# Are Those "Paint By Numbers" "Painting" kits Still Around?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-paint-by-numbers-painting-kits-still-around/438336>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 20, 2008, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-paint-by-numbers-painting-kits-still-around/438336 "2008-02-20T00:15:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2026, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-paint-by-numbers-painting-kits-still-around/438336/21 "2026-06-20T23:18:08Z")

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The art faculty at our school got to fill a big gallery with our work. I had a few pieces in the show, but then added one anonymously:  
A “Jackson Pollack Paint-By-Number”. I drew light blue outlines of one of his messiest paintings on birch plywood (like so many P-by-N’s were produced back in the '50s), then colored it in halfway.

I have no idea if anyone knew it was a joke. Let alone were amused.

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**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-paint-by-numbers-painting-kits-still-around/438336/22 "2026-06-23T01:45:10Z")

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I’m halfway done with my first set and I’ve learned a few things: start at the top left so that you don’t end up accidently resting your arm on parts that are still wet; don’t try to get it perfect on the first pass. you can fix it with the second coat and when edging the adjoining cells; put the light coats first. Easier to put dark over light than vice versa.

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**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-paint-by-numbers-painting-kits-still-around/438336/23 "2026-06-23T12:56:58Z")

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Thanks for the update. I do want to see how it turns out.

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**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-paint-by-numbers-painting-kits-still-around/438336/24 "2026-06-23T14:13:26Z")

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> [@Hypno-Toad](#):
>
> start at the top left so that you don’t end up accidently resting your arm on parts that are still wet

How dextrally-chauvinist of you.

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**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-paint-by-numbers-painting-kits-still-around/438336/25 "2026-06-23T19:44:29Z")

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I just want to do it the right way.

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**Author:** ![SteviaPlumFaery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steviaplumfaery/32/21443_2.png) [@SteviaPlumFaery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteviaPlumFaery)\
**Post date:** [June 29, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-those-paint-by-numbers-painting-kits-still-around/438336/26 "2026-06-29T21:04:14Z")

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Yes, I see them all the time at Dollar General.

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