Are paint-by-numbers considered "cheating" in the art world or are they actually helpful?

Answer 1

I honestly would say it depends on the "color-by-number" set up. If you are wanting to learn details and proper blending then a simple color by number with specific sections is not helpful. Learning to blend colors and basic color theory is more helpful to first learn and then you could take that knowledge to your color by number and don't be afraid to blend over the sectional lines. But I would not rely on color by number for real artistic work. Branch out and see what you can do, you might surprise yourself.

Answer 2

Yes, actually, you can glean knowledge and sharpen skills using paint-by-numbers. Does this surprise you? It did for me when I started again. I used to avoid them myself for the longest time because I did think this very thought, that I wasn't a "real artist" if I painted using paint-by-number, and while I don't necessarily recommend staying with them and not ever using a blank canvas, you can actually learn quite a lot about color blending and color mixing.

Not everyone enjoys paint-by-numbers. I know many a good artist who find them tedious. I love them and enjoy painting them on the side. I usually stick to florals that are not super complicated. This way, I can still practice brush strokes, blending, and detail. Once I have an idea of where my subject is and how it is formed, I sometimes don't even use the provided numbers and create my own interpretation. Paint-by-numbers are actually quite a fun way of honing skills.