Ranger on the Muddy Trail - Paint by Numbers Kit

A machete hangs loose in the ranger's hand as his boots sink into ochre mud, and that one detail sets the mood for this Bwindi Impenetrable National Park scene. He is painted as a solid mass of olive green and brown in the left foreground, a patch on his sleeve, a battered pack on his back, walking away from us into the Ugandan forest.

Tangled, shadowed foliage closes in on both sides of the narrow trail. Midday light breaks through and splits the leaves into warm yellow-greens and cooler blue-greens, while thin pools of sky-colored water collect in the rutted track. Far ahead, a pale, flat-topped canopy tree rises out of the haze. The large, readable shapes and gradual color blending give you plenty to enjoy, whether you are new to painting by numbers or already have a few finished canvases on the wall.

It suits hobbyists who like moody, textured greens, travelers who have dreamed of Uganda's mountain forests, and anyone shopping for a gift for a national park lover. The mud is a good place to start: layer the ochres and umbers, then follow the trail into the leaves.