Painting by Numbers
■ · By Capn Rick · Published 2023-09-18T03:56:05.625Z
Meta Prompt
The meta answer is a famous work of art.
Hint 1: Did you notice that the grid is rectangular in shape - kinda like a painting?
Hint 2: Did you also notice the superfluous wording of some of the clues - particularly the ones containing "numbers"?
Hint 3: What about those numbers? What could they be indicating about the painting in the grid?
Hint 4: Using your finest artist brush (or Avery Hi-Liter), lightly color in the grid entries that correspond to those numbers. Then take a step back, and admire your work!
Hint 5: 49-Down49DMaterial used for framing most paintings[----] is more than just framing material. It's also the artist's last name.
Here is a link to the solution on the XWord Muggles Forum: https://www.xword-muggles.com/viewtopic.php?p=142884#p142883
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Comments
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- Berto 🤓2:31 · 2023-09-18T06:41:58.043ZI thought it was going to literally be a paint by numbers similar to Ben’s Holding out for a Hero, and looked like 3 crosses (Rembrandt?) - but then I read the words lol !! Fun one, thanks!
- SamKat9 🤓8:21 · 2023-09-18T07:28:50.072ZVery cool puzzle, thank you!
- Cindy Heisler 2s · 2023-09-18T11:47:52.476ZSolved, but not sure I used the intended metanism. I just recognized grid words that went with the painting. Thanks!
- That's pretty good, Cinny, if you were able to reproduce the famous work without the numbers. If you look again, the grid entries referenced by the numbers are in the same relative positions as the figures in Grant Wood's painting. Did you know the woman was his sister?
- Cindy Heisler 2s · 2023-09-18T15:47:19.570ZI had highlighted the words, but I still don't understand the number part. Yes, I did know it was his sister. I especially liked the gable at the top!
- Okay, here's an example of how it works. The clue for UNO59AFamily game with 24 "Action cards"[---] at 59A59AFamily game with 24 "Action cards"[---] is "Family game with 24 "Action cards". The "24" indicates that the grid entry at the 24 square (i.e. 24D24DExpert in the field, literally[------] - FARMER24DExpert in the field, literally[------]) is part of the "painting" that solvers will complete after they've found all the "numbers". I was very careful to only have 9 "numbers" (integers) appear in the clue wording, and each of these numbers corresponds with an element of the painting.
- Katiedid 🤓3:54 · 2023-09-18T19:31:50.373ZMy solve was similar to Cindy's. I just noticed all the words in the grid that went with the painting. When I looked at the numbers in the clues, I only marked the first letter instead of the whole word, so I missed the whole painting by number until reading these comments. Cool puzzle. The gable is a nice touch!
- " Did you know the woman was his sister?"Ah, but did you know the farmer was his dentist?
- Meg 5s · 2023-09-18T13:23:28.793ZReading the comments cleared up my confusion, except for RAIL27ABanister[----]. Did I miss something in the painting? Nice symmetry, as usual!
- Thanks, Meg. Yes, from the left side of the painting I needed a 4-letter entry (with "I" in the 3rd position) to balance BARN31ARural structure[----] on the right. Since there's a porch there I went with RAIL27ABanister[----]. It's a little weak, but hopefully the other elements were strong enough to pull it off. Did you notice G-A-B-L-E in the upper middle in a gable shape?
- SamKat9 🤓8:21 · 2023-09-18T15:51:46.681ZI didn't notice the gable roof before, that's a really nice touch! I noticed "pitchfork" in the center and that's what made me think of the painting, then I pulled up an image of it and was able to place some of the other words in the painting, too. I also wasn't sure about rail, so thank you for that explanation.
- But SKY1ACloud's place[---]/STA1DAmtrak stop: Abbr.[---] (1A1ACloud's place[---] and 1D1DAmtrak stop: Abbr.[---] for Dan MacLeans #1 hit) don't have symmetry. Was that unintentional?
