Paint by numbers is a type of painting kit that has premarked sections. These sections are marked according to the color a child can use to fill them. These kits are great for younger kids who are just learning to paint. Having the best paintbrushes for paint by number makes the experience more enjoyable.
Not everyone has a knack for imaginative learning and that’s where paint by number kits come into the play. More formulaic, they help kids understand compositions better. Arguably, it’s faster to learn decent painting and how brushes work with paint-by-number kits rather than working on an empty sheet.
We are going to review the best products and provide you with a buying guide in the concluding section so you can make the right choice for your kid.
For more fun kid activities check out the best paint to use for painting pumpkins
But first, let’s talk about three of the best micro and small-level detailing and outlining brushes used by amateurs and professionals alike.
The 3 Best Paintbrushes for Paint by Number
1. The Official Paint by Numbers Brush Set
These 12 brushes are great for detailing work. These are tailored for adults who require precise detailing work. Very high-quality brushes, they come with top-notch bristles that don’t come apart easily.
Densely packed and less shedding both allow these brushes to stay in the ideal shape for longer.
2. Detail Paint Brushes Set
This set of 10 miniature brushes is great for art painting and detailing with acrylic paint, watercolor, and oil. The sizes included are 5/0, 3/0, 2/0, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8. Primarily meant for detailing work, these brushes offer great comfort and flexibility when it comes to working on a smaller piece.
These can easily be used for miscellaneous activities such as nail painting or working on figurines.
3. Miniature Detail Paint Brush Set
These professional micro brushes are great for fine painting. Compatible with watercolor, oil, and acrylic, the target audience of this set is mainly people who work with craft scale models and rock painting. Nicpro makes high-quality brushes and these are no exception. You can use these 7 brushes for all types of high-precision work. The brushes include 1 liner, 5 rounds, and 1 flat.
Its synthetic hair carries a lot of paint.
Paint by Number Brush Types and How to Use Them
We understand that it can be pretty difficult to find the best paint by number brush. That’s why we have prepared this buying guide for you. We will be putting all the relevant information ranging from the bristle type and brush shapes to what makes a brush good.
Bristle type
There are two types of bristles or filaments in paint by numbers brushes:
- Natural (animal hair): Generally made from animals such as hogs or badgers, these work well with different media, are more pliable, soak water really well, and leave brush marks.
- Synthetic: These are made of synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon, or in some cases, a combination of the two. Synthetic brushes offer the best bang for the buck while being able to hold and release significantly more paint than natural brushes. These also splay faster while leaving a remarkably smoother finish with no brush marks.
Natural brushes are expensive and considered to be the real thing by proficient artists – especially those who don’t work in the acrylic medium. For a kid, synthetic or faux hair brushes are much better especially if they will be dealing with watercolor mainly.
Brush shapes
One of the most confusing aspects of paintbrushes is the shape. There are four common brush shapes and all come with their own merits and demerits. Here, we will try to sum up the key points regarding each brush shape.
- Lines: Great for detailing and outlining, these are used mainly for decorative purposes such as elaborate borders. You can use line or liner paintbrushes to achieve continuous straight or curved lines with varying thicknesses according to the pressure applied.
- Rounds: These are perhaps the most common of the lot. Round brushes have a slender handle with a tapering fine point, giving it a rounded finish. Initially, round brushes were all that could be manufactured and that’s why they remain to be so popular and widespread. Tapered marks are easy with round brushes, and drawing them away from paper can produce thick marks whereas painting with the tip can be used for thin lines or detailing.
- Flats: The flat brush is sort of trimmed at the end, so instead of a pointed brush, you get a flat-edged one. There are two types of flat brushes: long and short hair. Short flats allow for the “dabbing” effect that can be found in Impressionist paintings whereas providing more control. The long can naturally carry more paint and has plenty of flexibility that can be leveraged for more flourished marks.
- Spots: Spot, spotter, or miniature paintbrushes are round brushes with the hair clamped. This features offers better control and flexibility than round brushes, but otherwise, spots are similar to rounds.
What Makes a Brush Good for Paint by Numbers?
Precision: Precision determines the level of control and flexibility. Some types of paintings require detailing, outlining, bordering, while others don’t. Higher precision generally translates into better paintings.
Bristle quality: The quality of the bristle determines how much paint the filaments will hold and how long will the brush last.
Comfortable handles: Handles need to be ergonomic and comfortable for prolonged usage. Pay special attention to the shape and size of paintbrush handles. See which ones fit perfectly in hand.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size brushes come with paint by numbers?
Paint by numbers kits can contain up to 15 brushes. 15-brush kits can include liners in 4/0, 3/0, 2/0, 0, and 1 size; five rounds in the same size; three flats in 2/0, 0, and 1 size; and finally a couple of spot brushes in 0 and 1 sizes. Some kits also come with 7, 10, and 12 brushes.
Do paint by numbers come with brushes?
Yes, paint by numbers kits often come with brushes along with the board and paint. Water is the only thing you will need separately in most cases.
What do numbers mean on paintbrushes?
The number stands for the size. Brushes start with the 000 size, moving up to 00, 0, 1, 2 … Essentially, the lower this number, the narrower the brush will be. There is no standard, however, which means a manufacturer’s size 0 brush can be different from another’s size 0.