Liz Chaderton demonstrates the materials and processes used to produce these bright and cheerful small artworks.

In an age dominated by digital screens, there’s something magical about the tactile experience of holding a physical book. Whether you’re reading a gripping thriller or thought-provoking non-fiction, bookmarks help preserve your place while adding a personal touch. But what if your bookmark could be more than just functional? Why not create a colourful bookmark that not only marks your page but also reflects your artistic style and, in the process, stretches and reinforces your watercolour muscles.

Creating your own watercolour bookmarks is a simple way to express your creativity and allows room for experimentation, making it an ideal project for all skill levels. It is a no-pressure way of experimenting with new processes and techniques. 

In these simple landscapes we will practise pen-and-wash techniques or venture into collage. You might enjoy these so much that you could scale them up into a larger painting.

Materials needed

Watercolour paper: An offcut of paper with a weight of at least 300gsm/140lb. I prefer a NOT surface, but you can use hot-pressed or rough. You can buy books of ready-cut watercolour paper, which offers convenience, especially if you plan to produce more than a few. The paper should be approximately 8x2in. (20x5cm). Whether you use cellulose or cotton is entirely up to you, but do not opt to use up poor quality paper; it will simply spoil your enjoyment of the paint

Watercolour bookmark pad: If you don't fancy making your own bookmark template you can buy a ready-made bookmark pad

Tape: I like a clean border, so use masking tape to edge the piece

Watercolour: This is an ideal opportunity to clean up old palettes or to experiment with new colour combinations in a way that is more interesting than doing swatches

Brushes: As we are doing stripey landscapes, a flat brush works particularly well

Pens: Waterproof fineliners, acrylic markers or other pens you want to experiment with

Collage: Glue stick and collage papers – napkins make great collage material, but an old map or book would also be good

Wax to seal: You will need to protect your finished bookmark. You could laminate or varnish, but I suggest cold-wax medium is an ideal way of waterproofing them. Dorlands Wax is a wax paste designed to be archival and used with watercolours that are not framed under glass. As these are unlikely to become heirlooms, you are fine to use a cheaper non-archival alternative, such as a wax designed to go over chalk paint. It should be clear, non-yellowing and remain flexible. Look for brands such as Frenchic or Annie Sloane

Other: Waterpots, paper towel, hole punch, corner punch, tassel or ribbon

Stage 1

Cut your paper to size and if you want clean edges, tape it to a board. To ensure the tape does not rip your paper upon removal either use a low-tack tape or take off the excess glue by pressing onto your clothing. The lint just stops it being quite as tacky.

Stage 2

Decide on your colour palette. Greys and blues might evoke a winter scene, russets and oranges an autumnal landscape.

Stage 3

Working wet on dry, apply stripes of colour to your paper. These may be very stylised but do consider perspective. The fields further away will be smaller than those near by. Colours are paler and cooler in the distance. Try to take this into account as you add colour. Vary the widths of the stripes. Leave a gap of dry paper if you do not want them to bleed, but why not keep some stripes separate and deliberately let others blend?

Stage 4

While it is still damp add darker mixes at the boundaries to give hedges, or drop in darker mixes to create trees.

Stage 5

If you want to experiment with texturing techniques, sprinkle in a little table salt to a damp wash and create frost, or drop in clean water to create back runs, lay a piece of plastic wrap over the damp paint to create interesting wrinkles.

Stage 6

Allow to dry and then add further layers if required. These bookmarks are very simple but you might as well practice all your techniques!

Stage 7

Once dry use your pens and imagination to create the landscape. Acrylic pens are opaque so can put in details such as the sun or moon. Fine liners can be used to outline water marks or bleeds to create landscape elements. Add in fences, hedges, trees, roads, distant houses etc. Try and add more detail closer to you – perhaps a fence or a stone wall.

Stage 8

Once you are satisfied with your landscape, remove the tape. If any paint has seeped under you should be able to lift it with a Magic Eraser or a damp short-haired brush. You may wish to round off the corners either with a punch or free-hand with scissors.

Stage 9

Now seal your book mark. If you do not do so there is a danger that the watercolour may bleed onto the pages of the book. Follow instructions if using varnish. If waxing, simply rub the wax into both sides of the paper. A thin coat is sufficient and you will feel it dragging if you have missed a spot. Allow to cure; time will depend on how warm it is and how much you have applied. It will feel dry to the touch. Apply another coat and allow to cure. Finally take a lint free cloth and buff the book mark. It will develop a nice sheen, rather than shine. Note how the wax enriches the colours.

Stage 10

Whether you use a tassel is up to you, but I am rather fond on the lovely colours and they are available online for very little. If using select an appropriate colour and use a hole punch to create a neat central hole. Loop the tassel through.

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Liz Chaderton is a professional artist based in Berkshire. She runs classes and workshops, exhibits across the country and has work published by Wraptious and Artko, as well as with companies in the US and New Zealand. Visit her website www.lizchaderton.co.uk for details or her blog for tips and ideas lizintheshed.wordpress.com