- Est 2008 -

Fostering Creativity in the
Heart of the High Country

WELCOME TO FLORENCE THOMAS ART SCHOOL

Art Workshops

Explore Schedule

Our Mission

Florence Thomas Art School is dedicated to the artistic enrichment of our community.

Our mission is to provide resources for instruction, exhibition, and experience in fine art and heritage crafts for Ashe County and the region.

We offer a wide variety of art workshops, exhibitions, outreach programs, and community events designed to inspire artists of all ages and skill levels.

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What Our Students Say

“Florence Thomas Art School is an incredible resource for art lovers and artists. They have such a wide variety of workshops and I've been really impressed by the instructors. It's always a treat to visit to see the exhibits in the gallery. They are always well done and feature local and regional artists.”

- Lynn Paine R.

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#FlorenceThomasArtSchool

🎉 We’ve launched our new website and opened registration for some of our 2025 workshops! 🖌️✨ More workshops are on the way, but coming up soon:

🎨 Paint Like Bob Ross: Winter Landscape
🧶 Cozy Crochet: 2-Colored Beanie
❤️ Valentine Stained Glass

Kick off the new year with creativity! Visit FlorenceArtSchool.org to explore the lineup and register! ✨

#2025workshops #FTAS #newwebsite #artworkshops #stainedglass #paintlikebobross #crochet #crochetersofinstagram

We had such a great time celebrating with all of you at our FTAS Holiday Market! From talented craftspeople and beautiful local art to delicious baked treats, live music, and a visit from Santa—it was a day full of holiday cheer. 🎅🏼❄️

We’re so grateful to everyone who came out to support!

#FTAS #holidaymarket #westjefferson #artmarket

Join us for a weekend full of art, food, and festive fun at Florence Thomas Art School! ✨🎄

Friday, December 6th | 5-7 PM
🎨 Christmas-Themed Gallery Crawl
🖼️ Mountain Mystique Reception – A captivating juried exhibition celebrating the mystery and beauty of the High Country’s mountain landscapes. Enjoy light snacks, refreshments, and meet the talented artists behind the work!

Saturday, December 7th | 10 AM - 4 PM
🎁 Holiday Market – A festive day of shopping with unique, handcrafted art from local artists and craftsmen, including pottery, paintings, jewelry, and more!
🎶 Live Music to set the holiday mood.
🍪 Bake Sale with delicious homemade treats.
🎅 Santa’s Special Appearance from 1-4 PM!

Support local artists, find one-of-a-kind gifts, and celebrate the season with us. We can’t wait to see you there! 🎄🎨✨

#westjefferson #highcountryevents #ftas #holidayevents #holidaymarket #localartists

This #GivingTuesday, we celebrate the incredible community that uplifts and supports Florence Thomas Art School. To our supporters, artists, instructors, and friends—thank you for believing in our mission to provide opportunities for learning, creating, and experiencing the fine arts and heritage crafts of Ashe County and the Blue Ridge region. 🌄🎨

Your generosity helps us preserve the rich cultural heritage of the mountains, offer education in various media, and foster creative expression for everyone. It also fuels our outreach programs—bringing art to underserved youth through our Children’s Programming and providing meaningful creative experiences to older adults through our Creative Aging initiative.

Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a lasting impact on our ability to inspire and engage the community. This Giving Tuesday, we invite you to continue supporting our mission, ensuring art remains accessible to all and Florence’s legacy continues to thrive for generations to come.

Together, we can make art a part of everyone’s story. 🩵 Thank you for being part of ours.

Visit the link in our bio 🔗 to make your #GivingTuesday donation.

#givingtuesday #supportthearts #ashecountync #communitythroughart #creativeaging #inspiringthenextgeneration #supportlocal #westjefferson

Throughout November, our Gratitude Tree stood in the gallery, filled with heartfelt messages from our community. Each note shared a piece of your story, bringing beauty, warmth, and unity to our space.

Today, we reflect on the power of art and community connection. We are deeply grateful for each of you—artists, supporters, and friends—who make this school a vibrant, welcoming place.

Thank you for sharing your gratitude and creativity with us. Wishing you a day filled with joy, reflection, and togetherness. 🧡

#HappyThanksgiving #Grateful #ArtCommunity

❄️ Weather Update!

🖼️ Florence Thomas Art School will be OPEN today, November 22 from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm.

🎨 We are hosting our Pink Friday Art Supply Sale today.

‼️ The Mountain Mystique Reception scheduled for today, November 22 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm is POSTPONED.

☃️ Stay safe and enjoy the snow!

Take a look at these beautiful holiday barn quilts by our talented students! ❄️ Did you know that barn quilts are a beloved Appalachian tradition? They’ve long been used to tell stories, celebrate family heritage, and add colorful charm to barns across the mountains. ✨🌄

#FTAS #BarnQuiltWorkshop #AppalachianArt #BarnQuilts #HolidayCreativity #WestJeffersonNC

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Fostering Creativity in the
Heart of the High Country

WELCOME TO FLORENCE THOMAS ART SCHOOL

Art Workshops

Our Mission

Visit Us

What Our Students Say

Connect with Us on Instagram

Stay Connected

Hours

Address

Contact

Explore

Support

Fostering Creativity in the Heart of the High Country

WELCOME TO FLORENCE THOMAS ART SCHOOL

Art Workshops

Our Mission

Visit Us

What Our Students Say

Connect with Us on Instagram

​

Stay Connected

Hours

Address

Contact

Explore

Support

Fostering Creativity in the
Heart of the High Country