Description
Whitewashed Cottage with a Blue Door and a Sunning Cat – Paint by Numbers
A white wall, a blue door and a cat in the sun, and the whole picture is that simple. The door is the anchor, a tall vertical panel painted in layers of blue that run from pale periwinkle along the sunlit side through cornflower and denim into a much deeper navy in the shadow of the recess. To its right the wall is warm cream and white where the light lands, with the ragged soft shadow of leaves and branches thrown across it, and a small blue framed window sits high on the wall. The roof above is a run of scalloped terracotta tiles, deep orange with pale grey blue shadows in the corrugations and a row of dark wooden eaves brackets underneath. On the left, a rose tree leans over the whole scene, its dark twisted trunk rising out of the flower bed, its canopy a froth of pink, blush and cream roses over green leaves, with a few petals drifting free. Below it, three pots hold orange, pink and white blooms, and an orange and white cat sits on the step watching the light, with one of its front paws tucked in. The sky beyond is a flat, brilliant blue.
The light is the subject, and the shadow shapes do most of the work. The leaf shadows across the white wall are the single most important passage in the painting, because they are what turns a flat surface into a sunny afternoon, and they need to be painted as distinct, slightly soft-edged shapes in cool grey rather than smudged into the wall. The blue door rewards a similar logic: it is one colour, so the form comes entirely from the value change between its lit and shaded panels, and keeping that edge crisp is what makes it look solid. The cat is small and quick to do, but its warm orange is the only colour note in the lower half, so it is worth placing with care.
What Is Included in the Kit
- One pre-printed canvas with numbered sections, sized 16×20 inches
- 24 numbered acrylic paint pots covering blues, terracottas, greens and rose pinks
- Three professional detail brushes for the door panels, cat, petals and tile shadows
- A colour reference sheet showing the completed artwork
- Printed instructions suitable for complete beginners
Sizes and Options
Available as a 16×20 inch canvas with a 24 colour palette. Choose No Frame – Rolled if you would like to frame the finished piece yourself, or Pre-Stretched Frame if you would rather begin right away and hang it as soon as it dries.
Bright, Cheerful and Full of Sunshine
There is nothing complicated here, just strong light falling on clean surfaces, which makes it a relaxing canvas with a very satisfying result. The finished picture suits a kitchen, entryway, dining room or living room, and it looks lovely in a white or blue frame. A warm gift for cat lovers and anyone who likes the Mediterranean.