01
Set up before you start
Ten minutes of setup saves an hour of fixing.
- Light Paint at a table in daylight or under a bright lamp. Dim, warm light makes close colors hard to tell apart.
- Flat and steady Lay the canvas flat, or tape the corners down so it doesn't shift.
- Water and paper towel Keep a jar of water and a folded paper towel within reach before you open any paint.
- Clean hands Wash and dry your hands first. Skin oils can stop paint from sticking.
- Your phone spot If you want progress photos, mark where your phone sits with a piece of tape and shoot from there every time.
02
Brushes and paint
Less paint, more control.
- Damp, not wet Dip the brush in water, then blot it. A dripping brush thins the paint and makes it streaky.
- A little paint at a time Load only the tip of the brush. You can always add a second coat.
- Big brush, big shapes Use your widest brush for large areas and the finest one for small shapes and edges.
- Rinse between colors Rinse, then blot on the paper towel before you pick up the next color.
- Stir if it has separated If a pot looks watery on top, stir it with the back of a brush before you use it.
03
Which order to paint in
A calm order keeps the canvas clean.
- Follow the legend Your kit companion lists colors from the largest areas to the smallest. Start with color 1 and work down.
- Top to bottom Within a color, work from the top of the canvas down (and left to right if you're right-handed) so your hand doesn't rest on wet paint.
- Edges first Outline each shape with the tip of the brush, then fill the middle.
- Let neighbours dry Wait until a shape is dry before painting the one touching it, so colors don't bleed together.
04
Covering numbers and lines
Clean coverage is what makes it look like a painting.
- Two thin coats beat one thick one Thick paint cracks and leaves ridges. Thin coats dry flat.
- Light colors need a second coat Pale shades may let the printed number show through. Add a thin second coat once the first is dry.
- Paint just over the line Take each color right to the edge of its shape so no white canvas shows between colors.
05
Fixing mistakes
Almost everything can be fixed.
- Wait for it to dry Don't rub wet paint. Let it dry completely, then paint over it with the correct color.
- Light over dark Covering a dark color with a light one usually takes two or three thin coats. Let each one dry.
- Wrong shape, wrong color? Look at the shape's position on your artwork preview. The picture is the final answer when a number is hard to read.
06
Looking after your paint
Acrylic paint dries fast in the air.
- Close the lids Close each pot as soon as you've finished with it, and press the lid down firmly at the end of every session.
- If a pot thickens Add a drop or two of water and stir. Add more only if needed, as too much water makes paint streaky.
- Colours dry a touch darker Acrylic paint often looks slightly darker once dry. Judge a color after it has dried.
- Brushes last longer if you're kind to them Wash them in water after every session, reshape the tip with your fingers and let them dry lying flat, not standing on their bristles.
07
Pace yourself
It's meant to be relaxing.
- Short sessions Stop before your hand or eyes get tired. The work will still be there tomorrow.
- Tick as you go Mark each finished color in your kit companion. Your ticks are saved on that device.
- Step back Every so often, look at the canvas from a few steps away. That's how it will be seen on the wall.
08
Finishing and hanging
Give it a proper finish.
- Let it dry Leave the finished canvas flat for a full day before you handle, frame or varnish it.
- Optional varnish One thin coat of varnish evens out the sheen and protects the surface.
- Hang it well Center it at about eye level, light it from the side and leave clear wall around it. See the display guide in your kit companion.
- Photograph it Shoot it in daylight, straight on. See the Share page for simple video ideas.
09
Common questions
Quick answers.
- Numbers too small to read? Open your kit companion and zoom into the numbered canvas, or use a magnifying glass.
- Canvas creased from shipping? Creases usually relax once the canvas is stretched on a frame. Ask a framer if they don't.
- Paint on the wrong shape? Let it dry, then paint the right color over it. See 'Fixing mistakes'.
- Short on a color? Email us with your order number and the color number.