Thomas Kinkade Pencil by Number - Cape Hatteras Light by Mega Brands

Though the pictures would probably be beautiful once finished, I couldn't do them. I do have bad vision and knew it might be a challenge when I ordered them. I'm used to being able to find alternative ways of getting things done if I want to, but these pencil by numbers are VERY tiny and Extremely light and hard to see.

You have to use a see-through sheet that's darker with the numbers on it, lay it on top of the terribly light poster board itself just to know where to pencil in the colors. The outline of the drawing on the board is so light I couldn't even tell which was right side up. The spaces to pencil in were so small, that even if I could have done the picture I would have felt cramped and would describe it as tedious. I doubt if even one of the spaces would have been over a half inch in size and most were not even a quarter inch in size.

I have enough sight to read the computer, I can read normal newspaper print and even telephone books, I have to get very close,but I can do it. I could NOT even begin this project. I bought two and am giving them both away as gifts to people with good eyes.

I have trouble with Thomas Kincaid paper. I was so happy to see that this paper was fairly smooth and the crayons went on evenly. Colors seem to change after being on paper ouvernight. But the total effect is still lovely. I have trouble with his small spaces, why so many small spaces and different colors in each space or several spaces side by side with the same color in the blocks? The finished picture was lovely though. I must press too hard because the crayons are down to nubbins by the end of the picture.

I got this kit because I thought it would be lessy messy then a paint by numbers. My 9 year old likes paint by numbers but on trips or waiting at the dr paints are not a choice.
The kit contains what you would expect, small numbered colored pencils, a sharpner, an overlay and a carboard picture to color. I did not find the quality of the supplies to be anywhere near the full retail price, but on sale it seemed fairly priced.
My 9 year old could color the outside parts fine, the numbers are on the inlay so the middle of the picture is a little more challenging for a child.
My one problem is that in order to make the picture look like the one on the box , you have to use alot of shading techniques. There are no specfic techniques to use in the kit. I didn't expect the picture to turn out to be a masterpiece but I thought it would be more of a teaching tool about the shading and how to get the lighting effects.