Art Tutorial by Marlena Myles

Bleeding Tissue Paper

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned the value of sharing my knowledge with the future generations and have created a number of educational resources for the youth (and everyone).

Prior to Covid-19, I used to work as an artist in residence at a number of elementary schools in the Twin Cities, sharing my art with the students and letting them see Indigenous art in a way they might never have.

When I would teach this bleeding tissue paper art lesson, I normally speak to the youth about the teachings and strengths we can gain by connecting and listening to nature.

Afterwards, the students would create their landscape paintings with their favorite animals. Even just a simple conversation like that with the youth can relate Indigenous teachings in a universal manner.

Note: You will need "bleeding tissue paper" for the tutorial. Click here for info on paper type.

Click the images to download Marlena's coloring pages.

Coloring pages are another accessible way to share and represent Dakota culture. On my website, I have free coloring pages about different Indigenous plants and their traditional uses as well as illustrating them in a Dakota floral style. I also have created a couple of free Dakota land maps, including one of the Twin Cities that highlights Dakota place names of both the past and present. This map has been hugely popular and was the inspiration for the two coloring pages I created here of Minnesota and Minneapolis through the lens of a Dakota person.