One of my favorite crafts, Paint By Numbers was invented right here in Detroit! In 1949, a local artist named Dan Robbins met a businessman- Max Klein and collaborated on the Paint By Number Kit. The set was intended to take the mystery out of producing a pretty piece of art that could be painted by novices. Klein sold them through the Palmer Paint Company, which he owned, and in 1951, the first set of kits was sold. It was widely popular, selling millions of sets.
Named after Max Klein- the inventor behind the original Paint By Numbers, this is the first bunting named after a different sort of Rock Star. And guess what! he shares the same name as my grandmother, who showed me how to make these buntings.
But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to read more of the story... ↓↓↓
My first kit was of a persian cat with a blue background. I painstakingly followed the instructions and, after a weekend, had my very first pro-looking painting. In keeping with tradition, my daughter took her first foray into the art- also painting a kitty-kat- using a paint brush and a cup of water. No numbers were involved, but it was awesome!
As of 2011, four pieces of work can be found at MOMA, showcased in the Department of Architecture & Design, while the Smithsonian has the originals in its Archives Center. There is even a virtual Paint By Number Museum in Massachusetts, lovingly curated by a fan of the art form. If you aren't traveling to The Bay State anytime soon, don't worry, you can catch it online- or just run over to the Detroit Historical Museum, which houses an original kit in its collection of Detroit designers and creators in the permanent exhibit, "The Gallery of Innovation."
Learn more about this limited edition Paint By Numbers bunting here.
#Guess what! I looked into the sailboat paintings on the Paint By Number database & they were produced in 1963 by Craft Master- a division of palmer Paint! AWESOME!