Course Progress (11%)
Glass Artist
Preston Singletary
Preston Singletary is a Tlingit artist from the Pacific Northwest who makes stunning glass sculptures. He learned glassblowing and then began weaving his Tlingit heritage into the art form. He creates glowing, translucent forms inspired by traditional baskets, clan crests, and totem imagery. 

Artwork to Display
  • Raven Steals the Sun (glass sculpture)
  • Killer Whale series
  • Tlingit Warrior (2008)
  • His work at the Tacoma Museum of Glass
Kids' Books
For older learners and adult learners: Coyote and Raven, American Tricksters: Crash Course World Mythology #22

Narrated tour of "Preston Singletary: Raven and the Box of Daylight" 

Translucent Tissue Paper Art
Inspired by Preston Singletary's glowing glass sculptures rooted in Tlingit heritage, your learner will create a layered tissue paper design that glows when held up to light which mimicks the luminous quality of colored glass.

Supplies

  • Colored tissue paper (multiple colors)
  • Contact paper or wax paper (contact paper works best)
  • Scissors
  • Black cardstock or construction paper (for the border/frame)
  • Optional: a window to display it in

Dollar store finds: tissue paper and contact paper are both commonly available. Wax paper from the kitchen works as a substitute.

Steps
  1. Look at images of Pacific Northwest animals together (eagles, ravens, orcas, bears, frogs). Pick one or two animals to feature.
  2. Cut a frame from black cardstock. A tall rectangle shape with the center cut out. This will be the border of your finished piece.
  3. Cut or tear shapes from tissue paper: wings, eyes, fins, beaks. Layer them onto the sticky side of a piece of contact paper (or onto wax paper with a thin glue wash).
  4. Overlap colors to create new colors where they mix. Red over yellow makes orange, blue over yellow makes green.
  5. Once your design is built, place the black frame on top to border it.
  6. Tape it to a window and watch it glow!

Tips for Parents
  • Before starting, look at a few images of Tlingit art together to notice how animals are shown with bold lines and symbolic details like eyes and patterns.
  • Don't worry about making it "look like" a real animal. Bold and symbolic shapes are more in the spirit of this tradition.
  • This makes a beautiful display piece on a sunny window.