Painting by Numbers Tips & Techniques

Painting Tips

Acrylic is an easy water-based medium to work with that cleans up easily from most surfaces with soap and warm water. However do protect your clothing to prevent possible stains. *Always be sure to select a well-lit space to work on your project. *Stir paints thoroughly with toothpick or brush handle before using. *Paint in small areas first and work towards larger areas. Details in faces are important, so for portraits we recommend starting with the eyes. *Before changing paint colors, rinse your brush gently with water. *To prevent paints from thickening, close each lid securely after use. If paint becomes thick, add one drop of clean water at a time until desired consistency. *Lighter colors may require additional coats of paint for desired coverage, but keep in mind that acrylics dry to a slightly darker tone. *For a finer brush tip, trim brush fibers to a point using scissors. If you paint a number field with the wrong color, allow the area to dry, then repaint using the correct color.

Painting Techniques

These techniques may help you fine-tune your artwork. To be sure you get the desired effect, try them out before using them on your canvas.

Go Lightly -Painting conservatively in thin layers will preserve the genuine canvas texture without completely sealing it.

Highlighting -Once dry, select a lighter color than the painted area. Apply color to a dry brush and streak until the paint is tacky. Apply lightly to highlight canvas texture.

Blending -As you complete a number field, use the bristles of a dry brush to blend the wet edge with the adjacent field, softening the contrast.

Streaking -Softly paint fine streaks of a lighter shade over a darker shade. This is a good technique to add texture to hair and backgrounds.

Glossy Finish -To saturate colors with a brilliant shine that protects, you may add a clear gloss layer. Brush aGloss Medium and Varnishover the completely dried painting. Brush one coat horizontal, allow to dry. Brush a second coat vertically, allow to dry.

Framing

Allow your painting to dry 24 hours before inserting your canvas into a frame. Glass is not necessary when framing painted canvas pieces. Congratulations, you are an original Canvas by Numbers Artist! Now you can…

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