Vintage Paint By Number paintings are an ironic — and iconic — midcentury modern art form. They are really “low brow” — anyone can do one… But, they also fascinate us — there is something “elemental” about their beauty and “democratic” about the fact they even exist. Simple, graphic — and rendered by a normal person, like us!, back in the day when mass prosperity was emerging across America. They were… lovingly crafted… and as a result, they are easy to love, 50 years later. Over the past several years, I’ve seen vintage PBNs become more and more collectible. And on occasion, we see folks get epic with the art form and create their own Paint By Number murals, which are pretty darn groovy. For this story, I found several great resources detailing the history of Paint By Number paintings — including important social history… and we’ll talk about how best to display paint by number art. Actually, display tip #1 and only, IMHO: As Troy has done with PBN dog collection (above) — group your PBNs for maximum impact.
Read on for the fascinating history of Paint by Number kits –>
The history of Paint By Number Kits:
Paint By Number kits were so common, so popular, such a part of the American decorating scheme, that the Smithsonian created a whole exhibit around them in 2001. Their accompanying educational website, still online today, is an awesome resource for Paint By Number history. Their introduction gets right to the point and says that, while Americans loved their PBNs, critics had a snit fit:
Paint by Number: Accounting for Taste in the 1950s revisits the hobby from the vantage point of the artists and entrepreneurs who created the popular paint kits, the cultural critics who reviled them, and the hobbyists who happily completed them and hung them in their homes. Although many critics saw “number painting” as a symbol of the mindless conformity gripping 1950s America, paint by number had a peculiarly American virtue. It invited people who had never before held a paintbrush to enter a world of art and creativity.
The Smithsonian explains who invented the kits — go, Detroit! — and how quickly the phenomenon took hold:
The making of the fad is attributed to Max S. Klein, owner of the Palmer Paint Company of Detroit, Michigan, and to artist Dan Robbins, who conceived the idea and created many of the initial paintings. Palmer Paint began distributing paint-by-number kits under the Craft Master label in 1951. By 1954, Palmer had sold some twelve million kits. Popular subjects ranged from landscapes, seascapes, and pets to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Paint-kit box tops proclaimed, “Every man a Rembrandt!”
Interestingly — and not surprising to me, at all — the Smithsonian says that Dan Robbins wanted the first kits to be exploration of modern art, cubism and the like. No way, said America! Folks wanted cozy landscapes and such. Yes: Colonial and Early American, not those hi-falutin modernist things.
The Smithsonian exhibit also explored the growth of leisure and how that helped fuel pursuits like PBN painting. Paint By Number gets “deep” when considered in the context of the continuing growth of democracy and meritocracy in America. I love this aspect of American culture. Love love love it. The Smithsonian says:
Writing in Life magazine in the late 1950s, cultural critic Russell Lynes set out to describe the popular pastimes of the “new leisure.” He observed that the usual markers of class-education, wealth, and breeding-no longer applied. The one thing that mattered was something that everyone had. That something, Lynes explained, was free time. In postwar America, class had become a matter of how one spent his or her free time.
Over the decades, the Smithsonian curators say, the Paint By Number aesthetic became so ingrained in our culture that other artists began to use it as a political launching point for their work. Kind of Andy Warhol-esque stuff. By around the year 2000, vintage PBNs started become collectible. Today in 2012, I’d say they are super collectible — although prices are still “affordable”, especially if you find these at estate sales where I live, because everyone did PBNs! There are 12 million Craft Master PBNs out there!
According to Wikipedia:
Following the death of Max Klein in 1993, his daughter, Jacquelyn Schiffman, donated the Palmer Paint Co. archives to the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
The Palmer Paint Co. is still in business, and in 2011, they introduced two, 60th anniversary prints, which are still available for sale today. Update: In 2021 I could no longer find Palmer Paint Co. online.
Read the entire Smithsonian history here. It’s a quick read, very entertaining, and lots of photos you can click on and see bigger.
