Paint-by-number life

The inventor of paint-by-number, Larry Robbins, recently passed away.

Paint-by-number kits come with a numbered picture and a series of small paints, each with the corresponding number on it. We simply paints all the "1" areas with paint number 1. The "2" areas with paint 2, etc.

It meant that anybody, regardless of talent, could create their own artwork. All we had to do was follow instructions.

The only downside is that after all that painting, nothing new or creative is ever painted - except by mistake. The whole idea is that if 50,000 people buy the kit, there will be 50,000 almost-identical paintings.

Paint-by-number life

It struck me recently just how much of our lives is like a paint by number. We think we're painting our own masterpiece but often we're just filling in the colours. We're taking the standard options and so a lot of our lives look very similar.

We work similar hours, buy similar houses, have a similar number of kids, do similar activities, buy similar stuff.

That's fine if we all have the same characteristics, the same values and the same desires. And if that standard life meets those values and desires.

I'm not sure either of those are true, and I think it's why many of us are unhappy.

Paint our own picture

Larry Robbins never claimed that paint-by-number was art, but that it brought the experience of art "to the individual who would normally not pick up a brush".

Paint by numbers was a way to get people started in painting. But it was never the end goal. Ideally people would develop a love for painting and bring their own ideas to life on the canvas.

Colouring outside the lines

We can colour outside the lines, use different colours, or even turn the cardboard over and paint our own picture.

It may not look like everyone else's picture but that's kind of the point. It may also turn out to be a masterpiece.

Helping others be artists

The easiest way to start is to affirm and celebrate people who make different decisions. So many of the lines and numbers in life are set by social norms. Without realising it, we can pressure people into the "usual" life.

As young adults we've all had family members asking when we were going to get married, when we were going to buy a house, when we're going to have a kid (and then when we're going to have another). Let's not become those relatives.

Being single is fine. Renting is fine. Living in a small place is fine. Having one child is fine. Having no kids is fine. Buying second-hand is fine. Owning way less stuff overall is also fine.

Working less than 40 hours a week is fine. Working more, if it's your passion, may also be fine. Retiring "early" is fine, if you've planned it well. Working well into older life is fine, if that's possible for you and you enjoy it.

Paint an original

I'm sure we'd all rather have an original that suits our own taste. Let's be comfortable with paintings that might not look like the picture on the box.

It might not be perfect, but we can always change it again. Some of the world's best masterpieces are painted over previous attempts.