Paint By Number

After thrifting a Blue Boy painting for $3, I soon discovered that it was actually a paint by number piece! This techinique began in 1950 when Max Klein, of the Palmer Paint Company, got together with artist Dan Robbins to make “everyman a Rembrandt”. By 1954, more than twelve million paint by by number sets had been sold. I think it’s about time to buy a kit, pick up a brush, and stay within the lines. I mean, how hard can it be?

(images from here, here, herehere, here, here, & here vintage paint by numbers available on Esty & Ebay)

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22 Comments

  1. Mira wrote:

    It looks so pretty but my skills aren´t good enough. Not even for paint by numbers 🙂
    xo

    FRENCH CONNECTION AND DR. HAUSCHKA GIVEAWAY

    glamDevils

    10.19.12
    Reply
  2. ringthing wrote:

    Love this! My grandma had a bunch of these and I spent many wet afternoons with my cousins working on them. She had to do some of the really hard ones. We also spent lots of time putting together incredibly complicated jigsaw puzzles. All that lo tech activity was so much fun.

    10.19.12
    Reply
  3. I’m not god at painting 🙁

    Miami in http://cravingforbarneys.com

    10.19.12
    Reply
  4. Stella wrote:

    Wow!! I think art skill is the gift of God. I used to make paintings in my childhood. Beautiful paintings!!!

    10.19.12
    Reply
  5. cathyv wrote:

    I love the vintage style of all of these. Might have to get my husband involved!

    10.19.12
    Reply
  6. rachael wrote:

    i’d love to take a bunch of these, say from the dollar store, do them, then line them up on a wall of my place. how retro and cool would that be?

    rachael

    10.19.12
    Reply
  7. nice paintings!!!!

    http://thestelstyle.com/

    10.19.12
    Reply
  8. EUGENIA wrote:

    WOW HOW IS THE SHIP ONE A NUMBER PAINTING, SO COOL:)

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    10.19.12
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  9. Paint-by-numbers bring me waaaaaaaay back! Have you heard of Trey Speegle? He has a crazy collection of them, and has actually made his own art out of them — he has even done work for Anthropologie!

    10.19.12
    Reply
  10. Votre Amie wrote:

    Love the little girl with the parasol!
    x
    http://www.iloveublank.blogspot.com

    10.19.12
    Reply
  11. Luana wrote:

    Really beautiful !!
    I loved the paintings <3
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    Take a look!

    http://www.thegavlaks.com
    <3

    10.19.12
    Reply
  12. i have seen people do some murals with these, just copy, project onto a wall and done! (well, some actual diy talent would be handy too…i lack this gene…)

    10.19.12
    Reply
  13. Jolien wrote:

    I really think that everyone with a bit of patience can do this. For example me. I lack the creative talents in every respect and still I can do this. And it’s relaxing too. It just needs a bit of patience.

    Love,
    Jolien

    10.20.12
    Reply
  14. Marj wrote:

    That is so pretty!

    10.20.12
    Reply
  15. Jessica wrote:

    Childhood memories.
    These are gorgeous!

    The Lovelorn

    10.20.12
    Reply
  16. Miruku wrote:

    It feels like cheating but looks like so much fun! I bet it’s so relaxing too!

    10.21.12
    Reply
  17. Nadja wrote:

    hahaha love paint by number!! reminds me so much of my childhood <3 i had a cat painting and i loved it!!

    http://www.violetfleur.com

    10.21.12
    Reply
  18. Alana wrote:

    my grandma totally has the second one hanging in her living room.

    10.22.12
    Reply
  19. I used to paint by numbers a lot as a child and I’m still fond of them. I haven’t done one in years though…might be time to go and get one!

    10.26.12
    Reply
  20. Bev K. wrote:

    I love doing paint by number pictures. It’s so relaxing! Some of them can be very intricate, but there are a lot of old-school easy-to-do pictures available, too. I get mine from usahobby.com: http://www.usahobby.com/paint-by-number/paint-by-number.php

    1.7.13
    Reply