"Miss Shelley is the BEST teacher EVER!!"  
​-Carson (age 8)
Shelley Lapham-Pastore (aka: Miss Shelley, the name her students gave her in 2004 as it's much easier to remember and pronounce than her last name) is a professional Artist and Elementary Art Educator in Knoxville, TN. Her students enjoy the freedom to explore and create with color in a kid friendly learning environment under the positive instruction of a caring Instructor.

Miss Shelley's Creative Art Classes and Summer Art Camps have inspired children at Smart Toys & Books, Blue Grass & AL Lotts Elementary Schools, Park Road Montessori, York Prep Academy, Oak Grove, the Charlotte Art League, YMCA of Greater Charlotte & East Tennessee, and Michael's Art & Craft Store. Shelley has also enjoyed teaching Art to the pro-golfers kids on the PGA Tour and on the ABC News/WATE 6 Living East Tennessee TV show. Many of her students have gone on to attend Governor's School for the Arts, earn Fine Arts, Studio Arts, or Performing Arts degrees across the US and are doing amazing things and giving back to their communities as they enrich the lives of others!
Shelley's love for art started at a young age. She would spend hours on her sun patio designing, painting, and inventing new ways to be creative! During college she studied Music and Elementary Education and then later returned to add Theatre Arts Design and Fine Arts (2D Design, painting, fiber arts, clay, & sculpture.) Over the last 20 years, Shelley has also studied under professional Artists and taken continuing education classes (glass fusing, mixed media, book and printmaking, jewelry design/patina, blacksmithing, and mosaics) and enjoys traveling to other countries to attend Theatre and Art Festivals in her free time. Her favorite places she has studied Art are Venice & Rome in Italy, South France, Hawaii, Belize, and also Disney World! In Knoxville, Shelley enjoys working behind the scenes on set designs and props at the Tennessee and Bijou Theaters and was to perform in her first world premiere production at the 2020 Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Shelley truly loves all things related to Art and Theatre and enjoys passing on her creative knowledge to her students to help inspire them to always do their best, try new things, be kind to others, and never give up!
“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 has 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., Mom to Sean