There is an interest in collecting vintage paint by number (PBN) paintings and kits are still available and popular today.In 2001-2002, The Smithsonian American History Museum had an exhibit highlighting the paint-by-number fad in America beginning in the early 1950’s by engineer and owner of the Palmer Paint Co., Max S. Klein and designer, Dan Robbins. Though art critics denounced this craze, millions of people as well as celebrities were fond of these kits. The Eisenhower Presidential Library included pieces completed by Nelson Rockefeller and J. Edgar Hoover.
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 archival materials have been placed in the museum’s Archives Center where they have been designated collection #544, the Paint by Number Collection, and are available to both the public and museum staff for research and exhibition purposes.(source)
I gathered the photos for the collage above from the internet because they are paintings I remember both my mom and aunt completing and displaying in their homes.
This grainy photo of my sister and I posing for her prom shows PBN paintings in the background
Thinking it might be fun to paint one myself, I bought a kit. And fun it was! Not much artistic or creative ability needed but I found it a very relaxing and enjoyable activity. Like coloring or doing a jigsaw puzzle. (Kits available today use acrylic rather than oil paint)
I looked forward to moments I was able to sit at the table and allow the thoughts and concerns of the day to disappear as I applied color and watched as the scene slowly came alive. Sometimes I would choose a different color or blend two colors together using the lines and directions as just a guide.
☺
I certainly remember these from when I was young and your mother did a great job with this one!
Oh, boy, are you taking me back, and in such a pleasant way. I never did paint by number pictures (I think my mother didn't want to contend with the mess), but my neighborhood best friend did and she would sometimes let me paint a color or two. It was pure magic watching the picture come together in the end. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Oh yes…I remember them well…cn even remember smelling that oil paint! I love it that you have them in frames all these years! Have any Elvis Paint on Velvet pics hanging around?? lol 🙂
I clearly remember these paint by number kits, and I totally forgot about them for years. Only you, could take them and make them look like something everyone would love to have hanging in their homes. The one of the cardinals looks like an oil painting. So beautiful! Thanks for the walk down memory lane:)
I remember paint by number kits. I'm pretty sure we had some hanging in our house when I was growing up.
I know I did some when I was a kid too but I don't think mine ever turned out very good.
Your cardinal painting is beautiful
I remember my grandfather doing these, It must be very relaxing as you say. the colors certainly look different today, as in yours. It's not so obviously at PBN. You did well at mixing up some of the colors. Looks good framed too.
I didn't even realize they still sold these. This brought back a lot of memories, I used to do these when i was growing up. The cardnial painting is really pretty
I remember loving these when I was young. The one you just completed is so beautiful. Certainly frame-worthy. Deb
How interesting, I loved PBN when I was an older child and haven't thought about it in years. Thanks for resurfacing some fond memories for me.
Happy weekend!
We had two paintings in my childhood home. One was of deer, don't remember the other one. I love your cardinals, they are my favorite wild bird. Have to look into this style of painting.
I've never done a PBN but I remember my mother working on one in the evenings. A pair of paintings, I think, of mountains and a lake. Good memories.
I loved doing Paint-By-Number kits as a child. I remember doing a pair of kittens, and then hanging the finished paintings in my bedroom. Wish I still had those!
How special to have the sweet painting done by your mother. I think I like it best in the gold frame.
Your cardinal painting is beautiful…I LOVE the colors. It looks wonderful against that blue wall.
I look forward to seeing what you paint next!
I haven't thought about these in years. Where did you purchase yours? I adore the Cardinals!