How to Mix Colors in Paint by Numbers for Smooth Blending
Want to take your paint by numbers from good to gallery-quality? Color blending is the advanced technique that eliminates visible borders between sections and creates the smooth transitions you see in professional paintings.
At ArtistryByNumbers, every kit comes in 24, 36 or 48 colors, and the 36 and 48 color options give smooth results even without blending. Free shipping to the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia and New Zealand and Buy 2 Get 1 Free.
Want to paint this yourself?
Turn one of your own photos into a numbered canvas (from $19.95). We trace it, mix the paints to match, and ship the kit with brushes.
Or pick a ready-made design
- Twisting Colors Painting by Numbers Premium Kit (from $19.95)
- Bold and Free Painting by Numbers Premium Kit (from $19.95)
- Twilight Between Clouds - Paint by Numbers (from $19.95)
Why Blend?
Standard paint by numbers produces visible lines where one color section meets another. Blending softens these borders, making the transition between sky blue and horizon pink, or between shadow and light, look smooth and natural. The result: a painting that looks like an oil painting instead of a paint-by-numbers kit.
Basic Blending Technique
- Paint the lighter color section first
- While it is still slightly wet (within 2-3 minutes), load a tiny amount of the neighboring darker color on a clean, dry brush
- Gently drag the darker color into the lighter area at the border, just 1-2mm of overlap
- Use a soft, feathering motion, do not press hard
- Work quickly, acrylic dries fast
Wet-on-Wet Technique
For the smoothest blending, paint both neighboring sections while both are still wet, and blend at the border with a clean damp brush. This technique requires speed and practice but produces the most seamless results.
Tips for Success
- Use a clean brush for blending: do not use the same brush you just painted with
- Less is more: subtle blending is better than heavy-handed smearing
- Practice on the largest sections first: backgrounds are the most forgiving
- Not every border needs blending: only blend where smooth transitions matter (skies, skin, water)
No experience needed to start, blending is an optional enhancement.
Free shipping to the US, Canada, the UK, the EU, Australia and New Zealand, with no minimum order. Buy two kits and the third is free, applied automatically at checkout.
