I tried a IGNITE Paint-by-Number kit and here's why you should too

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.”
Pablo Picasso

I have always admired strolling through museums and looking at the paintings, wondering about the thought behind each stroke and colour chosen by the artist.

Art has always been a part of my life, whether that was completing a last-minute deadline for the art class or a pretend art session with my sisters while we attempted to draw a cupcake.

I can’t paint to save my life

an orange cat painting on a canvas — *Via GIPHY*

But truth be told, I am not the best person to know how to paint. Barely making it through a stick figure without bending the lines or spending hours following a YouTube tutorial, and my painting not even being remotely similar to the ones of the instructor.

So when I heard about a paint-by-number kit, I just knew I had to give it a shot. I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? Colour outside the line?

The setup

a yellow cartoon wearing headphones and listening to music with a cup reading 'Lo.fi' — *Via GIPHY*

When I first went into the session, I honestly didn’t expect much. I thought it would just be a chill way to pass a couple of hours, maybe listen to some music, paint a few lines and call it a day (sounds relaxing).

But what I didn’t realize was how much fun it would actually be and how something as simple as painting could turn into such a wholesome bonding experience.

My friend Ana and I decided to do a kit each. We walked into a cozy little art studio and were met with long tables covered in black cloth and canvases set up for each person with brushes, paints and water cups. Soft Disney lo-fi music played in the background and the smell of paint filled the air.

Finding the flow

a woman in blue scarf painting a pain-by-number canvas — *Picture by IGNITE*

We got our kits at random. My kit included two paint brushes, a numbered canvas with a sunset beach scene and paints corresponding to the canvas. Ana’s kit included the same with a cute cat design on the canvas.

At first, we laughed at how many little numbered spaces there were on Ana’s painting. “Yeah, this is going to take a lot of time,” I joked. But once we started painting, time seemed to melt away.

In the beginning, I struggled. Keeping the paints inside the lines, balancing the paint brush and mixing up the numbers between the paints and the canvas, I found myself in a sticky situation. But after a few encouraging words from the people around me — and a little second coat of paint — I found my flow.

The flow

two women smiling and painting canvases. — *Picture by IGNITE*

The beauty of a paint-by-number is that it doesn’t demand creativity. It’s just an activity to calm down and let loose. You follow the numbers, match the colours, paint and suddenly, it starts taking shape.

What made the experience even better was how naturally it brought people together. Accompanied by a new friend, Jocelyn, who was painting a picture of a deer, we found ourselves getting more focused and relaxed with every brushstroke. Talking and laughing about what memes we find the funniest and hilarious childhood pet stories. We bonded over the shared struggle of keeping the tiny slots neat and staying inside the line.

There was something about doing this low-pressure, creative task that made it easy to open up. Every “oops” and a misplaced stroke became a laugh.

Our masterpieces (kinda)

Three canvases beside each other, one with a cat, one with a deer and one with a woman on a beach. — *Picture by IGNITE*

By the time I filled in the last patch of ocean blue, which, at first, I accidentally started to paint brown, my painting actually looked decent. It looked like something I would proudly hang in my room. Ana’s cat turned out to be adorable with his little bow and top hat. And Jocelyn’s deer painting was no less of a compliment.

“OK, we’re basically Bob Ross now,” we joked.

My takeaway

a frog laying on its back on a lily pad, relaxing — *Via GIPHY*

Walking out of the session, I felt a lot lighter, not only because of the painting itself but also the calm vibes and connections it created. I enjoyed getting to know my new friends and even exchanged Instagram handles at the end of it.

For two hours, we weren’t thinking about deadlines or exams. We were just present, laughing, painting and sharing stories with each other. It was therapeutic in its own way.

Join the fun: IGNITE’s Paint-by-Number

If you’re looking for a break from the chaos of student life or even just a fun way to make new friends, IGNITE is hosting its very own Paint-by-Number events — and you won’t want to miss it!

Join us on:

Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the IGNITE Student Centre at the North campus.
Wednesday, Nov. 12, on the second floor of the L building at the Lakeshore campus.

Show up, grab a brush, colour away the kit. Who knows? You might walk away with more than a painting, maybe even a new friend or two.

Feature image courtesy of IGNITE.

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