diff --git a/skimage/novice/_novice.py b/skimage/novice/_novice.py
index cac72ee2..24c2ff0e 100644
--- a/skimage/novice/_novice.py
+++ b/skimage/novice/_novice.py
@@ -281,6 +281,7 @@ class Picture(object):
         if isinstance(color, six.string_types):
             color = color_dict[color]
         rgb_size = tuple(size) + (len(color),)
+        color = np.array(color, dtype=np.uint8)
         array = np.ones(rgb_size, dtype=np.uint8) * color
 
         # Force RGBA internally (use max alpha)
diff --git a/skimage/novice/tests/test_novice.py b/skimage/novice/tests/test_novice.py
index e2aafef0..36f4a537 100644
--- a/skimage/novice/tests/test_novice.py
+++ b/skimage/novice/tests/test_novice.py
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ def test_pixel_rgb():
     pixel.rgb = np.arange(4)
     assert_equal(pixel.rgb, np.arange(3))
 
+    assert pic.array.dtype == np.uint8
+
 
 def test_pixel_rgba():
     pic = novice.Picture.from_size((3, 3), color=(10, 10, 10))