Adults Are Finding a Nostalgic Way to Creatively Relax With ‘Paint by Number’ Kits

Paint by Numbers for Adults

Photo: Paint by number set from Galina Tiun / Shutterstock.com
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When you hear the phrase “paint by number,” you’re most likely picturing the crafty activity you did as a kid. You’re imagining the canvases with detailed outlined drawings that are just waiting to be filled in with the small set of paints. It was a satisfying activity; by simply matching the numbers in the drawing with the numbered pigments, you created a fully realized picture. No matter your skill level, you felt like a pro when you were done.

While paint by number kits might still seem like an act of your youth, they’ve recently become a fun activity for grown-ups. Going the way of the coloring book, paint by numbers for adults have the same supplies as their kid-centric counterparts, but the artwork features subject matter that grown-ups would want to display in their homes. Blooming succulents, a portrait of Frida Kahlo, and the fashionable fiddle leaf fig plant are just some of the things you can paint. This relaxing analog activity, coupled with nostalgia, makes this a great past time—especially if you are trying to decrease the amount you spend staring at a screen.

Paint by number kits are a popular choice when pursuing this hobby, but it’s possible to DIY it as well. The website PBNify makes it easy by allowing you to upload an image and select your color palette. It will then convert your picture into a paint by number template that you can print out and transfer onto canvas. Use your favorite acrylics and this special paint saver palette to turn your picture into a full-blown kit.

Here are some of our favorite contemporary paint by number kits that will inspire you to try one.

Wondering where the idea for Paint by Number kits came from? Read about the medium's fascinating history.

Looking for an analog activity that’s both fun and nostalgic? Try paint by numbers for adults!

 

Frida with Flowers

Paint by Number Kit

Elle Cree | $34

 

Blue Poppies

Paint by Numbers for Adults

Herrschners | $12.99

 

Fox with Chicory

Paint by Number Kit

Elle Cree | $34

 

Notorious RGB

 

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Paint by Numbers Kits

PaintedbyYou | $65.01

 

Orange Blossom

 

Agave Plant

 

Desert Landscape with Cactus

Paint by Numbers for Adults

Wehgo | $27

 

Blooming Succulent

Paint by Number Kit

Elle Cree | $34

 

Mid-century Mod Chair

Paint by Numbers Kits

Wehgo | $27

Related Articles:

The Fascinating History of “Paint-by-Numbers” Kits

Van Gogh Museum Puts Nearly 1,000 Paintings and Drawings Online

50+ Painting Ideas That Will Inspire You to Pick Up a Brush Right Now

15+ Quirky Gifts Perfect for People Who Love Painting

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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