Yes, there is even a book (affiliate link above) written to go with the Smithsonian exhibit.
Dan Robbins website
Update: When I originally wrote this story, Dan Robbins has his own website, book and video. Now I can’t find them; the url I previously had now goes to paintbynumbersonline.com, and I can’t see any association with Robbins on it. Dan Robbins also used to sell giclee prints of important PBNs — including the first Paint By Number design he ever created, Abstract #1. Very cool.
The Chicago Tribune interviewed Robbins in 2005. He explained the genesis of the idea for PBNs:
“The idea was an evolution,” Robbins said. “It was a gradual process of exposing this idea, then that idea, then another. I recalled reading about Leonardo da Vinci, and when he got large and complicated commissions, he would give numbered patterns to his apprentices to block in areas for him that he’d go back and finish himself. From there, it was a matter of proving the concept to see if it could be done.”
In the Tribune article, I learned that the company Craft Master was sold in 1959, and over the years passed through a number of hands. Today, the brand and designs are owned by Craft House, the 1995 article said, and indeed, I found some Paint by Number kits — including some vintage-y looking ones for sale at CraftHouse.
The Paint by Numbers Online Museum
AND, woah Nelly: There is even an online Paint By Number Museum — an amazing archive created by a collector in Massachusetts who wiki says has assembled some 6,000 PBNs. The PBN Museum is darn impressive — you can search and see all the kits and catalogs. There’s a great library. And, there’s a page on artist Dan Robbins with more history, pointing out:
Who is the most exhibited artist in the world? The work of paint by number designer Dan Robbins has been displayed on more walls than that of any other artist. This was true in the past, is still true today and is most likely a record that will stand in the future.
Collecting and displaying vintage Paint by Number paintings
As I mentioned at the top of this article, I am a 100% believer in grouping small painting collections like this, for maximum decorative impact. When Todd lived in his first place, he had the dogs in a grid on one wall. When he moved to his Eichler, Troy came up with another variation on the “grouping” idea: Arranging the collection of dog paint-by-number paintings as a gallery along the hall.
Above: Crown Prince of Kitsch Cullen‘s kitchen — I’m not sure if he really has a many PBNs up on that wall, but this is a great shot to illustrate two ideas. (1) Again, the effectivess of creating tight groupings to display your collections of like-pieces. And (2) While Troy collects just dog PBNs — which makes for a fun collection, Cullen collects pieces according to a theme that includes other varieties of art and collectibles.
Above: Collect cowboy stuff? Add a cowboy PBN. That Betty Crafter knows how to stage a photo…
Finally, how is this for “some therapy”: Apartment Therapy profiled two people who created paint by number wall murals onto their walls — entire walls. The stories are now gone, but Wow. Atomic Ranch also had a story in a recent issue about someone doing this. Seems like the basic how-to is: (1) Find a PBN you like, (2) Scan it in very high resolution, (3) Print onto a transparency, (4) Project the transparency onto the wall, (5) Outline the colors and as you go, write in the color numbers, (6) Figure out which colors go where, (7) Drop out of civil society as we collectively know it and paint until your eyes bug out of your head, (8) ta da, celebrate your epic achievement, but don’t look too closely at your errors. Not Perfect is the New Perfect.
Bryan Benoit says
I’ve been in touch with the guys at the Smithsonian institution for years because i have a set of paint by number that my parents did, each one after they were married. My parents were married in 1942 of May in Louisiana. The Smithsonian Institute has no idea who the artist was nor seen any. So i must have a very rare pair. The 2 paint by number that number set are of some type of birds in a swamp area. Typical found us here in Louisiana. I’m thinking of saling them but not for cheap i might add. I had glass put over them and they are in original frame. You can email me if your interested in the purchasing the pair. I can send photos. Thanks Bryan Benoit
Pam Kueber says
Thanks, Bryan, for your story, very interesting. Please note, no buying or selling here on the blog, or it becomes chaos.
