I’ve always loved doing arts and crafts, but admittedly, I’m not that good at it. Art was always my best class in school, but I never really created “masterpieces.” I’m more of a “doodler” when it comes to drawing, and my preferred method of adding color is with crayons, not paint or pastels. I’ve always wanted to be an exceptional painter, but I never could get the hang of it. I’m lacking the skills needed.
I did paint a mountains and lake scene when I was still in high school. Instead of the painting being hung up for all to admire, it ended up filling the open hole in the fireplace to keep out the draft. Sigh…
My daughter is currently doing a paint by number canvas that she purchased off Amazon. The problem is that the areas to color are so tiny that you need very sharp colored pencils instead of a paint brush. Even my daughter with her good, “young,” eyes has a hard time reading the numbers.
Surely there must be a better way?
There is! It’s the easiest, coolest way to paint a masterpiece. It’s Paint by Shadows, a special art kit available from Chirpwood.
Chirpwood is known for their custom frames and beautiful prints. Now they offer Paint by Shadows Art Kits for anyone who wants to paint something more than than a paint by number print. The painting canvases offered in the Paint by Shadows Art Kits are stunning. The kits also include everything you need, including the paint and frames to display your artwork once you are finished.
Paint by Shadows Art Kits are available in a variety of designs including butterflies, lighthouses, boats, succulents, botanicals, birds, flowers and beaches.
Kits are available with just a single canvas, or you can buy kits with multiple canvases in various sizes.
This brief video provides you with a look at how shadow painting works.
What a great idea! This is truly one of those “why didn’t anyone thing of this sooner” things.
Instead of painting by number, you look at the color guide and paint in the selected shadow area. Plus you have the ability to swap out colors if you truly want to make your painting custom made.
I was sent a art kit to check out for myself. I received one of their multi-picture sets which include;
- (2) 5″x7″
- (3) 8″x10″
- (1) 13″x19″
The images are printed on a woven polyester canvas.
In addition, the kits also include;
- 24 tubes of acrylic paint
- 3 brushes
- Written and video instructions
- *Optional patented TwoStick frame.
Our hottest product is an art kit that isn’t sold on Amazon.
Here’s how it works:
Beautiful licensed art is printed on on canvas in greyscale (the shadow). Budding artist paint directly on top of the shadow using a color guide image for direction. When finished, it is more than a coloring done with paint. It is a unique version of beautiful art, ready to be proudly hung on the wall.
With Paint by Shadows kits, almost anyone can achieve good results, but for those who want more, their art-teacher-vetted instructions ensure a true learning experience.
This is why the brand refers to their Paint by Shadows Art Kits as “training wheels for the beginning painter.”
Everything you receive in the kits is high quality. This is not something you would find at cheap “big box” retailers. I also love that they give you everything you need, so there is no need to have to dash out to the store to buy extra materials. You can literally start painting the moment that you open up the package. The hard part is trying to decide which to paint first. I would suggest staring with one of the smaller canvas prints (5″ x 7″). It’s a great way to introduce yourself to the art of Shadow Painting.
I would recommend getting the optional frame for your artwork, that way you can display it as soon as you are finished with it (and it’s dried). The frame (made by Chirpwood) attaches to the both the bottom and the top of the print. It’s not a traditional frame.
My wood frame picture turned out blurry, but here is an example from the Chirpwood website to give you an idea of what the frame looks like.
You can see the wood frame goes on top and the bottom of the print (by the way, this painting is also available in one of their Paint by Shadow Art Kits).
I love that the brand gives you all the paint you’ll need too. This is really nice paint, and the paint brushes are nice too. They are different sizes to help you cover little and large areas.
I like working with acrylic paint because it blends easily and your can layer the paint to give something more depth (shadows, highlights…).
If you are looking for a unique gift, or you are looking to start a new hobby in 2021, a Paint by Shadow Art Kit by Chirpwood would be a wonderful option.
With the colder weather (especially in the northeast), having something to do when stuck inside aside from watching television is helpful. This would be a fun way to pass the time away, and have beautiful artwork to display around your home when you are done.
When I am done with my painting, I’ll upload it to this post to show you how well it turned out.
For more information about this and other products by Chirpwood, visit Chirpwood.com. The art kits are found in the art kit section of the brand’s website.
The brand is currently only on Instagram.
What do you think about the idea of learning to paint by painting over shadows, instead of looking for numbers?
Feel free to comment and share your thoughts. I always love to hear from readers.
Kimberly
*I received a free kit to review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.