- Yes, the "1" from Don McLean's #1 hit is a slight deviation that shouldn't adversely affect the solve - particularly once folks find the other 8 elements of the painting. Symmetry is partially achieved via the cross of "American ___" with that giant of "Gothic" literature - POE9DHe was 22 when his poem "To Helen" was first published[---].
- Bird Lives 4s · 2023-09-20T22:05:58.324ZSomeone a while back (IIRC) did a puzzle with seven of them. Was it you?
- I did a puzzle called "A Thorny Subject" (https://crosshare.org/crosswords/iJdwPEGVsbjiveFhEcMO/a-thorny-subject) last year.
- MatthewL 🤓4:15 · 2023-09-18T13:56:04.645ZWell, I got the answer, but it was based solely off 49D49DMaterial used for framing most paintings[----]. Now to go back and see what I was really supposed to do. Thanks for the puzzle, Rick!
- That's pretty impressive if you knew the artist, Matthew. (I didn't.
)
- This was fun - kudos to another work of art!
- markhr 🤓9:01 · 2023-09-18T16:58:50.787ZVery clever. Was kind of lost until I noticed PITCH29DSales spiel[-----] FORK51DBranch in the road[----] down the middle, and that 29 and 51 had been called out. Then it was fun locating the remaining elements. Nice puzzle to ease into the week.
- Thank you, markhr. Yes, PITCH29DSales spiel[-----] FORK51DBranch in the road[----] in the center will probably be the first element that solvers will notice. With its angled shape, GABLE doesn't have a specific call-out and will probably be the last.
- JHSeeman 10s · 2023-09-18T17:48:57.925ZWow....your ability to hide both clues and easter eggs is insanely good. I got the number scheme early....but then also saw the Gable...which kinda distracted me to the house of seven gables...but there was not pitch fork in that one.
- Thank you, John. I actually made a House of Seven Gables meta a while ago. That's where I got the idea for this "Gothic" work. :)
- Eric Porter 6:12 · 2023-09-18T18:39:17.268ZMy first thought was that it must have something to do with the numbers in the clues which looked suspicious. Good thing I kept going.
- Yep, Eric. It's a "painting" by "numbers". Thanks for solving!
- imontoo 3s · 2023-09-18T19:24:56.131ZThank you, Cap’n!
- My first thought was to try and play "connect-the-dots" from each of the nine answers to the corresponding number in the grid. Would have made for a cool mechanism, although it would rely very heavily on our ability to draw straight lines, which I have never been much good at (just ask my elementary school art teacher!). But once I realized I was using the wrong art technique, the answer took shape without too much trouble.
- Hmm, I like that "connect-the-dots" idea, schmidzy! I'll have to give that some more thought. ;)
- Bird Lives 4s · 2023-09-20T22:10:30.086ZI think there was a connect-the-dots WSJ meta some time ago. It was a very simple design. The five (?) dots were were Zs, and in connecting them, you drew a large Z, which stood, of course, for Zorro.
- BarbaraK 3s · 2023-09-21T02:03:32.956ZAlso a holiday puzzle where you connected the Os and got a Christmas Tree for the answer, a song, "O Christmas Tree"
- BethA 3s · 2023-09-18T20:35:39.070ZWell-crafted! Initially I just highlighted the single letter of the numbers that were mentioned in the clues. When they didn’t spell anything, I took a step back and saw the entire words. Nice AHA! Thx for the puzzle!I recall a long time back, the WSJ had the same painting as an answer, and I was surprised at how many people said that they weren’t familiar with it.
- Thank you, Beth. Yes, solvers definitely need to take a step back to see this one!I hadn't seen that WSJ puzzle, so I'll have to search for it. I assumed that most people were familiar with this famous painting, but we shall see!
