a broader choice of subjects will find more in our religious paint by numbers collection.

Tips for painting this design

Begin with the background: the dome, the columns and the beige areas. They set the light of the church and give you easy practice with the numbers. Next, paint the large blue and gold drapery of the Virgin's mantle, where the areas are wider and the medium brush works well. Keep the faces, halos and crowns for the end and use the fine brush. The angels and the slipping sandal need the most care, so leave them until your hand is warmed up.

At 20x30 cm the faces and crowns become very small. For this design we suggest 40x50 cm or larger with the 48 colour option, which separates the shades of gold, ochre and red more finely. If you want to hang the finished icon straight away, our framed paint by numbers page shows the framed options.

Sizes, colours and painting time

The design comes in 20x30 to 60x80 cm (9 sizes). You choose a 24, 36 or 48 colour kit, on rolled canvas, with a wooden frame to assemble or with the canvas already mounted on its frame (except in 50x70 and 60x80 cm, delivered rolled). Allow around 20 to 40 h depending on the size.

What's in the kit

• Canvas:The printed linen canvas carries the numbered outlines of the Virgin in her blue veil, the infant Jesus and the two angels.
• Paint:The numbered acrylic pots are ready to use. They hold the gold of the halos, the blue of the veil, and the ochre, red and beige of the drapery.
• Brushes:Three brushes are supplied. Use the fine one for faces and crowns, the medium for drapery and the wide one for the background.
• Guide:The paper design sheet lets you check the numbers of small areas such as the dome and columns.
• Optional:The wooden frame to assemble lets you stretch the canvas before you start on the church interior. You can also choose it already mounted on its frame, ready to hang.

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Without frame

The canvas arrives rolled in a tube. You paint it flat and frame it afterwards if you wish.

With frame

Wooden stretcher bars to assemble stretch the canvas. You paint on a taut surface and hang the finished picture on the wall.

Mounted canvas

The canvas arrives already stretched on its wooden frame. You start painting right away and hang the picture on the wall.