Looking for the Best Paint by Numbers Review

I loved paint by numbers as a kid, so I wanted to try a best paint by numbers review. I didn't think this would be a a paint by numbers fail video, but after checking out these three kits, one of them definitely was. Was it the kit from JoAnn's Crafts, the Pink Picasso kit, or the one found on the internet? Hours, days, weeks, months later there are definitely paint by numbers that come out as winners, and one that is a definite loser.
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Pink Picasso Kits Botanical Floral DIY Canvas Paint by Numbers for Adults, 16x20 (Sensitive Succulents) amzn.to/39bWSOX
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[@GS-cg3yn]

Thank you for the review. I have loved paint-by-numbering for several decades. I miss the kits made with oil paints. Oil paint goes on more opaquely, more smoothly and doesn’t dry out quickly. Just my opinion.

[@GraceAndLotties]

Interesting. Do you know of any oil paint kits out now? I would be curious to compare the two.

[@jadedfarshore8394]

Using thinner or water will make it more transparent. Use flow aid

[@nannickle]

I did paint by number when i was young, in the late 1950’s. It was so much fun. It sure took a long time to come out with kits again.

[@darkmoonlady2002]

Paintworks are the best ones, the mixing is not hard, or I just mix a swatch and get apple barrel paints that match, I have a big collection of them anyway.

[@MelanieBsCreativeStudio]

Hi! As an almost purely paint by number content creator, I thought I would add something about the lack of photo-realism. After about 2 years into PBN, I had to finally create a video about why PBN kits don’t come out looking photo-realistic. {Besides the lack of opacity in the paint 🥴}, that was one of the biggest frustrations for my viewers. Because a photo has millions of colors, and a PBN is generated with only 24, it’s impossible to get an outcome that is even close to accurate. The company is responsible for selecting the most important aspects of the design to ensure it looks best when painted. That’s also where it’s the artist’s job to determine how far they want to take the painting once the project is completed. Most people just want to do a kit like this for what I call the “zen therapy” of it, but for others, they want to do them to take it to the next level…to blend and to create something a little more realistic. That’s what I like to teach. 🥰 The most important part is to enjoy the process…no matter which kit you choose. Thank you for sharing this information, because anything that teaches others a creative outlet is valuable in my book.

[@GraceAndLotties]

My main issue with the photo realism was that the kit seemed to show that it would turn out that way rather than showing what the finished kit actually looked like. I actually like the “blobby” look of paint by number kits I remember from my childhood. Since this vid, I tried another kit in livestream by Artsy Etta that really surprised me, and am getting ready for another vid with one from Craft-Ease, which should be out around the end of October.

[@MelanieBsCreativeStudio]

@@GraceAndLotties you’re right! Bottom line is the online & reference photo should reflect what the final result should resemble. Colors may be off due to display and printer calibration settings, but the overall image should be the same. Thankfully there are some excellent companies on the market, and I’m thrilled to see more people enjoying this hobby than ever before. Much luck to you 💕, Melanie B

[@jadedfarshore8394]

Also, I use a white out over my numbers then paint

[@GraceAndLotties]

Thanks for the tips. I have a giant bottle of high flow medium now.

[@kathleenllewellyn925]

Another person suggested to gesso the canvas before you paint it. Makes a smoother surface. Use’s less paint. I think your paintings look good.

[@GraceAndLotties]

Thanks for the tip! and thanks for the compliment

[@clarehendrickson2865]

I actually really like the last one

[@nitinvsjain]

Wow. Thank you for sharing this. May I know, what kind of paints are best for the PBN artform?

[@GraceAndLotties]

Most kits come with heavier bodied acrylic paints. I like this for the first layer, but then will add flow medium to to create a more liquid viscosity. That allows for cleaner lines.

[@nitinvsjain]

@@GraceAndLotties is flow medium - Water?

[@GraceAndLotties]

@@nitinvsjain no, it’s a more liquidy mix of what the pigment is suspended in to make the paint. It allows for thinning the paint with less dilution of color.

[@curtgottler9961]

Wouldn't it make sense to paint shadows first then lighter colors over that to create more 3 dimensional effect?😅

[@GraceAndLotties]

I wanted this review to be the kit as it came out the box. Every hobby artist comes to these with different skill levels. This was my way of trying to level the playing field.

[@retrievermom4355]

I also watched that episode of Shark Tank and I thought it looked like an exciting and fun craft to do! I think yours turned out really good myself!

[@GraceAndLotties]

Thank you. While long, the Pink Picasso one was the most enjoyable of the three.

[@ashleysilfies2103]

@@GraceAndLotties Yay!! This is Ashley (co-owner of Pink Picasso)- thank you for the review!!! We appreciate you choosing us to paint!! Our little family does a happy dance!

[@deeran656]

Thank you, I learned a lot but I don't like any of those kits. I'm hoping to find something much more detailed.

[@rossmurrayfam1568]

i tried to do one but went out the lines

[@GraceAndLotties]

That happens sometimes.

[@AcrylicsCraftsMeditations]

Nice informative video. Thanks

[@GraceAndLotties]

Thank you. It took forever to do all of the paint-by-numbers, but I was glad to see that they were very different.

[@PaulGarwood]

Pity this one is not available

[@bocahomerealty]

I watched their episode on Shark Tank and was going to order it but they were sold out. That was my lucky day because I went on Ebay and got the kit for $23 brand new! I really did not want to spend $42 for a kit that cost them $5. Profit - yes. Greed - not so much.

[@GraceAndLotties]

Glad you were able to get a good price. I think $23 does sound more reasonable for what it was.

[@bocahomerealty]

@@GraceAndLotties It seems that the most successful deals on Shark Tank are those that got onto Oprah's Favorite Things list. That's what catapulted this company into massive sales. I paid a fair price and do not feel gouged as I would have at $42. Your paintings look fantastic btw.

[@ashleysilfies2103]

Hi Boca & Grace & Lottie's- I hate that Shark Tank doesn't air the entire conversation because that is not what it is for - the gap between 5$ and 42$ is quite a difference because that is what it costs to pay for all of the hands that touch the tubes from start to your hands. We seem to continue to disappoint Boca Home Realty and wish that we could make everyone happy but we cannot. Life is that way sometimes. We will continue trying our hardest to put out a great product, listen to constructive criticism, and improve. Thanks for painting Grace & Lottie - Sensitive Succulent was a forced purchased image because there was no way to work during Covid and therefore not as realistic as we normally put out. My original images are the majority of our collection. We hope you will come back and try one of those as well!

[@nuclearthunder562]

Love the video Do these come primed?

[@GraceAndLotties]

Yes they do

[@mistershrubway]

So much time, and it still didn't turn out. Thanks for sharing this so I don't make the same purchase.

[@GraceAndLotties]

Glad it was helpful!