With summer upon us, longer days and warmer evenings bring about many of us who long for something different – a repose, replenishment, and a little self-care away from its daily demands. For some, it’s travel, and for others, it’s beach time, barbeques, or burying ourselves in a book. But what if this year your summer escape wasn’t about going away at all – what if it was about diving into a world of creativity and peacefulness, joy and fulfilment, at home?
Painting by Numbers may very well be the creative escape you’ve been looking for. Far from being just a trip down nostalgia lane, it has transformed from a fond childhood hobby into an art form that is beloved and taken seriously by adults at all levels. It is one of the most mindful, therapeutic, and approachable ways to practice creativity this summer, and you get to end it with a beautiful work of art as a product of your time, zero pressure, and no previous experience required.
If you are looking for a unique, screen-free, or soul-nourishing activity this season, painting may be your ideal adventure. Here’s why.
Summer is the season for slowing down. As the hustle of winter dissipates, we find room for leisurely walks, later dinners, and everyday delights. Within a summer's leisurely rhythm, creativity has room to flourish — especially when there's no urgency or expectation placed on it.
Painting by Numbers utilises the spirit of ease. You don't need to be an artist to experience the nature of the program. Each kit comes with a canvas that has a pre-printed image, which has been marked with shapes and numbers (where each number designates a colour). All you need to do is follow the number to fill in the colours, and slowly and thoughtfully watch your work unfold.
It is gratifying, and structured, and calming — the heart of mindful creativity, which is also something that doesn't ask you to be "good at art", as the ease is in the process of art making!
Summer memories have a warmth like no other — a beach holiday, picnic in the garden, family road trip, sun-drenched sunsets, and impromptu belly laughs. We now have personalised painting by numbers to create your unique work of art from those memories.
Imagine painting your favourite summer picture: your kids enjoying the waves, the sunset on one of your trips, or your dog lazing around in the sun. With custom kits, you upload any picture, and the site transforms it into a custom painting, ready to be painted, just made up of numbered sections.
This style of painting takes your summer memories and transforms them into keepsakes — each paint stroke recreating not just an image, but a feeling. This allows you to cherish your best memories creatively, to then be framed in a completely personal way.
Summer is a wonderful time to be outdoors! Painting outdoors — whether it be in your backyard, on your balcony, or at the park — creates unmatched tranquillity.
Visualise taking out your paint-by-numbers kit, sitting in the shade of a tree, enjoying the warm summer breeze with the sounds of birds chirping around you. Your colours pop more in natural light, and you feel that the outside air adds to the experience. It turns your experience into not just a painting experience but a whole sensory retreat.
This outdoor activity provides all the advantages that come with mindfulness and focused creativity, and provides you with a merging of nature — a combination that is shown to reduce stress, promote mood and create joy.
Do you have plans to go on a trip this summer? Make sure to bring your creative side with you. Paint-by-numbers kits are small, easily transportable, and can be packed easily. If your plans include a cottage, camping in the woods, or heading to your relatives, you can throw your materials in a bag and use a bit of time to paint a little bit each day!
I can't think of a better low-key companion during your downtime. It gives you space to unwind if you're taking a break from sightseeing or you're actively winding down your busy day. And with each painting taking some time, it will be a gift that keeps on giving, creating opportunity for creativity all summer long!
We often feel guilty taking time off, especially when we’re not “doing” anything productive. However, productivity does not have to mean “deadlines” or “chores.” It could mean just creating something beautiful for yourself.
So, Painting by Numbers is a perfect summertime pastime! It's low-pressure, satisfying, and you end up with something tangible at the end. You can be productive without worrying about deadlines. You create while being mindful and responding to the calming of your nervous system, something that is hard to replicate while watching a screen or in passive entertainment.
Finishing a painting gives an enormous amount of confidence and pride, especially considering you may not have believed you could do it. It’s a nice reminder that you spent your summer creating and not just consuming!
Summer is all about connection. Although paint-by-numbers kits are not commonly thought of as a group project, they can be a great shared experience with everyone doing their oit, a date night for couples in place of watching TV or mindlessly scrolling, or a way to connect with friends that becomes a shared experience long after you put the final stroke in!
Families with kids can enjoy painting next to each other in quiet creativity and connection without screens. Couples can enjoy an alternative to TV or scrolling. And friends have a lasting shared memory of time spent together.
If you're looking to make your summer more memorable, this hobby provides a lot more than just a completed end product. It provides time spent connecting with the people you love in a meaningful way.
This summer, take a moment to give yourself permission to slow down and enjoy the experience of making something with your hands. Whether it's a sunset scene, a floral bouquet, or a custom paint-by-numbers portrait, painting provides valuable emotional benefits that extend far beyond the canvas.
And if you're needing a unique summer gift, these kits will make very good gifts. There are all types of occasions for gift-giving, a birthday, a thank you, and a thoughtful, creative and one-of-a-kind gift. You can even complete one, and give away the finished artwork- a piece of handmade art that has a story behind it and sentiment.
Summer is such a light season – letting go of stress, enjoying playful time, and re-centring with what matters. Painting by Numbers fits into this energy perfectly. It is a slow, satisfying, and rewarding way to spend your time – for an hour, an afternoon, or over a few days.
It doesn't matter if you are an artist or if you're just starting. What matters is the enjoyment of the experience: the colour that gets onto your brush, the quiet focus, and the sense of pride in the completion of something well done. So if, like many, you are looking for a creative outlet this summer, something that is healing and releases your imagination, this could be it.
Start with your paint brush and step into your creativity, and have a summer full of colour, calm, and personal expression – one number at a time.