Can You Speedrun a Paint-by-Numbers Kit?

Introduction

Paint-by-Numbers is supposed to be a relaxing, meditative activity—a slow and steady process where patience is rewarded with a beautiful masterpiece. But what if we threw that philosophy out the window and made it a race against time?

In the world of video games, speedrunning is all about completing a game as fast as possible, using clever techniques, shortcuts, and precision to break records. So, the question is: Can you speedrun a Paint-by-Numbers kit?

This blog is an experiment in artistic chaos—where precision meets panic, and the goal isn’t just to create something beautiful but to do it as fast as humanly possible. We’ll set the ground rules, test different speed strategies, and see what happens when you swap patience for pure adrenaline. Will the result be a masterpiece or a complete disaster? Let’s find out. 🎨⏳🔥

Setting Up the Speedrun Rules

Before diving into the chaos of speed-painting, we need to establish some ground rules. Unlike traditional Paint-by-Numbers, where precision and patience are key, this challenge is all about efficiency and speed—but without completely abandoning the idea of creating something recognisable.

1. Defining "Completion"

For a speedrun to count, the painting must meet the following criteria:
✅ Every numbered section must be filled with paint – No skipping!
✅ No major unpainted gaps – Sloppy? Sure. Completely unfinished? No.
✅ The final product should still resemble the original design – No wild colour swaps or abstract “interpretations” (unless that's part of your strategy).

2. Choosing the Right Difficulty Level

Not all Paint-by-Numbers kits are created equal. To make this a fair challenge, we’ll categorize them into three difficulty levels:
🎨 Beginner Kit – Larger sections, fewer colours = easier to complete quickly.
🎨 Intermediate Kit – More details, requiring some finesse.
🎨 Advanced Kit – Tiny sections, tons of colours—maximum challenge!

3. Allowed Tools & Techniques

Since speed is the name of the game, we need to think strategically about tools:
🖌️ Brush Selection: Larger brushes for big sections? Double brushes for efficiency? Sponges for rapid coverage?
🖌️ Paint Drying Hacks: Hairdryer, fan, or even sunlight to speed up the drying process?
🖌️ Mixing Shortcuts: Minimising brush washing by optimising colour order—painting similar shades together.

With the rules in place, it’s time to put theory into action. Can a Paint-by-Numbers kit be speedrun without turning into an unrecognizable mess? Let’s test some speed strategies next. 🚀

Speedrun Strategies – Can You Hack the System?

If you’re tackling a Paint-by-Numbers kit at breakneck speed, you need more than just fast hands—you need a game plan. Here are some potential speedrun strategies to maximise efficiency and (hopefully) maintain some level of artistic integrity.

1. The “Bulk Paint” Approach 🎨

Instead of painting section by section, tackle all areas of the same colour at once before moving on to the next. This minimizes brush washing time and prevents constant colour switching.
✔ Pros: Faster workflow, less brush cleaning.
❌ Cons: Wet paint everywhere, potential smudging.

2. The “Small Sections First” Technique 🖌️

Start by completing the smaller details first while your hands are still steady, then move on to the larger background areas where precision is less important.
✔ Pros: Keeps fine details intact before rushing through big spaces.
❌ Cons: Small sections take longer, and by the time you get to the big ones, frustration might set in.

3. The “Double Brush” Trick 🤲

Hold two brushes at the same time, each with a different colour, and switch between them instead of constantly rinsing.
✔ Pros: Reduces time spent cleaning brushes.
❌ Cons: Risk of accidentally mixing colours, leading to unintentional abstract art.

4. The “Messy But Passable” Method 🚀

Instead of obsessing over staying inside the lines, embrace slight colour bleeding—as long as each numbered area gets some paint, it counts.
✔ Pros: Ultra-fast, stress-free.
❌ Cons: Your final painting might look like a blurry Monet instead of a detailed masterpiece.

5. The “Speed + Dry” Combo 🌬️

Use a hairdryer or fan in between layers to prevent wet paint from smudging.
✔ Pros: Helps set the paint quicker for multi-layer kits.
❌ Cons: Might accidentally blow dust onto wet paint or cause colours to mix weirdly.

With these strategies in place, it’s time to put them to the ultimate test. Which approach will lead to a successful speedrun, and which will result in a colourful disaster? Let’s paint! 🎨⏳🔥

The Speedrun Attempt – Real-World Test

With strategies in mind, it's time to put theory into action. The stopwatch is ready, the paint is prepped, and the challenge begins: How fast can we complete a Paint-by-Numbers kit while still making it look (somewhat) decent?

