FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT

I have been part of the Dayspring Community for 18 years since I was a student! I have been part of several areas of the arts, particularly fine arts. I started sketching classes in 5th grade and haven't put my pencil down since. My research and main practice in fine arts has been comic-style art, particularly manga, and comic book making. I have loved teaching the Anime-Manga Camp and Comic Book Camp during the summer and I'm thrilled to introduce Comic Creators Collective as a course this year!

Pratima Murali is an interdisciplinary immigrant artist who lives in St. Louis. She has a degree in Applied Arts from India and she is a 2016 Community Arts Training (CAT) fellow from the Regional Arts Commission. She is an experienced teaching artist and an educator whose artistic journey is deeply connected to the natural world. Her teaching practice intentionally includes an emphasis on nature, and sustainability. She draws on her photography skills to inform her mixed media work to express her passion for nature. Her paintings weave visual stories using layers of paint, marks, and medium; leading to interesting textures, natural and abstract shapes. She has shown her work in galleries, art fairs, and invitational art shows. Her paintings can be found in homes in the United States and abroad. She has taught and led community art workshops for varied age groups through Artscope, Bread and Roses, DaySpring Arts and Education, and The Magic House. She is an Assistant Educator on Call at The Saint Louis Art Museum where she oversaw the Summer Artful Adventures for the past 2 years.

I graduated from Central Methodist University with a BS in Child Development. I have minors in Accounting, Business Administration and Early care & Education. I have been the director and teacher of my bilingual program for 15 years in a small setting with young children. I have two daughters, who are Dayspring Alumni. They attended DaySpring from Kindergarten through high school with me as their at-home teacher. As a DaySpring family, we are very familiar with the DaySpring's teaching method, the materials, and the wonderful education that DaySpring offers.

I came to DaySpring via Bread and Roses of Missouri in January of 2026. After teaching Saturday morning art courses, I began to substitute both art and non art classes at DaySpring during the week. I even taught Art, Literature, and French during Summer 2026 STEAM Camp! I so look forward to a year of growth and adventure in this year’s Art & Design Lab, as well as Studio Practice. 

Hello! My name is Gayathri Seetharaman and I am thrilled to be your students’ Visual Arts Teacher at Dayspring. I am a St. Louis based teaching artist with over 10 years experience in the community teaching and volunteering. I have shown my work at galleries and juried art shows in painting and photography. I have collaborated with St. Louis Art Museum, The Magic House, St. Louis County library and I also teach at ParkwayRockwood community education. Throughout the year, your students will be exploring a wide range of styles, artists, art-mediums, and learn about the principles of art. Students will learn to be creative, express themselves freely, be hands-on and messy at times :) I have been teaching at Dayspring since 2023. Through Art Explorers, and the Drawing and Painting classes, students will learn the skills, techniques, and the appreciation of art.

Shilpa Rao is a St. Louis based, interdisciplinary artist with over 10 years of experience in community art and teaching. She works towards expanding artistic horizons, promoting multicultural outreach and connecting communities through art. Rao believes art can bridge gaps in communities, help heal, voice opinions, and spread positivity. She is a 2020 Teaching Artist Institute fellow from the Regional Arts Commission and 2023 Community Arts Training (CAT) graduate. Being a certified teaching artist allows her to share her passion and empower youth by using art as a powerful means of communication. Rao was born in India and is inspired by ancient art forms from around the world, especially art rooted in geometric and patterned symmetry. She has shown her work at galleries, juried shows and art fairs. Rao’s passion is to create collaborative art using her teaching skills with different communities. She has worked with various organizations including The Saint Louis Art Museum, The History Museum, The Magic House, Bread and Roses Missouri, Craft Alliance, Webster Arts, the City of Manchester, the City of Chesterfield, and St. Louis County Library. 

At Dayspring Arts and Education, Rao has taught Clay, Painting, Drawing, Geometric Art, and Friday enrichment classes since 2022.

Sheri Lyn Terry, Performing Arts and Art Educator, enjoys teaching and directing numerous youth musicals, fairy tales and melodramas in schools, camps, and community centers. Some of her favorites are Peter Pan, 101 Dalmatians, The Little Mermaid, and Alice in Wonderland. She directed Be A Star On Stage for 9 years in Maryland Heights, MO. She also has produced themed Variety Shows with senior adults and welcomes students of all ages to collaborate with her to make a production a rewarding experience for all. In her art classes Ms. Terry teaches a variety of techniques and especially enjoys collage and clay projects. She spent 5 summers in Maine at Tripp Lake Camp teaching pottery skills to 350 girls and is on the board of Blaze STL.