Coloready Mushrooms

Introduction // A brief history of paint-by-numbers 
This style of creating art has a deeper past than you might imagine. We’ll write a brief timeline of this art technique, spanning the Renaissance (Da Vinci used this technique to teach his students) to its rediscovery by artist Dan Robins, through the mass market fad from the 50s-70s into how it fits in with today’s design savvy, DIY audience. 

Subject// The Beauty of Mushrooms
We’ll highlight the mushrooms chosen for this book, talking about how we focused as much on aesthetics as we did on the unique abilities and quirkiness of each plant. We’ll highlight how visually beautiful they are, and the mysterious appeal they carry for both the human and natural worlds.

Materials // We talk about the types of paints we’ll use and where to source them (art store, Target, Amazon, Walmart, Blick), the types of brushes you’ll want to use and the other basic materials you’ll need that can be found around your home (water cups, scrap paper, paper towels, etc. Alternate mediums will also be discussed and encouraged.

Techniques // There is no single “correct” way to paint. Some people prefer clean crisp lines, some like more organic applications of color with looser boundaries and some even prefer chaos and lean into bold abstraction. We’ll address these techniques and how to achieve them including loading your brush, brush handling, layering, watering down your paint, etc. Satisfaction of your experience with paint-by-numbers art is largely based on what your expectations are and how much you put into it.

Color Recipes // This will be a consolidated reference point for the entire library of color we’ll use throughout the book. We’ll also discuss color mixing techniques and how to check your colors to the suggested color swatches.

Art Templates // (These are an example of the types of mushrooms we’re thinking)
Mushroom 1 - Amanita muscaria (signature

David Trawin is a graphic designer and the creative force behind Coloready, which offers a modern spin on the paint-by-number art kit. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and co-writer, A.K., and their two children.