Canoe Toward the Tepuis - Paint by Numbers Kit

A lone paddler sits in a ochre dugout canoe on the Carrao River, and everything in the scene pulls your eye toward the flat-topped tepuis of Canaima National Park waiting at the horizon. The water is a broad, coppery sheet stained by tannins and lit with amber and rust. A single bright ribbon of reflected sun runs straight down the middle, leading to the canoe.

Dark green forest walls rise on both banks, with a few tall emergent trees breaking the skyline. Beyond them, violet-grey sandstone mesas stand in drifts of low cloud while the late Venezuelan sunset burns orange and apricot across the sky. The big, clearly separated shapes and smooth color gradations in the water and clouds make this a rewarding project for hobbyists. Patient beginners will also find it approachable, since the numbered reference sheet makes it easy to keep track of the many glowing oranges.

It also makes a good gift for anyone who dreams of the Gran Sabana or loves quiet river journeys. Set up your brushes, start with the forest greens, and finish by painting the long golden glow across the river.