Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Sara Daroogar

Sara believes there’s no division between playing and learning art for children. Art is a place to learn and encourage each individual’s ideas and to explore possibilities.

Sarah is a visual arts teacher who has taught several years in classes of all ages. She has experience in multiple learning styles which include drawing, painting, sculpting and graphite. Living and traveling to the Middle East, France and Armenia, inspired her art, encouraging her to explore diverse art cultures and to introduce the differences and similarities in outlooks to students through art. She has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and many years acquiring knowledge and experience in art schools and classes. She has enjoyed creating art for most of her life, especially life and nature oil paintings, graphite and charcoal portraits, cameos and 3D sculptures.

It has been her passion to inspire and teach art to children. Sara eagerly anticipates the opportunity to cultivate meaningful connections with all the bright and talented students at Children’s Art Classes.

Lace Booysen

Hi, I’m Lace! I have been an artist since childhood, and I am passionate about various forms of art, particularly portraits and anatomy studies. I enjoy understanding how muscles move to accurately portray different motions. My preferred mediums include watercolor, gouache, craft paper, and alcohol markers.

I attended cosmetology school at Paul Mitchell The School. Before that, my lines in art were quite shaky. However, once I started working with hair, my lines became steadier, allowing me to refine each piece of art I created. This experience also solidified my understanding of color theory.

I have four years of experience working with children, and I find this work to be both humbling and rewarding. I understand that it takes time to learn and achieve progress as an artist. I aim to encourage my students by showing them that dedication and practice lead to achieving their artistic goals.

I am grateful for the opportunity to work closely with Martha Booysen in the position of teaching assistant, supporting the teachers at Children’s Art Classes. I always strive to better myself and gain as much knowledge as possible, and I look forward to receiving specific training in the Children’s Art Classes curriculum. I am excited to be a part of every student’s learning journey and can’t wait to see how they grow as young artists.

Mechelle Elkins

Mechelle holds degrees in Art, Advertising, and Art Design, blending her creative expertise with a true passion for teaching. With years of experience as a public-school art teacher for students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, she is committed to creating an inclusive, encouraging environment where every child feels supported and inspired.

She believes in nurturing confidence, sparking creativity, and helping students grow not only as artists but as individuals. Mechelle is excited to guide and connect with the talented young artists at Children’s Art Classes and looks forward to building meaningful, lasting relationships with each student.

Martha Booysen

Martha believes that the arts are fundamental. Art is a response to our individuality and our nature, and it helps to shape our identity. Art has a beautiful universality; it can speak many languages without a translator. It does not discriminate. Art lifts us up. Martha is the owner of Children’s Art Classes. She has been trained specifically in the Children’s Art Classes curriculum and has been enthusiastically teaching this program since 2017. Striving for the highest quality in teaching, she works closely with the founder of Children’s Art Classes. Her mission is to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.

Martha Studied Social work at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. She moved to the United States in 2003 with her family. Throughout her children’s school years, Martha volunteered in the public school system and tutored reading and writing. Martha is the proud mother of three adult children. She holds a part-time position in social work. In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, jewelry making, sewing and gardening.