- BethA 3s · 2023-09-19T00:37:18.160ZI was mistaken about the answer but the puzzle I was thinking of was: Brush Strokes from Feb 24, 2017
- Thank you for that reference, Beth. It was a Mike Shenk (then going by "Marie Kelly") meta with the answer "Grant Wood". I was surprised to see that he used the grid entries from 6 fill-in-the-blank (FITB) clues to spell out "PAINTER OF AMERICAN GOTHIC". It's quite a coincidence since my last meta "Drawing a Blank" - a collaboration with Wendy Walker - also used FITBs, and here we are again with Grant WOOD49DMaterial used for framing most paintings[----] and "American Gothic".
- You too are "pro"lific, Capn. "All IASK43D"All ___ of You" ("Phantom of the Opera" song)[----] Of You" is more great AHAs like this - Thanks for this work of meta art!
- Thank you, Michael. Glad you enjoyed it. You're due for another meta soon, right?
- Laura M 🤓5:03 · 2023-09-18T21:03:22.215ZGood one! I didn't notice the GABLE before, that's a nice touch.
- Very cool! I got lucky and my brain immediately went to American Gothic after I noticed PITCH29DSales spiel[-----] FORK51DBranch in the road[----] running right down the center. I'm a dope when it comes to art, but this is one of the few that I'm vaguely familiar with. Initially, I kept trying to make some connection between the numbers and the colors of the various things referenced in each of the clues & number pairs, but wasn't getting very far aside from a few things like SKY1ACloud's place[---] (blue) and BARN31ARural structure[----] (red, usually?) and maybe stretching the Area 51 one to green (little green men?).
- Thanks, kurtalert! It's amazing how many different interpretations this work/meta has elicited so far. I guess that's art!
- I kept trying to spell something with the numbers, then with the clues that held the numbers, then... It was while thinking, "OK, Sky blue, Barn red, Farmer brown (I KNOW you are not above a good pun), Sister..."hey wait a minutes, I know that painting, and it was done by Grant WOOD49DMaterial used for framing most paintings[----]". I assume the rail was the rail on the porch? Nice on Rick, and enough of a departure from your usual that it gave me some fits at first. Enjoyed the literal AHA!!!
- Thanks, Tom. You weren't the only one to go the color route. I didn't realize that would be such a "red" herring. :) Glad you enjoyed it.
- HeadinHome 🤓5:01 · 2023-09-19T01:49:55.628ZI did that color word association too! Barn red, red lobster, pitch black, etc.
- Carolyn 3s · 2023-09-18T22:53:49.513ZThat was really fun! It took me a bit longer than it should have, but finally saw the words to go with the numbers. I tried to draw lines between them at first. That produced a hideous picture. Very nice construction.
- Glad you had fun with it, Carolyn. It's a different mechanism that I might try to use again in the future.
- Qmark 9s · 2023-09-19T01:52:54.140Zwonderful construction...thanks Cap'n Rick!
- HeadinHome 🤓5:01 · 2023-09-19T01:57:26.704ZI guessed the mechanism to be that the grid entry told you what to paint into the numbered square. In the first example, PIE9A"American ___", #1 hit for Don McLean[---] painted into square #1 (as clued) — replacing the S that was there, yields PIETA at 1-down1DAmtrak stop: Abbr.[---]. “Oh this will be fun!” said this former art major! But of course that was the only one — although someone on the web posted his art piece called “Odd Ork” — which would make that device work for ODD14ADescriptor for some Area 51 sightings[---] / FORK51DBranch in the road[----] also, if that artwork were at all famous (it is not). FINALLY just read all the number words out loud and immediately thought of the Grant Wood master. Duh!
- Thanks, Wendy. It is absolutely fascinating (and often entertaining) to read people's comments about their solving experiences. Also a great source of ideas for future mechanisms!
- Tyrpmom 1s · 2023-09-19T22:00:42.805ZAnother winner. Always look forward to your puzzles.
- Ergcat 🤓9:21 · 2023-09-20T13:37:53.094ZWell, I had the mechanism from the get go…colored the numbers but didn’t get anything resembling art! The last nudge did it for me. Oh, well! Creative idea!
