Hello Friends!

I’m back with another fun art tutorial today! I recently started my own #Bookstagram account and decided that today’s tutorial would be a bookmark to celebrate! I’ve always loved reading and decided that I should just go for it! I’ve made some wonderful new book buddies and I am excited to see what the future holds.

Today I’ll be showing you how to create this scenic ocean and rock bookmark. Bookmarks are the perfect personalized gift for all of the book lovers in your life. Keep reading to see how you can make yours!

Supplies

• Canson Mixed Media
• Fiskars Paper Trimmer
• Washi Tape
• Tombow Dual Brush Pens (The colours I used are 451 and N95)
• Tombow Blending Palette
• Pentel Water Brush Pen
• Tombow Mono Drawing Pen (I used size 3)
• Uniball Signo White Gel Pen

Tips

• The key to achieving depth and layers with an illustration, while only using one Tombow dual brush pen colour, is adding lots of layers of colour.
• You can add more detail to the scenic illustration by adding other details such as boats or people.
• Be sure to use good quality paper that will withstand many layers of colour and water.

Step 1: Set-up The Bookmark

Cut your bookmark from a sheet of Canson Mixed Media paper using the Fiskars Paper Trimmer. I referenced another bookmark I had to get the perfect size. Tape your bookmark to a blank piece of paper using washi tape around the border. Using the washi tape will create a white border around the bookmark.

Step 2: Sky and Water

Using the Tombow dual brush pen in 451 on your Tombow blending palette, pick up some colour the with Pentel waterbrush pen. Apply this colour to the top half of the bookmark – this will be the sky. Apply the same colour to the bottom half of the book – except this time add more colour and more layers to deepen the shade. This will be the ocean.

Step 3: Rock and Shore

Apply Tombow dual brush pen N95 onto the blending palette. Pick up the colour with the Pentel waterbrush pen and create the rock on the top right hand quarter of the bookmark. This will be the rock formation. The key to bringing your rock to life is to keep adding many layers of colour. Let it dry and keep adding colour. I also concentrated more colour to the top part of the rock and went lighter towards the bottom.

I used 451 to create a shoreline seeping into the ocean at the bottom of the rock.

Step 4: Add Details

Using the Uniball Signo white gel pen, add dots of white along the shoreline and throughout the ocean to create the affect of water. I added some other other details, small dots of black, with the Tombow Mono drawing pen. I also added wisps of 451 across the sky to give the illusion of clouds. Lastly, I finished off with a quote ‘Get Lost in Thought’ using the Tombow Mono drawing pen. Once everything is dry, remove the washi tape.

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There you have it! I hope you try this idea for a bookmark. The ocean and rock scene is really calming and I love this feeling when reading!

If you try this project, I would love to see what you come up with. Tag me in your creations! I am interested to see what scenes you create.

Be sure to follow me on the blog and on Instagram (@letteringbyusha) to stay tuned to all of my lettering, crafting and personal adventures!

What is your favourite book related quote?

~Usha

Life Updates

• Check out my Bookstagram on the gram – I’m @papertalemermaid.
• How is everyone liking Game of Thrones? I’ve been finding the episodes a bit slow but maybe its in preparation for the intensity of the ending….?
• The weather is starting to warm up and I’m excited for summer! Are you?

Other Blog Posts to Read

Draw With Me Underwater Scene with Tombow Markers
Easy Floral Watercolour Illustration
Plan with Me Spring Passion Planner Layout