Tips to Complete Painting by Numbers on Time

An important aspect of a Painting by Numbers kit is how satisfying it is to complete a painting. Whether it’s a calm landscape, a powerful animal, or turning a treasured memento into a canvas with custom Painting by Numbers, Painting by Numbers delivers relaxation, creativity, and satisfying completion to the process; it is fun and fulfilling. But, painting by numbers is, potentially, a slow process (perhaps what motivated you to find a way to complete it quickly), especially if you want to finish the painting for a gift, for a deadline, or you simply don’t want to have it lie incomplete.

Lots of people start excited, only to see their painting stuck down or stalled midway because of competition from busy schedules, losing momentum, etc. The good news is... with the right strategies and tools to learn to use (and also a bit of shift in your mindset), not only will you enjoy your painting experience, you can also finish your painting by numbers quickly and effectively. In this blog, I’ll give you some practical and proven tips to finish your painting by numbers on time without losing quality or enjoyment.

1. Set a Realistic Timeline

Before you begin, take a moment to think about how long you estimate your painting will take you. Think about the canvas size, the detail involved, and what you can realistically accomplish each day. Set manageable goals. For instance, if your painting has 20 sections and you want to finish in 10 days, then try to complete 2 sections each day. 

When you've set a time frame, it gives you a goal and motivates you to create structure. It also feels really good to reach daily or weekly goals, and you feel like you're picking up momentum.

2. Choose the Right Time of Day

Establish which point in the day you feel freshest and most focused. Some individuals work better on their art in the morning, a nd some individuals only wind down from the day with a brush in hand. Establishing time in your mind helps to build a routine, thus allowing painting to be a natural part of your day.

Efforts to squeeze in painting time while life is chaotic and busy may prove more frustrating than beneficial. Painting is meant to be relaxing and enjoyable. A quiet, undisturbed half hour can be more productive than two hours of distracted painting.

3. Organise Your Painting Station

An organised painting area can be a great time saver and less frustrating. It is a good idea to use a flat space that is well lit, where you can leave it set up. Keep your paint, brushes, water cup, paper towels, and canvas all in the order provided so you can reach them easily. 

Label your paint pots, and use a brush holder or tray to keep them organised. The less time spent setting up your area and cleaning up, the more time you have to devote to painting

4. Work One Colour at a Time

Frequently switching colours can slow you down; instead, focus on just one colour at a time over the entire canvas. This is more efficient since you will have fewer times to clean your brush and re-identify sections for each colour. Start with the larger and easier sections to build momentum and see progress quickly before working on the small and intricate pieces. 

5. Focus on Detail First

If your canvas has areas to fill or paint that are very small or intricate, do those sections first and early, while your eyes are fresh and the energy is high. These sections require considerably more focus and precision and will likely slow you down if you try to do them last. You may want to use a magnifying glass or a lighted desk lamp to help with visibility, especially for kits with very small numbers or lines.

6. Use Multiple Brushes

It can certainly save time, having different brush sizes on hand and ready to go. Use bigger brushes for larger areas and smaller, fine-tipped brushes for minute areas. And don't try to make one brush do all the work! Switching brushes leads to quicker, easier, and cleaner results overall.

Try to clean brushes between colours to avoid contaminating colours. Contamination can make colours muddy, requiring a complete redo of the colours.

7. Keep Your Paints Fresh

One of the greatest sources of lost time has to be dealing with dried-out paint. You should always ensure that air can't get into your paint pots after each painting session. If you're using acrylics, as they thicken, you can add a drop or two of water and gently stir back the acrylic. Have a small spritz bottle nearby, and lightly mist the paint during longer painting sessions.

This is particularly important when using custom Painting by Numbers kits, because you already have the correct shades for your image. Maintaining the correct shades is important for the final result to look like your image and look realistic.

8. Avoid Perfection Paralysis

It's so easy to get caught up in making every little line or curve perfect when you love what you are painting. While thinking of details is great, working to make every brush stroke perfect can take you a long time to finish your painting. Instead, just keep moving forward! Remember that once the whole painting is full and viewed from a normal distance, so many of the tiny 'flaws' you were stressed about will blend in and you will not even notice them. Trust the process and enjoy it! 

9. Keep Up with Your Painting Schedule

The only way you will finish on time is to stay with the timing. Even short sessions of 20–30 minutes almost every day add up. Consider setting a timer, or putting it into your task manager or planner as a commitment. 

Some days you know you'll be much busier, be prepared to compensate with extra time on weekends or free days. Treat it just like any other commitment—you are investing time to do something creative and rewarding!

10. Celebrate Milestones

Break the artwork into small milestones—completing the entire background, finishing your subject, or finishing your paint colours. When you finish these mini-milestones, have a little celebration to reward yourself and motivate you for the big milestone! You can take progress pictures, share your updates with friends or just appreciate where you started and where you are now.

These small milestones create a buildup and keep you motivated to finish, especially when you feel your energy start to be low halfway through your project.

11. Make it socially interactive or shareable

If you are not motivated to do this on your own, have a friend or family painter join you! There are lots of ways to do this virtually. Or share your journey with others to inspire each other.

Many people working on Painting by Numbers kits find motivation by joining groups where they can see other people's timelines, tips, and finished pieces. It can change your solitary hobby into something you do with other people and become more vibrant and fun!

12. Don’t Skip the Final Touches

After you have finished your painting, consider sealing it with a clear acrylic spray or varnish so the paint stays intact and colours stay true. If you can finish on time, frame it right away so you are ready to present or give it away! 

When it comes to custom Painting By Numbers canvases, the additions of varnish and framing elevate the piece visually and sentimentally. 

Final Thoughts

Getting through a Painting By Numbers piece on time stresses no one out. Planning and consistent engagement, together with the right mindset, you can find joy and fulfilment in the entire creative process, all while staying on track. Whether you are preparing a gift for someone special, decorating your home, or taking the time for some long overdue “me time”, painting by numbers offers a unique experience that combines art-making, mindfulness and accomplishment. 

If you take these tips into account, you will discover that creating and completing your painting on time will not only be doable but incredibly fun, one brush stroke at a time.