Shelley Lapham-Pastore (aka: Miss Shelley, a name her students gave her many, many years ago) is a professional Artist, certified Instructor, and Elementary Art Educator in Knoxville, TN. She enjoys teaching her Creative Art classes for Preschool, Home School, & Elementary Art programs and Summer Art Camps. Her Art classes have inspired children and adults at the Charlotte Art League, Smart Toys & Books, United Artisans Studio, Blue Grass & AL Lotts Elementary Schools, Park Road Montessori, York Prep Academy, Claymates Pottery, Imagination Forest, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte & East Tennessee, Michael's Art & Crafts Store, Springfield Golf Club, & the Pro Golfers kids on the PGA of America Tour...to name a few!
Shelley has shown a love for Art since she was a young child. She was always the first child at the craft table in school and would spend hours on her sun patio creating, painting, and inventing new ways to turn everyday things into Art! Shelley enjoyed being involved in creative Music, Theatre, and Art programs and earned a music scholarship to college where she majored in Music and Elementary Education. In 1999, she traveled to a small island off the coast of Belize (Caye Caulker) to teach music and art and was surprised to find that the children on the island had never seen a crayon, markers, or basic Art supplies. It was an exciting time teaching them how to use them and watching them explore and create with color!
After her son Gabe was born, Shelley enjoyed being a Nanny for Michelle Soutier (the owner of Miller Street Dance Academy in Charlotte, NC) and was later inspired by her to start teaching Art and Music classes for children in Charlotte, NC and Fort Mill, SC. In 2013, Shelley moved to Knoxville, TN and became the Director of Afterschool and Summer Camp programs for the YMCA of East Tennessee and in her free time taught Art Classes at the Westside & Davis YMCA, and Imagination Forest. In 2017, Shelley returned to teaching full time in the Art Studio at Smart Toys and Books in West Knoxville and offers her Creative Art Classes and Parties as well as traveling to teach Art Enrichment classes in Knox County Schools, for private Art parties, and for the Pro-Golfer's Kids on the PGA Tour. Shelley continues her education by attending workshops with other professional Artists and working in Studios studying clay, glass fusing, mixed media art, and painting techniques.
Miss Shelley's unique and creative style of teaching Art have inspired others to pick up a brush and learn something fun! She hopes the kids she inspires will pass what they learn on to future generations!
Shelley has shown a love for Art since she was a young child. She was always the first child at the craft table in school and would spend hours on her sun patio creating, painting, and inventing new ways to turn everyday things into Art! Shelley enjoyed being involved in creative Music, Theatre, and Art programs and earned a music scholarship to college where she majored in Music and Elementary Education. In 1999, she traveled to a small island off the coast of Belize (Caye Caulker) to teach music and art and was surprised to find that the children on the island had never seen a crayon, markers, or basic Art supplies. It was an exciting time teaching them how to use them and watching them explore and create with color!
After her son Gabe was born, Shelley enjoyed being a Nanny for Michelle Soutier (the owner of Miller Street Dance Academy in Charlotte, NC) and was later inspired by her to start teaching Art and Music classes for children in Charlotte, NC and Fort Mill, SC. In 2013, Shelley moved to Knoxville, TN and became the Director of Afterschool and Summer Camp programs for the YMCA of East Tennessee and in her free time taught Art Classes at the Westside & Davis YMCA, and Imagination Forest. In 2017, Shelley returned to teaching full time in the Art Studio at Smart Toys and Books in West Knoxville and offers her Creative Art Classes and Parties as well as traveling to teach Art Enrichment classes in Knox County Schools, for private Art parties, and for the Pro-Golfer's Kids on the PGA Tour. Shelley continues her education by attending workshops with other professional Artists and working in Studios studying clay, glass fusing, mixed media art, and painting techniques.
Miss Shelley's unique and creative style of teaching Art have inspired others to pick up a brush and learn something fun! She hopes the kids she inspires will pass what they learn on to future generations!
"Miss Shelley is the BEST teacher EVER!!"
-Carson (age 8)
-Carson (age 8)
“It's hard to express in words how much we adore Miss Shelley! She is one of those rare individuals who was born to work with children. She is gifted with the ability to effectively communicate with kids on their level - she teaches them SO many things, but they just think they're having fun! Emily has been attending classes for 3 years and continues to look forward to going, each and every time. Miss Shelley is like a favorite aunt, who doesn't mind if the kids make a mess, just as long as they are having fun - and you know, Shelley is having just as much fun as the kids! Miss Shelley's Art classes are truly one of the best experiences your child will have and there's no better person to care for your children than Shelley. I know that each child she teaches holds a special place in her heart, and she definitely has a special place in ours!” -Jennifer B., Mom to Emily
"Lucy absolutely loved her experience with Miss Shelley in her Art classes! It gave her confidence and opened the door to music and art, which she loves so much. She looked forward to going every week and made lots of friends. As a parent, I really enjoyed the small class sizes. It was a wonderful introduction to the world of Art and I was always impressed with Miss Shelley’s positive energy and interaction with the kids. I would not trade this experience for Lucy for anything!!" -Cathy B., Mom to Lucy
"My daughter Olivia attended Miss Shelley's Art classes for over three years. Shelley always has such a cheerful demeanor and it is obvious that she really loves the children she teaches. It was great to know that Olivia was with someone with such a passion for Art, as well as a fun personality. I loved coming to pick my daughter up and seeing all the art projects they had made that Miss Shelley is so famous for!" -Lisa G., Mom to Olivia
“When we first moved, we heard all about Miss Shelley and how she's the most amazing Art teacher. I took my once very nervous daughter, Hannah, to her first day of class in hopes to help her overcome her strong attachment to me. Within the first few classes, Hannah was a confident and outgoing little girl. She has learned a GREAT deal of knowledge and I am simply amazed at the level of attention that she and all of the other children in her class received. A million thank you's goes to Shelley for teaching her the importance of being creative!!” -Andrea R., Mom to Hannah and Ella
“I just cannot say enough good things about Miss Shelley and her classes! The love and attention Shelley gives every child is above and beyond what you would see anywhere else. Every week is a new adventure with new themes and new exciting art projects. My son was extremely shy and afraid to be away from me when I first signed him up. Now he can’t wait to go. I truly believe that it was in great part the loving and fun environment that contributed to his now outgoing and gregarious personality. Miss Shelley is absolutely wonderful!!!” -Daniela S., Mommy to Sean
“When we first moved, we heard all about Miss Shelley and how she's the most amazing Art teacher. I took my once very nervous daughter, Hannah, to her first day of class in hopes to help her overcome her strong attachment to me. Within the first few classes, Hannah was a confident and outgoing little girl. She has learned a GREAT deal of knowledge and I am simply amazed at the level of attention that she and all of the other children in her class received. A million thank you's goes to Shelley for teaching her the importance of being creative!!” -Andrea R., Mom to Hannah and Ella
“I just cannot say enough good things about Miss Shelley and her classes! The love and attention Shelley gives every child is above and beyond what you would see anywhere else. Every week is a new adventure with new themes and new exciting art projects. My son was extremely shy and afraid to be away from me when I first signed him up. Now he can’t wait to go. I truly believe that it was in great part the loving and fun environment that contributed to his now outgoing and gregarious personality. Miss Shelley is absolutely wonderful!!!” -Daniela S., Mommy to Sean
