A New Creative Hobby in January: How to Start Color by Numbers

To start color by numbers in January, pick one small canvas and one low colour level — 30×40 or 40×50 cm with up to 20 colours (Essential) — and give it two or three evenings a week rather than a grand plan. There is nothing to learn first, nothing to subscribe to and no skill to build up: the canvas arrives pre-printed with numbered sections and the matching markers are in the box. You colour one section at a time and a painting appears. Sets of two canvases start from €59.95 and a single canvas from €49.95, both with free worldwide shipping.

In short

• Start small. 30×40 or 40×50 cm with up to 20 colours (Essential) is the easiest first project to actually finish.
• No skill required. No drawing, no sketching, no colour mixing — the numbers make every decision for you.
• Markers, not paint. Nothing to rinse, nothing to dry, so a twenty-minute evening still counts as progress.
• One purchase, no running costs. Everything is in the box; there is no subscription and nothing to top up.
• Screen-free by default. Both hands are busy, which is most of why it works as a January resolution.

Why January resolutions fail, and why this one tends not to

Most creative resolutions collapse in the same two places. Either the learning curve is steep enough that the first attempt looks disappointing, or getting started takes fifteen minutes of setting up and clearing away — fifteen minutes you do not have on a Tuesday night in January.

Color by numbers sidesteps both. There is no beginner stage to survive, because the design is already on the canvas and every number points at exactly one marker. Your first evening looks as good as your tenth. And setting up means putting a canvas on the table and taking the lid off a marker, which is why markers work better than paint for stop-and-start evenings. There is a quieter benefit too: both hands are occupied and your eyes are on the canvas, so the phone stays where it is without you having to make a rule about it. That screen-free hour is where most of the calm comes from, as why color by numbers is so relaxing explains.

Your first project: choosing size and colour level

This is the only decision that really matters, and the honest advice is to go smaller and simpler than you think you want. The goal of a first project is not the most impressive painting — it is a finished one, because finishing is what makes you order a second.

The three colour levels are the same across the range: up to 20 colours (Essential), up to 30 colours (Detailed) and up to 40 colours (Premium). More colours means finer sections and smoother gradients, and also more hours. There are eight sizes in total, from 30×40 up to 60×80 cm. Our beginners starter guide covers the technique itself step by step.

What it costs to begin

One purchase covers everything: canvas, numbered markers, colour legend and instructions. Nothing to buy separately, nothing to replace.

Shipping is free worldwide with no minimum order value. If you like thinking about a hobby in terms of what a budget actually buys, our cross stitch gifts by budget guide does the same exercise for our stitching range.

Which design should a beginner pick?

Any of them, honestly — the difficulty comes from the size and colour level, not the picture. What matters is that you want to look at it for a few weeks; something cheerful is more motivating in January than something subtle. Floral Splendor is a bright, forgiving start, Cozy Cafe suits anyone who likes warm browns and terrace light, and Book Love is made for readers.

Prefer a single canvas to a pair? The famous-artwork designs such as Van Gogh’s Sunflowers are one canvas from €49.95. And if January feels more like a long-evenings project than a bright one, the snowy and night-sky themes in color by numbers in winter are the seasonal counterpart to this article. Browse everything in the color by numbers collection, or the 9 New Year Paint by Numbers designs if you want to mark the turn of the year itself.

Starting with your own photo

Some people stick with a hobby far better when what they are making means something. If that is you, Your Photo – Color by Number turns a photograph of your own into a numbered canvas with matching markers, from €49.95. It works exactly like a ready-made design; you are simply colouring in your own memory. The full breakdown of prices, sizes and how it works is worth a read before you upload.

Building the habit, gently

You do not need a system. You need a spot where the canvas can stay out, decent light, and a rough idea of when you will sit down — after dinner, before a series, Sunday afternoon. Leave the markers lined up in number order beside the canvas, so starting takes no decisions. Work from the top downwards and from light colours to dark, so your hand always rests on sections you have not coloured yet.

Then let the sessions be as short as they are. Twenty minutes is a real session; two sections is progress. Being able to stop mid-canvas without losing anything is the whole difference between this and a hobby that needs a free evening before you dare begin. And do not measure yourself against a deadline: how long color by numbers takes sets honest expectations per size, but a project that runs into March is not a failed resolution. It is a hobby.

Frequently asked questions

Is color by numbers suitable for a complete beginner?

Yes, it is made for it. The canvas is pre-printed with numbered sections and every number matches one marker, so you never have to draw, sketch, mix colours or design anything. Your first evening looks as good as your tenth, which is exactly why it works as a starter hobby.

Which size and colour level should I start with in January?

For a first project, choose 30×40 or 40×50 cm with up to 20 colours (Essential). The sections are larger, so you reach a finished canvas sooner. If you already craft regularly, up to 30 colours (Detailed) at 40×50 cm gives you more nuance without becoming fiddly.

How much time do I need each evening?

As little as twenty minutes. Because you work with markers rather than paint, there is nothing to set up and nothing to rinse or dry, so you can colour a few sections, cap the markers and continue another day. Short, regular sessions suit this hobby better than long ones.

Do I need to buy anything else to get started?

No. The canvas, the numbered markers, the colour legend and the instructions are all included. There is no subscription, no refills and no extra kit to buy. All you add is a flat table and good light.

What does it cost to start?

A set of two canvases starts at €59.95 for 30×40 cm with up to 20 colours. A single canvas, such as a famous artwork or your own photo, starts at €49.95. Shipping is free worldwide with no minimum order value.

How do I keep the habit going past January?

Leave the canvas and markers out where you sit, so starting takes no effort, and keep the sessions short enough that you never dread them. Choose a design you genuinely enjoy looking at, and do not set a finish date. A project that runs into March is still a habit you kept.