“A glass of water, a few drops of paint, pick up a brush and paint with your heart. No skill, no experience needed, just a heart to relax your emotions and learn about other cultures.”

Introduction

Every art has its own characteristics and style, and every culture has its own history and charm. Each art carries a specific cultural background and historical connotation. They convey the essence of culture and values through the form of art. By making a bookmark of our own, learning and appreciating traditional Chinese culture and art, we can better help everyone to understand Chinese tradition, Chinese culture and stimulate our imagination.

Lacquer blending Bookmarks

Tools

• A4 white cardboard or yellow cardboard or thick kraft paper,

• super glue and scissors,

• paint trays (any small tray),

• a large bottle,

• acrylic markers (choose your favourite colours),

• paint (black, red, yellow, etc.),

• a thin straw and a cotton swab,

• a few toothpicks and a rubber band.

The following content contains guidance videos, please open this toolkit in the browser in case the videos do not play.

Let’s begin!

Step 1: Create the shape of bookmarks(2 minutes)

Take out a piece of A4 white stiff cardboard or thick kraft paper. Fold the A4 paper in half twice and then fold the shape of the bookmark according to the instructional video. Cut out the bookmark.

Step 2 (1 minute)

Glue the folded paper with strong glue. (1 minutes)

Step 3: Make the round hole on the bookmark (2 minute)

Dip a cotton swab in some water and drop it on the top part of the bookmark. Let the water drop sit on the bookmark for three to four seconds. Then take out a toothpick and keep circling it along the shape of the water droplets until you soften the paper and poke round holes.Next, take out the leather strap and fasten it to the bookmark through the hole.

Step 4: (Optional)Creating bookmarks with traditional Chinese painting elements – Plum Blossom. (10 minutes)

A.     Squeeze a little of the black pigment into the paint tray and mix with water so that the pigment mixes well with the water to give a liquid state. (1 minute)

B.     Next, dip the straw into the paint and drop it onto the bottom half of the bookmark. Blow gently with the straw in a diagonal upward direction, blowing the paint into the shape of a tree branch. (2 minutes)

C.     Then squeeze the red and yellow colours into the paint tray. Using a toothpick, dip the red paint into the branch to create a plum blossom shape, then dip the toothpick into the yellow paint to create the flower’s core. (2 minutes)

D.     Wait for the paint to dry before moving on to the next step. (5 minutes)

Step 5: Colouring the Bookmark(2 minutes)

A.  Take out a water receptacle and fill it with cold water, making sure that the water is deep enough to submerge the fan. Take out an acrylic marker (two to three colours), and dip the tip of the marker into the water and leave it there for one to two seconds. Then gently slide the markers in the water to get the shape you like it. (2 minutes)

Recommended colour combinations

B.   Finally, suspend the bookmark to just above the middle of the water-filled container to ensure that both the front and back of the bookmark can be fully coloured. Next slowly rotate the bookmark into the water until it is fully submerged and then take it out. (1 minute)


When it is completely dry, the bookmark with traditional Chinese elements is finished!

Discussion and reflection:

Q1 Do you think this kind of creation can be applied to other items in our lives? Which items?

Q2 Have traditional Chinese elements influenced your artistic life in the past? What are the influences?

Q3 Through this toolkit, do traditional Chinese elements provide any inspiration for your future artistic development?

Excellent Works

Bookmarks

Hope this toolkit provides you with some inspiration for your artistic journey.

Make Your Own Bookmarks © 2024 by Xinyao Tong is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

(Chinese Traditional Style Bookmark © 2024 by Xinyao Tong is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 )

(Bookmarks © 2024 by Xinyao Tong is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 )

(Colour Card © 2024 by Xinyao Tong is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 )

(Lacquer blending Bookmarks © 2024 by Xinyao Tong is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 )