Quick answer: with the Create Your Own Paint By Number Set ($19.95), you upload any photo — a pet, a couple, a family moment — and receive a 40cm x 50cm numbered canvas of that exact image, with matched paints, three brushes and instructions. It's currently our single most-ordered product.
Pre-designed kits are lovely, but nothing beats painting a picture that means something to you. That's not a hunch: the custom photo kit was ordered more than 400 times in the past six months — around four times as often as our best pre-designed canvas. Here's exactly how it works and how to pick a photo that paints up beautifully.
How the custom kit works
- Pick your photo. Pets, couples, kids, grandparents, a favorite vacation view — anything you'd want on your wall.
- Upload it on the product page. Place your order at Create Your Own Paint By Number with the photo attached.
- We convert it into a numbered canvas. Your image is mapped into outlined, numbered sections, and the paint set is matched to your photo's actual colors.
- Paint it section by section. Match pot number to canvas number — no drawing, no color mixing, no experience needed.
What arrives in the box
- Your photo as a pre-printed numbered canvas, 40cm x 50cm (with an extra 4cm border for framing)
- A numbered acrylic-based paint set matched to your image
- Three brushes — small, medium and large
- Easy-to-follow instructions
A stand is not included, and note this is a kit you paint yourself — not a pre-painted canvas. That's the point: the hours you put in are what make the finished piece special.
How to choose a photo that paints up well
The conversion works with almost any image, but some photos make for a noticeably better painting experience. Our recommendations:
- Sharp and well-lit beats artistic. Clear daylight photos convert into cleaner, easier-to-follow sections than dim or blurry ones.
- Get close to the subject. A face or pet filling most of the frame gives you satisfying detail; tiny faraway subjects become fiddly slivers of color.
- Fewer subjects, better painting. One or two people or pets keeps sections comfortable; big group shots mean lots of very small sections.
- Simple backgrounds help. A busy background steals numbered sections from the part you actually care about.
The gift angle (why this kit gets ordered so much)
Most custom kits are bought as gifts or keepsakes: wedding and anniversary photos, a pet's portrait, grandparents' favorite shot of the grandkids, a childhood home. Painting the memory yourself — or giving someone that experience — carries a weight a printed photo never quite matches. If gifting is the goal, our guide to personalized art gifts covers occasions and ideas in more depth.
Planning your timing
Orders take around 3-5 days to process, then around 5 to 15 business days to deliver (flat $8.95 shipping, USA and worldwide, with tracking). If the kit is for a specific date — a birthday, an anniversary — order about three weeks ahead to be comfortable. And remember the painting itself is the long part: it's a project measured in relaxing evenings, not minutes.
FAQ
What kind of photos work best?
Sharp, well-lit photos with the subject close to the camera and a reasonably simple background. One or two subjects convert into more comfortable painting sections than large group shots.
What size is the custom canvas?
The canvas is 40cm x 50cm (roughly 16x20 inches), pre-printed with your photo as numbered sections, plus an extra 4cm border for framing.
Do I need any painting experience?
No. Every section is numbered to match a numbered paint pot, and the kit includes three brush sizes and step-by-step instructions. It's designed as a first painting project.
How long until my kit arrives?
Processing takes around 3-5 days, then delivery takes around 5 to 15 business days. Shipping is a flat $8.95 per order and you'll receive a tracking link by email.
Ready when you are: upload your photo and create your own kit, or browse the wider custom paint by numbers collection. Finished painting? The solid wooden frame in 16x20 fits the standard canvas.