Paint by numbers is a type of art activity that involves a pre-drawn image on a canvas, which is divided into sections and marked with numbers. Each number corresponds to a specific color, and the goal is to fill in each section with the corresponding color indicated by the number, thus creating a finished painting.
The paint-by-numbers became popular in the 1950s and 1960s as a way to make art accessible to everyone. The kits typically come with a pre-printed canvas, numbered paint pots, and a brush. The canvas can be stretched over a frame and then painted according to the numbers.
This type of activity is often used for beginners or people who are not experienced in painting as it helps them to create a beautiful artwork without needing to have any particular artistic skills. Paint by numbers sets are widely available and come in a variety of designs and difficulty levels, from simple landscapes to complex portraits.