Remember Paint by Numbers?

I used to get a paint by number set almost every Christmas. Loved them. Now I have five of the "adult" coloring books and some sets of pens and pencils. I find them very restful and stress-relieving. I like embroidery for the same reason, but the eyes are getting too bad for that.

Remember Jon Gnagy "Learn to Draw" sets? I've never been able to draw flies, but I enjoyed trying to learn.

I had never heard of Jon Gnagy till I cleaned up an estate that had 2 of his teaching booklets in it. I think they are from the 50s. Very simple stuff. They are new so I put them on eBay with some old Walter Foster art instruction books but they didn't sell. I need to sit down at the computer and put a lot of those back on eBay.

I went in Micheal's Craft store today and they had a big display of adult coloring books just inside the door. They must be quite popular now.
 

I had never heard of Jon Gnagy till I cleaned up an estate that had 2 of his teaching booklets in it. I think they are from the 50s. Very simple stuff. They are new so I put them on eBay with some old Walter Foster art instruction books but they didn't sell. I need to sit down at the computer and put a lot of those back on eBay.


Walter Foster - another name that takes me down Memory Lane!

I went in Micheal's Craft store today and they had a big display of adult coloring books just inside the door. They must be quite popular now.

No, it's just that the elderly folk can't make it to the back of the store. :eek:
 
I once bought my granddaughter a certificate for a service that will turn a photograph into a paint-by-number canvas, complete with all the necessary paints. She sent a picture of her cats and got back quite an elaborate 18"x24" canvas, which she proceeded to turn into a painting. Did a pretty darn good job on it, too. But then, she has talent. Didn't get it from me, unfortunately.....
 

I've always been good at art and enjoyed paint by numbers and any kind of artsy craftsy kits. I painted pictures and made mosaics which my family and relatives hung on their walls for their entire lives ( a great compliment there ) so I must've been good at it and I had great fun with it too.
 
Yes, I had few paint by number sets as a child. They were disappointing, took too long to finish, looked awful and I was too young to handle them.

These adult coloring books aren't really new. I had several of what was called "Designs To Color" at least 25 years ago. The series were numbered and the books were full of intricate designs on good paper. Using colored pens ,I found them very relaxing and stress relieving. I think I'd like to color some more!
 
I think coloring does relieve stress and has a very calming affect. I just started mine early yesterday afternoon. I had my pencils out on the kitchen table and was happily coloring away when my husband came in and started putting out the dishes for dinner. A hint that I better get the show on the road. I had been coloring for over 4 hours! Needless to say,dinner was late.lol
 
I once bought my granddaughter a certificate for a service that will turn a photograph into a paint-by-number canvas, complete with all the necessary paints. She sent a picture of her cats and got back quite an elaborate 18"x24" canvas, which she proceeded to turn into a painting. Did a pretty darn good job on it, too. But then, she has talent. Didn't get it from me, unfortunately.....

jujube I love this idea, never knew there was such a service. I'll have to check into it.

I was always pretty good at pencil and charcoal sketching as I was growing up, but putting color on paper was intimidating which is why I really enjoyed the paint by number sets. Plus I found them to be therapeutic....something to focus on (focus has never been my strong suit :rolleyes:). My dear mother saved EVERYTHING that my brother and I ever created, and when we had to clear out her house after she passed away, I found all my old drawings and paintings. Most were salvageable so I brought them home with me, with the intention of framing and hanging the paintings. Haven't done that yet, but they are in a safe place for now.
 


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