12 Cool Things to do with Paint by Number Paintings

OK, I hear you laughing out there. But you can do fun things with paint-by-number paintings. Here’s a “cool dozen”… please add your own in the comments section below. Let's make this a paint-by-number projects hub!

(1) Decorate your walls

That’s what the paintings were meant for, and many paint by numbers (also called PBNs, or in the art community, “those things”) actually look great from a distance… just like “real” paintings. So if you have PBNs that you enjoy, hang them up… and darn the consequences! They go especially well in kitchens, paneled dens, family rooms, finished basements, and rustic screen porches (where I have three hanging right now).

(2) Plaster a wall with ‘em.

If you have plenty of paint-by-number paintings, consider covering an entire wall with them (framed or unframed). I’ve seen it… A stunning artistic statement!

(3) Paint ‘em.

Have you or someone you know always wanted to paint, but been scared to try? Paint-by-number kits let you dip your toe in the water with near-guaranteed success. And you can find kits in most craft and hobby stores, and even some department stores.

(4) Paint over ’em.

Are you already an artist? If Leonardo could paint over his paintings, then you can paint your new works over paint by numbers. It’s a centuries-old recycling tradition! You can usually get PBNs cheaply at yard sales, church bazaars, flea markets, and thrift stores… sometimes for less than you’d pay for new artist board or canvas.

(5) Make a table.

Slip the painting in a frame behind glass, put legs under it, and you’ve got a functional décor piece. And if the painting is “vintage” (from the ‘50s through the ‘70s), so’s the table!

(6) Make a serving tray.

Slip the painting in a frame behind glass, screw handles into its sides, and you’ve got a decorative serving tray… suitable for pool parties, cocktails under tiki torches, and quiet breakfasts in bed.

(7) Collect ‘em!

OK, I hear you laughing again! But if you check both eBay and some of the art auction sites, you’ll find that… amazingly… some paint-by-number paintings command as much (or more than) the “real” works of present or past artists (even so-called “listed” artists). PBNs have been exhibited in museums (including the Smithsonian), and have won awards in art competitions. The highest prices seem to go to the very first PBNs ever issued… like “Abstract #1” (beware of repros), vintage “pinups,” sailing ships, and early European street scenes (especially of Paris).

So if you like PBNs, consider collecting them. The best ones should continue to increase in value… especially the early designs on canvas by Palmer Paint Company, Dan Roberts, and CraftMasters. (There’s even a huge online paint-by-number gallery at paintbynumbermuseum.com/... so do some research and whet your appetite.)

(8) Photoshop ‘em.

Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, GIMP, and other image editors have built-in filters that make photos look like charcoal sketches, pencil drawings, etchings, or paintings. So scan or photograph a paint by number that you like, open the image in Photoshop, make it... um... impressionistic, print it, and slap it in a frame. It’ll go well with that Matisse and Renoir above your mantle (yes, I do see them there).

(9) Reverse Photoshop ‘em.

Have a cheap art print that’s been hanging around awhile in need of a good sprucing up? You can turn it into a PBN-like image digitally as described above. Or… just paint over it. Don’t be too precise. Paint blobby areas that match nearby colors, and you’ll soon have a one-of-a-kind paint-by-number masterpiece worth hundreds (or at least tens).

(10) Pencil ‘em.

Some artists prefer pencils over paints. If you’re one, and have an unused PBN kit, assemble and label colored pencils that match the PBN kit's paint hues and pencil in the areas. You can be much more precise and elaborate with pencils than paints… and can create works of masterful detail.

(11) Turn your photos into PBN kits.

Kids love this! There are web sites that will turn personal or promotional photos into paint-by-number kits… for a price (Google “Turn a photo into a paint by number”). But you can also do it yourself in Photoshop (Google “Turn a photo into a paint by number using Photoshop”).

(12) Donate ‘em to charity.

If (after all these great ideas) you still want to cast off your PBNs, then let them help a good cause! The Salvation Army and Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries can resell them to help fund their training programs. And local charitable organizations like the Mission of Deeds in eastern Massachusetts will also take framed art (along with household goods). Your PBNs could end up brightening some needy family's walls!

Goodwill Industries outlets across the country also auction off their best stuff at shopgoodwill.com. Search the site’s “art” and “craft” sections, and if you find PBNs that have sold, it could help you set your donation’s tax-deduction value.