New York - State Bird Series Paint by Number Kit by Quaint by Number - click image to view more
The paint by number craze began in the 1950s when someone entered a completed kit in an amateur art competition… and took third place.
Max S. Klein and his Palmer Paint company, along with artist Dan Robbins, were responsible for introducing the do-it-yourself sets to the mass market in 1950. Many boxes were emblazoned with the phrase, “Every Man a Rembrandt!” – encouraging even the most novice stick-figure artist that they could produce a masterpiece. Some people loved the individual courage and newfound appreciation for art that emerged, while others dismissed it as basically a cop-out way of creating works that many had studied and struggled with as a profession. They were also seen as a negative representation of the growing commercialization of our culture.
Though they’re no longer the common hobby of choice as they were in the 50s and 60s, paint by number kits have continued to be around. More recently, they’ve shown up in the handmade realm in the form of inspirational prints by Jen Renninger, and the wooden U.S. cut-out art and jewelry of Something’s Hiding in Here.
Indulge your paint by number interest even further with these links:
- Paint by Number: The How-To Craze that Swept the Nation – In this book, William Bird explores the history and effect of this phenomenon that has ties to Leonardo da Vinci.
- Smithsonian education site – With the help of William Bird and other contributors, the Smithsonian offers an information site. It corresponded with a Smithsonian Museum display of some of the original archival items of Palmer Paint.
- Paint by Number Museum – Online gallery and resource of kits, including work by co-creator and artist Dan Robbins.
- Herrschners – Craft supply store offering numerous kits of all types that you can order online and paint for yourself.
- Ebay – If old-school is more your thing, search online for vintage pre-painted and framed kits that are ready to grace your walls
- Paintbynumberkit.com – Make it personal by submitting your own photos that are transformed into complete kits that have a little more meaning.
Tina Jett is an artist, writer, photographer, and world-explorer. Her husband describes her with the phrase, “It’s like she lives in a coloring book.” See how that vision influences the work on her 
Great links! like the idea of submitting personal images to receive a kit. Think Todd Oldham had a gallery show from his collection in the ’90s. Love the kitsch, and also the original idea of getting the timid to give paint a try!!
Thanks for using my Etsy kits as the image for this article. Lots of lovely links!
They’re awesome! Thanks for making them.