Michelangelo Invented Paint By Numbers—And He’d Like a Word With His Critics

There’s a certain type of person—probably wearing a turtleneck, probably sipping a double espresso—who insists that Paint By Numbers isn’t real art. It’s just filling in spaces, they scoff. No creativity, no soul.

To which we say: Michelangelo would like a word.

Yes, that Michelangelo. The one who spent four years painting the Sistine Chapel, sprawled across scaffolding, paint dripping into his eyes. The Renaissance genius whose sculptures make marble look like flesh. The artist who, if historical accounts are to be believed, was essentially the world’s first Paint By Numbers enthusiast—long before the Palmer Paint Company made it a household hobby in the 1950s.

The Renaissance Origins of Paint By Numbers

When Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling, he was faced with an almost impossible task. The ceiling spans over 5,000 square feet, and fresco painting—where pigments are applied to wet plaster—leaves no room for error. There’s no erasing, no painting over mistakes. If a section dried before he finished? Too bad.

So, what did Michelangelo do? He sketched everything out first.

His workshop produced “cartoons” (yes, that's literally what they were called), full-scale preparatory drawings, which were then transferred onto the plaster using a technique called “pouncing”—tiny holes were pricked along the outlines, and charcoal dust was rubbed over to create a guide. Once transferred, sections were numbered so that colors could be filled in systematically.

Sound familiar? That’s right: Michelangelo created the Renaissance version of a Paint By Numbers kit—only instead of relaxing with a cup of tea, he was racing against the drying plaster while the Pope impatiently waited below.

But Did Michelangelo Paint It All Himself?

If you think Michelangelo painstakingly painted every inch of the ceiling alone, think again. He had a team of assistants—his own Renaissance art assembly line—who filled in much of the background, clothing, and architectural details, all following the master’s outlines. Michelangelo focused on the figures, the drama, the expressions.

This wasn’t just Michelangelo being lazy or cutting corners. This was how major Renaissance projects worked. Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Titian all relied on large workshops where apprentices executed much of the work under the master's guidance. Think of it as an early version of delegation—except instead of emails and spreadsheets, there were wet plaster and paintbrushes.

But would anyone dare to say the Sistine Chapel isn’t real art? Here's why fresco techniques required assistants, according to leading art historians.

Why the Paint By Numbers Concept Works

Fast forward a few centuries, and the principles Michelangelo relied on are still in play. Paint By Numbers isn’t a cop-out; it’s a structured form of artistic creation. It removes the fear of the blank canvas, making painting accessible to everyone—whether you're an experienced artist or someone who hasn’t touched a brush since kindergarten.

And let’s be honest: many great artists have worked from structured guides. Even Vermeer is believed to have used a camera obscura—an early optical device that projected an image onto a surface, allowing him to trace it before painting (read more about Vermeer’s possible use of technology here).

The Joy of Structured Creativity

Not everyone wants to start with a blank canvas. Not everyone has time to sketch out a masterpiece from scratch. Paint By Numbers makes creativity accessible, and that’s a good thing. It lets you focus on the meditative joy of painting, on watching a picture emerge piece by piece. It removes the anxiety of "What if I mess this up?" and replaces it with the satisfaction of pure artistic flow.

Studies suggest that structured creative activities—like adult coloring books or Paint By Numbers—can have real mental health benefits, reducing stress and improving focus (see research from May Clinic and the NIH on art's impact on health). So, if you've ever felt guilty about “just filling in colors,” know that you're actually doing something great for your brain.

What This Means for Paint By Numbers Fans

Here’s the thing: If you’ve ever felt guilty about using a Paint By Numbers kit—if you’ve ever thought, Maybe I’m not a real artist—just remember: Michelangelo did it first! And he didn’t lose any sleep over it!

Sure, Paint By Numbers kits aren’t the Sistine Chapel. You’re probably painting a peaceful landscape, a sunflower, or maybe your dog in a goofy pose. But the principle is the same: a structured guide that helps you bring an image to life, one color at a time. And guess what? That’s exactly how some of the greatest artists in history worked.

In fact, the more you dig into art history, the clearer it becomes: art has always involved methods that help the process along. Sketching grids, underpaintings, optical projections—these aren’t “cheating.” They’re techniques that make complex artwork possible.

So, Is Paint By Numbers ‘Real Art’?

For those who still insist Paint By Numbers isn't real art, let’s put it this way:

• If following structured guides disqualifies a painting from being "real art," then the Sistine Chapel is fake.

• If using numbered sections to organize colors means it's not creative, then Michelangelo himself wasn’t creative.

• If relying on tools that make painting easier is “cheating,” then every artist who ever used a sketch, grid, or reference image is a fraud.

Which, of course, is nonsense. Art has always been a blend of technique, inspiration, and sometimes, a little outside help.

Paint Like a Renaissance Master

Next time you sit down with a Paint By Numbers kit, don’t think of it as a shortcut. Think of it as carrying on an artistic tradition that started centuries ago. Michelangelo had his outlines. Vermeer had his optical tricks. You have your numbered sections. And in the end, just like the masters, you’ll have a finished work of art that you brought to life—one carefully painted section at a time.

And if Michelangelo were around today? We like to think he’d approve. Maybe he’d even kick back with a Paint By Numbers kit himself—just, you know, something a little easier than the Sistine Chapel.