Have you ever felt personally victimised by the late, great Bob Ross?
It feels as though the majority of the global population agrees that Mr Ross helped his viewers learn invaluable artistic skills, yet many avid art enthusiasts of the 1980s and beyond have found themselves floundering despite his gentle instruction.
Instead of producing peaceful springtime landscapes, novices have oft been left with paintbrushes and palette knives flung across the room – inadvertently leading potential maestros to relinquish the craft once and for all.
This is where beloved paint-by-numbers sets come in. When first exposed to simple paint-by-number sets as children, they imbued us with oodles of creative confidence. There’s nothing quite like watching a composition come together, almost as if by magic, by following a simple formula. However, traditional paint-by-numbers kits are nothing like those easy-as-pie children’s illustrations.
An activity which requires the utmost patience and a remarkably steady hand, painting by numbers has been unfairly deemed a children’s activity by the wildly inexperienced. Far from being child-friendly, with the kits’ miniature pointed brushes and tiny paint pots, painting by numbers serves as a focus-inducing activity for the artistically inclined.
It’s a brilliant way to pass the time if you’re someone who enjoys the relaxing nature of painting but doesn’t possess the elusive artistic gene which allows the brain to create fascinating original compositions or understand colour theory.
Painting by numbers allows budding artists to relinquish the confusion brought on by depth, ratio, shadows, and blending and simply enjoy the meditative stroke of the paintbrush. Slowly, but surely, those miniature inconspicuous shapes come together to form a masterpiece.
Looking for some artistic nostalgia? We’ve got you covered. Keep scrolling for a selection of the best paint-by-numbers sets on the market to engage your brain and relax the mind.
Artiste Paint By Numbers - 14 Colours, 3 Brushes – Mountain Waterfall
Close that Bob Ross tutorial and order a delightful Mountain Waterfall paint by numbers courtesy of Docraft’s Artiste range instead. This peaceful, bucolic set comes with 14 pre-mixed acrylic paint, three professional brushes and an incredibly easy-to-follow canvas. This option is suitable for all artistic levels.
Buy now £11.99, London Graphic Centre
Kaieteur Store Painting by Numbers
Bring the beauty of the Italian coast to your living room with this beautiful paint-by-numbers set from Kaieteur. It comes with an impressive 23 pre-mixed acrylic paints, three paintbrushes and even wall mounts so that you can hang your finished masterpiece with ease.
Buy now £9.98, Amazon
Galison All the Flowers Paint by Number Kit by Kitty McCall
A gloriously saturated and contemporary option, the ‘All the Flowers’ kit by Kitty McCall comes with six acrylic paints, two paint brushes, an 8x10 inch canvas and an incredibly handy easel. The kit has been designed so that anyone inspired by McCall’s own work can easily replicate it at home.
Buy now £14.99, Cass Art
Tate Fruit Paint by Numbers
Embody the spirit of an old master with a paint-by-numbers set from the Tate. This option allows artists to recreate a still life of fruit by William Henry Hunt step-by-step. Designed for adult artists and currently 50 per cent off, grab yours while it’s still available. It comes with a pre-printed board, acrylic paints, three paintbrushes and instructions.
Buy now £5.00, Hobbycraft
Tishiron Paint by Numbers
Recreate this image of an adorable cow thanks to Tishiron’s paint-by-numbers offering. The kit includes all the necessary acrylic paints and three professional brushes. The canvas size is 16x20 inches.
Buy now £11.90, Amazon
Docrafts Artiste Paint by Numbers (295 x 395mm) Beautiful Bouquet
This bohemian floral still life form Docrafts comes with 14 paint pots, three paint brushes, hanging hooks and a 29.5x39.5cm pre-printed canvas. Your home will be blooming with painted peonies in no time at all.
Buy now £7.99, Art Discount
Holiday Harbour Paint by Numbers
We’re big fans of the gentle gradient visible in the water of this harbourside scene. The style is both realistic and contains a contemporary, graphic element which makes it perfect for paint by numbers. The set comes with 14 colours, three brushes and hanging hooks. The canvas size is 29.5x39.5cm.
Buy now £10.50, Hobbycraft
Café Scene Paint by Numbers
For those who prefer a cool, summery palette when painting, look no further than this Café Scene paint by numbers from Hobbycraft. It comes with all the necessary accoutrements so that you can get painting right away.
Buy now £10.50, Hobbycraft
Irises, Vincent van Gogh, Paint By Numbers Adults
Explore the fascinating colours of Van Gogh’s Irises first-hand with this fantastic paint-by-numbers kit from Winnie’s Picks. In following a step-by-step guide, avid art lovers may gain a newfound appreciation for the skill, time and dedication Van Gogh would’ve put into this masterpiece.
Buy now £20.00, Winnie’s Picks
