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How to create bookmarks and calenders

  • Adults 
  • Teenagers 
  • 45 min
What you need:
You will find the lists of materials in the following descriptions. 

Orchid bookmark

List of materials

japanese silk, natural colour, pencil, graphite transfer paper, eraser, ruler (metal if possible), craft knife or scalpel, scissors, adhesive tape, glue, lantern sheet, Art Grip Aquarelle 125, 133, 167, 172, Pitt Artist Pen Brush 272, 125, 174

Download template

Step 1

Print out template full size, lay template on Japanese silk and secure along one edge with adhesive tape.
Lay graphite paper, dark side down, underneath the template sheet. Trace the lines on the template sheet. After the first few lines, lift graphite paper to check that the lines have been transferred.

Step 2

Remove template sheet. Using Pitt Artist Pen Brush 272, paint in the "Orchid" lettering, then erase the pencil lines with the eraser.

Step 3

Colour in the petals of the orchid with Art Grip Aquarelle 125 and 133. Colour in the leaves and stems using Art Grip Aquarelle 172 and 167.

Step 4

Apply a water wash to the petal segments one after another, starting with the lighter tones and working towards the darker tones in the centre of the flower. Take care not to apply a wash to adjacent segments at the same time in order to prevent the colours bleeding into one another. Allow to dry.

Step 5

Using Pitt Artist Pen 125, draw the contours of the orchid and then accentuate the leaves and stalk with Pitt Artist Pen 174.

Step 6

Cut lantern sheet to size and wind onto the Japanese silk. Then trim the final format using the craft knife or scalpel.

Poppy on stretcher frame

List of materials

stretcher frame, square, pencil, graphite transfer paper, eraser or kneadable rubber, adhesive tape, paintbrush size 10-12 (if possible, Aquarelle paintbrush), Art Grip Aquarelle 109, 115, 118, 119, 121, 125, 133, 134, 141, 154, Pitt Artist Pen Brush black

Download template

Step 1

Print out template to match the size of the stretcher frame. Cut out design and attach to one edge of the stretcher frame with adhesive tape.
Lay graphite paper, dark side down, underneath the template sheet. Trace the lines on the template sheet. After the first few lines, lift graphite paper to check that the lines have been transferred. The lines should only be faint, so that they do not show through when they are subsequently coloured. Use the eraser or kneadable rubber to lighten the lines where necessary after tracing.

Step 2

Remove template. Trace the contours with Art Grip Aquarelle 118. These lines will dissolve later when a water wash is applied.

Step 3

When applying areas of colour with Art Grip Aquarelle, it its recommended that a sheet of paper is placed under your hand to prevent smudging of the colours Colour in the petals one by one with Art Grip Aquarelle, using Art Grip Aquarelle 118 as the base tone. Apply Art Grip Aquarelle to the areas specified with numbers, making sure that the colour is applied more intensively towards the centre of the flower. Partially overlapping the colours creates lively mixtures of colours when the water is subsequently brushed on.

TIP: Test the colour mixtures and intensity on a separate sheet of watercolour paper beforehand!

Step 4

Apply water wash quickly and liberally to the petals, using a really large brush (size 10-12). A large head of bristles can hold a greater amount of water, thereby ensuring faster watercolouring and homogeneous areas of colour.
When applying the wash, make sure that you use sufficient water. As a rule of thumb: the larger the area, the more water is required to dissolve the pigments. When applying the wash, always start with the light colours and work towards the darker colours.
It is recommended that adjacent petals are not washed at the same time, as otherwise the colours may bleed into one another. So work on the petals alternately, in order to maintain clear outlines.

Step 5

Allow the water washed areas to dry. Then starting again from the middle of the flower and working outwards, apply narrow streaks of colour.

Step 6

Apply wash to the streaks of colour one by one. These colour accents give the petals the parchment-like structure typical of poppies.

Step 7

Using Pitt Artist Pen brush black, paint the stamens in the centre of the flower.

Step 8

TIP: Create a picture for a blank calendar on watercolour paper using these instructions! Pick out flowers that can be created in a similar way with Art Grip Aquarelle and fill up the pages of your calendar in this way.