Melanie Rivers, Tiyaltelwet, is an Indigenous mixed media artist who teaches online and in person art classes to women around the world. She helps women build a joyful and self-compassionate art practice.
Melanie says, “Creating art brings me into the present moment, into stillness. In this space I am not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. In stillness, I find myself. I find peace, clarity and connection with my real emotions”.
Melanie is from the Squamish First Nation in Vancouver, Canada. She lives in her community with her wonderful husband of 18 years (and their sweet cat) and she draws from her traditional ancestry and teachings in her art practice.
In her art, she depicts the strength, realness and vulnerability of women. She believes art has many medicines to share with us—stillness, joy, connection– and by building a self- compassionate art practice, we can experience these medicines on a regular basis.