Setting the Stage 🖌️⏳

• Kit Selection: An intermediate-level Paint-by-Numbers kit with a mix of large and small sections.
• Timer Starts Now! The moment the first brush touches the canvas, the clock is running.
• The Speedrun Mindset: No hesitation, no overthinking—just pure painting instincts.

Phase 1: The Fast & Furious Start 🚀

• Strategy Used: The Bulk Paint Approach—quickly filling in all areas of the same colour before moving to the next.
• Challenges:
  • Paint drying too slowly in some areas, leading to smudging.
  • Accidentally dipped the brush into the wrong colour—improvise or fix it? No time to think!

Phase 2: Midway Crisis – The Precision Tradeoff 🤯

• The painting is halfway done, but a new dilemma arises:
  • Speed vs. Quality: Do we slow down for details or go full chaos mode?
  • Some sections require small brushwork, but time is ticking…
• Strategy Shift: Switched to the Double Brush Trick, holding two brushes to minimize rinsing time.

Phase 3: The Final Sprint 🏁

• Last 5 Minutes: Painting at maximum speed, filling in the remaining gaps.
• Colour Bleeding Alert! Some borders aren’t crisp, but does that even matter anymore?
• The Final Stroke: Time’s up! Hands off the brush!

The Results – Masterpiece or Mayhem?

After the dust settles (or, in this case, the paint dries), let’s assess the final product:
✅ It’s recognisable—you can still tell what it’s supposed to be!
✅ Every number is covered—no missing sections.
❌ Colour smudging is unavoidable—but does that add to the charm?
❌ Some sections are more "abstract" than intended—a polite way of saying “messy.”

Time Completed: [Insert Actual Speedrun Time Here] ⏱️

• Compared to a normal Paint-by-Numbers session, was it worth it?
• Did it still feel fun, or was it just stressful?
• Would I do it again? Maybe… with a hairdryer and a better plan.

Next up: What did we learn from speedrunning a Paint-by-Numbers kit, and should YOU try it? 🎨🔥

Lessons Learned from Paint-by-Numbers Speedrunning

After racing against the clock, smudging paint everywhere, and possibly questioning life choices, it’s time to reflect: Was speedrunning a Paint-by-Numbers kit a genius idea or pure chaos? Here’s what we learned from this absurd but entertaining experiment.

1. Speed Comes at a Cost 🎭

• While finishing a kit quickly is possible, it definitely compromises quality.
• Details suffer, colours bleed, and precision takes a backseat.
• If your goal is to relax and enjoy the process, speedrunning completely destroys that purpose—but if you like an adrenaline rush, it’s a blast!

2. Some Strategies Work, Some… Not So Much 🛠️

✅ The Bulk Paint Approach helped minimise brush washing, making it one of the best techniques for speed.
✅ The Double Brush Trick worked surprisingly well—switching between two brushes sped things up!
❌ The Speed + Dry Combo (using a hairdryer) was a double-edged sword—yes, it helped dry sections quickly, but it also blew dust into wet paint and created some weird textures.
❌ Precision-focused strategies? Forget it. If you care about perfect edges, speedrunning is not for you.

3. The Final Painting: A Beautiful Disaster? 🎨🔥

• While the painting still resembled the original, the colours weren’t as crisp, and some sections looked rushed.
• It was a perfect example of controlled chaos—not exactly museum-worthy, but funny and oddly charming in its own way.
• Maybe next time, a hybrid approach (speed + some attention to detail) would yield better results.

4. Would I Do It Again? 🤔

• Surprisingly… yes! But probably with a smaller, simpler kit next time.
• Maybe even challenge a friend to a Paint-by-Numbers race to see who finishes first (and whose painting turns out the least disastrous).
• This could actually be a fun new trend—imagine “Extreme Paint-by-Numbers” competitions where contestants race against the clock while keeping their artwork somewhat recognisable!

Final Thoughts: Should YOU Try It?

If you love high-energy challenges or want to turn a relaxing activity into a thrilling art experiment, speedrunning Paint-by-Numbers is worth a shot. It’s a ridiculous but fun way to push your limits and see what happens when speed beats precision.

However, if you’re in it for mindfulness and relaxation, this is not the way to go—stick to slow and steady painting sessions instead.

Would YOU ever speedrun a Paint-by-Numbers kit? Try it out, and share your time (or your best disaster photos) in the comments! 🚀🎨🔥