Painting Snowy Evergreen Bookmarks
I love making gifts for people and also love to paint with watercolors. Today we’re painting snowy evergreen bookmarks!
I can’t wait to show you how make these pretty bookmarks for family and friends. You may even want to keep one for your self! Painting Snowy Evergreen Bookmarks is fun and relaxing.
This project is fun for the beginner watercolor artist or also a fun activity for an intermediate painter. What I love about it is that it’s monochromatic so you only need one paint color!!!
In the above photos I only used one color but varied the shades by adding more water!
Okay, I made a little video because I’m a visual learner and thought it would be best to show you, but I’ll write a detailed tutorial with links to materials further into the post.
Snowy Evergreen Bookmarks Video Tutorial
This post also contains affiliate links, if you purchase a product via the link I may receive a percentage of the sale. You can read my full disclosure policy here. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way.
How to Paint Snowy Evergreen Bookmarks
Materials
- Watercolor Paper – I use this one because it’s affordable and doesn’t have a heavy grain
- Paper Cutter
- Watercolor brushes – in sizes 4, 6 and 8
- Water
- Paper towel
- Watercolor Paint – I used Daniel Smith in Indigo
- Washi Tape
- Hair dryer
- Gelly Roll Pen in White
- Posca Pens in White
Time needed: 10 minutes
How to paint Watercolor Bookmarks
- Cut Bookmark Templates
Using a paper cutter, cut watercolor paper into bookmark sizes. I size my bookmarks at 2″ x 5″ but you can make your bookmarks bigger if you’d like.
- Secure Watercolor Bookmark
Tape down watercolor bookmark on all sides with washi tape. This will create a pretty white border around your bookmark to frame it.
- Apply Wash to the background with Indigo Paint
Wet paper with clear water. Drop in Indigo paint – you want it to be darkest at the top and then becoming a graduated wash, so the color fades at the bottom. (Optional tap the paper with paper towels to create the look of clouds or snowy mountain peaks).
- Dry Paper
It is essential to dry the paper between steps. Either let it dry naturally or use a hair dryer to speed up the process. I’m usually too impatient to wait and use a dryer.
- Apply Background Trees
Mix Indigo paint and some water to create a color slightly darker than the background. You want to add some little evergreen trees in the background. This will give depth to the painting. Allow to dry.
- Paint Main Evergreen Tree
The focal tree should be bigger and and darker than the other trees as it is the closest one to the viewer. I paint a line and start from the top of the tree to the base. Allow to dry.
- Add Shadows
Add a slightly lighter shade of indigo under the tree to create the shadow of the tree.
- Add Snow
I love to add snow with Gelly Roll Pens in different sizes and also like to use Posca pens in white to make bigger snowflakes.
- Remove Tap and Enjoy Your Bookmark
Carefully remove the washi tape. Now you can enjoy your bookmark or gift it!
Be sure to pin this for later!
These pretty bookmarks remind me of a whimsical snow globe. If you don’t like blue you can use any color of paint. I’ve also done some with green and done some that aren’t monochromatic with full color. It’s fun to experiment. Here you can see one with green – I mixed together some Sap Green and some Hookers Green and added a tiny bit of Lamp Black for smoky, foggy look.
The great thing is they don’t have to be perfect. In fact, it’s better if they aren’t!
If you don’t have gelly roll or Posca Pens you can create the snow with white acrylic paint or gouache.
I hope you enjoy creating bookmarks as much as I do! I actually painted many bookmarks for our Open Studio last weekend. I have some winter themed and coastal themed left. If you’re interested in seeing what I have left just send me an email or comment on this post.
More Resources
I plan on doing more video tutorials so if there’s anything you’d like to see let me know.
If you enjoyed this post you might also like these:
Branch Painting | Mini Seascapes | Must Have Watercolor Supplies
Watercolor Place cards | Watercolor Easter Eggs | Watercolor Hearts
I’m also a HUGE fan of Skillshare classes. I honestly wish there were more hours in the day to watch all these videos! As a special gift to you guys – get a free 2-Week trial of Skillshare Premium Membership click here.
If you’re looking for more watercolor art – I have an online shop.
Thank you so much for reading and let me know if you have any questions!
Great tutorial Danielle!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Donna! They are so much fun to paint! xx
Lovely tutorial and bookmarks. I already began mine today. Wonderful stocking stuffer for authors and readers!! Thanks so much for sharing. This is a valuable and fun website. I look forward to receiving it.
Yay! Such a fun activity for winter afternoon! Can’t wait to see your bookmarks!
This past summer I had my two granddaughters during the day, they are 13 and 7. I tried to come up with ideas for things we could all do together and found your watercolor seascape tutorial. We are all hooked! We each have our own set of paints and brushes and have discovered a love of watercolors! Thank you for sharing your talent with us.
Jo Ann, Your kind comment made my week! Thank you! I’m so glad you and your granddaughters discovered a love of watercolors through my blog. It is my goal to share creativity through my blog. I believe we are all creative and it’s a matter of tapping into that creativity and making space for it. Hope you enjoy painting snowy scenes together this winter xx