- Didn't really solve it, just entered the only famous Grant Wood painting. :) I saw the numbers pretty quickly, and tried first letters of those entries, and the connect-the-dots approach, and then tried highlighting the grid entries--but did it with solid colors. I was assuming it was a grid-art type puzzle where once I filled in the right boxes the shape of some famous painting would leap out. That obviously didn't work. :) When the nudges seemed to confirm that was the path I just assumed that I didn't know the painting until the fifth nudge told me which artist to pick (and wiki confirmed that the only painting I knew of his was probably the only one I was supposed to know). :) Shame, because the idea is inspired. But I don't think I'd ever have seen it. Still, that's my fault not the puzzle's, which is a work of genius!
- Thanks, Alan. I guess my nudge should have specified "pastel" colors! :)
- Snood 3:46 · 2023-09-20T15:14:23.172ZI always enjoy your puzzles! Thank you for sharing your skills with the group!
- ReB 3s · 2023-09-20T19:51:02.383ZVery ingenious. I would never have gotten to the answer without nudges.
- Bird Lives 4s · 2023-09-20T21:56:29.568ZAccording to Wikipedia, " It depicts a farmer standing beside his daughter." His daughter [slap], his sister [slap], his daughter [slap], his sister [slap], . . .
- Ha! Yes, Jay, it's a farmer and daughter, but to maintain symmetry I had to go with Grant Wood's SISTER22DFemale family member[------] who posed for the painting. (The FARMER24DExpert in the field, literally[------] was actually his dentist). Artistic license, right?
1A
Cloud's place
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Across
- 1ACloud's place
- 4ABurpee bagful
- 9A"American ___", #1 hit for Don McLean
- 12AGolf gadget
- 13A"More than likely..."
- 14ADescriptor for some Area 51 sightings
- 15AAffability
- 18AStudio that released "Mata Hari" back in '31
- 19ACertain Hollywood film studio mascot
- 20ABeast of Borden
- 23AArt workshops, often
- 27ABanister
- 28AMLB "twin killings"
- 31ARural structure
- 32APhoto ___
- 33ATender cuts
- 35A___ Speedwagon
- 36A"The Addams Family" cousin
- 37AReady to pour
- 38APC alternative
- 39ALiberal arts college 29 miles northwest of Iowa City
- 40ALike a rabbit's foot, supposedly
- 41AJFK posting
- 42AA foolish time
- 45AFireplace residue
- 46ACacophony
- 47AFarm females
- 50A"Son ___ gun!"
- 52ASacred bird of Egypt
- 56AWasn't built in a day, perhaps
- 59AFamily game with 24 "Action cards"
- 60ANez ___ (indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest)
- 61ADiamond club
- 62APop
- 63AExpressed disapproval
- 64APart of CBS
Down
- 1DAmtrak stop: Abbr.
- 2DThe homebrewer version holds 53 beers
- 3D"___ out!" (ump's call)
- 4DProlonged attack
- 5DDutch cheese
- 6DRecede
- 7DSecluded valley
- 8DPittsburgh product
- 9DHe was 22 when his poem "To Helen" was first published
- 10DSSNs, e.g.
- 11DMagazine VIPs
- 16DOscar winner Jannings
- 17DGaming novice, slangily
- 20DBeethoven symphony
- 21DPortable computer
- 22DFemale family member
- 24DExpert in the field, literally
- 25DDoggie rewards
- 26DWinter vehicle that can reach 27 feet in length
- 28DDunkin' Munchkins®, e.g.
- 29DSales spiel
- 30DSacred Hopi ritual
- 33DTakes it easy
- 34DJames Bond genre, informally
- 43D"All ___ of You" ("Phantom of the Opera" song)
- 44DStill competing
- 47DPoker variety
- 48DChaplin's wife
- 49DMaterial used for framing most paintings
- 51DBranch in the road
- 53DLobster-house handouts
- 54D"If ___ be so bold..."
- 55DTennis units
- 57DFitting
- 58DHS equivalency test that includes 49 raw points in Mathematical Reasoning
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