Jennifer Jacobs says
We recently discovered a couple PBN paintings in my daughter inlaws grandmothers dresser. They are Picture Craft , J series. There are 2 , 1 is a white magnoila and the other is pink . The back ground on them are a burgundy color. I cannot locate much info about Picture Craft online I’d like to find out if this is a popular item. The 20 x 16 paper is a heavier paper, kind of like wall paper, and they are unframed in wonderful condition. What a find!
Alexandra Duranr says
Cleaning out our family home after the passing of my parents, we discovered the PBNs done by my grandmother, Meme, in the 50s. She used to paint them in our kitchen on the dining table next to the window. I would watch in fascination as she lovingly worked her way through the painting. So, we found sets of a subject: 2 tropical.birds, 4 oriental (Japanese, I think) themes, and 2 religious The Good Shepherd a.d The Sacred Heart of Mary. I’ve read that using sourdough bread cleans PBNs quite nicely and I have this as a project for the fall. Don’t have a place for them yet, but am working on it.
Tori says
Would love to know if you had success cleaning your PBNs with the sourdough bread. I have three my father did in the 50’s, and want to clean them. Please advise if this worked or not.
Charlotte Volo says
We have a Leonardo da Vincis famous Last Supper paint by number set by Craft Master. My husband thinks his dad painted it sometime before 1955. We have researched with no luck on the original date. Any ideas on this?
Pam says
I have my Dad’s “Last Supper” painted in 1956 ( He put the date on the back). Perhaps that will help. Also, the kit number from Craft Master is M-312. 32×15. This company still exists so maybe you can contact them.
C. Gross says
For people who say paint-by-number kits are “lowbrow” they most likely never tried painting them.
It takes patience and they teach color values. They help to learn painting.
Anne says
Does anyone know about Paint by Numbers on actual canvas- not panels? I have a large one and have yet to see another.
TOM says
I just bought 4 large beautiful pbn but 2 are on canvas and seem to be adhered to the glass in the frame. I wanted to remove the glass for shipping. Any one ever see pbn on canvas. Are these uncommon?
pam kueber says
Tom, I don’t know the answer to this one… Let’s see if any readers subscribed to this thread pop up with an answer….
Meryllynn says
I have one from the 50’s
The last supper , it was handed down to me from a grandmother who grew up with it on the wall as a little girl.
I know nothing about it’s value , but after 19 years with it on my wall I have often wondered !!
Halina says
I was left several PBN vintage art in a will. Where can I go to sell them? I live in the Los Angeles, CA area. Any reponse will be greatly appreciated.
pam kueber says
ebay, i think, would be your best bet
Peggy Donoho says
How do I clean old paint by number paintings?
pam kueber says
Peggy… I don’t know the answer to this. Consult with a pro…
Judy says
I have 2 large PBN’s that my dad painted in the 50’s when I was a little girl. I have fond memories him working on them on the dining room table in the evenings. One is an ocean scene and the other an Alaskan cabin scene. Mom had them nicely framed and I have them today. I’ve been tempted to sell them as we moved into a new home last year and I didn’t think they “fit” in. IF I were to sell them how much should I ask for them? And if I decide to keep them do they need any treatment or glass over the painting. So far they have not dried out or cracked. I have noticed a bit of bowing and will it hurt the paint to put glass over them to keep them clean and stop the bowing?
Ann C says
I was reading your post and thought I could have written this. Right down to do I sell or keep? I’ve thought about collecting a few more but these are special because my dad did them. Thanks for sharing.
charlene says
As a child in the 60s, I recall my pbn-kit. I actually completed the portrait of “Pinky,” but, unfortunately, smudged her face (hey, I was only 8!).
I especially remember doing the gravel art do-it-yourself kits. I did one of a Japanese geisha which my mom hung up as we had an Asian theme going. Would love to get some of these kits and/or completed artwork.