Students participating in a Paint Like Bob Ross Workshop with Lee Robinson.

- Est 2008 -

Fostering Creativity in the
Heart of the High Country

WELCOME TO FLORENCE THOMAS ART SCHOOL

Student working on their 3x3 Barn Quilt during a workshop.

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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Florence Thomas Art School Gallery space.

Local Art

Discover Our Art

The Florence Thomas Collection

Discover the art of Florence Thomas, whose collection of more than 900 oil, watercolor, and pastel pieces captures a lifetime of creativity and inspiration of life in the Appalachian mountains.

View the Collection

Who Was
Florence Thomas?

Florence Young Thomas (1909 - 2007) was an Ashe County artist who believed in the power of art education. Her determination to pursue her love for art endured throughout her life, and her dream of an art school became a reality in 2008 when the Florence Thomas Art School held its first series of workshops.

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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.

Plan Your Visit

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#FlorenceThomasArtSchool

✨ Now on Exhibit: Blue Ridge Art Clan (BRAC) – Shadow of the Hills ✨

Come explore the diverse work of a talented group of local artists who are passionate about learning, creating, and celebrating the fine arts.

The show is on display through December 13th, and you’re invited to join us for a special gathering this Friday, November 21st from 4-6pm.

Come out to FTAS and celebrate these incredible artists! 🎨🌄

#BRAC #ShadowoftheHills #bracexhibit #exhibit #localartists

185 art kits are packed up and ready for good homes! 🎨

Huge thank you to our amazing board members, volunteers, and donors who make this program possible. 🩵

Since 2016, our stART Children’s Program has provided 3rd grade students from all three Ashe County elementary schools with quality art materials and meaningful creative experiences. We hope these kits continue to inspire creativity long after the school day ends!

Visit florenceartschool.org/start if you’d like to learn more about how you can support this program.

#artkits #elementaryschoolart #giveback #nonprofit #outreach #westjeffersonnc

📣 Open Call for Art: Baby, It’s Cold Outside ❄️☃️

Artists are invited to submit artworks inspired by the winter. Submissions may offer a variety of perspectives on what the season inspires within them.

Submissions are due by December 15, 2025.

Visit FlorenceArtSchool.org/artist-opportunities for more information and to access the submission form.

#opencall #artists #artexhibit #ftas #westjeffersonnc #winter #artistopportunities

What a marvelous two days! Highlights from our Wrapping Wild: Making Animals with Recycled Materials workshop with Bryant Holsenbeck. 🦫🐓🐇
Check out some of the adorable (and wild!) creations!

#wrappingwild #sculptureworkshop #sculptures #bryantholsenbeck #ftas #recycleart #upcycle

Instructor Spotlight: Bryant Holsenbeck ✨

We’re thrilled to welcome artist Bryant Holsenbeck @bryant_holsenbeck to Florence Thomas Art School this weekend!

Bryant transforms discarded materials into powerful works of art that invite reflection on consumption, sustainability, and connection to the natural world. Beginning her career as a basket maker, she studied ancient weaving traditions and evolved her practice into sculpture and large-scale installations made from plastic bags, textile scraps, and debris collected from local watersheds.

We are looking forward to her workshop tomorrow and Saturday- “Wrapping Wild: Creating Animals out of Recycled Materials.”

Stay tuned for photos from this inspiring, eco-conscious workshop 🌿✨

#artworkshop #sustainability #environmentalart #bryantholsenbeck #ftas

October overflowed with creativity, connection, and color! 💫

Workshops at FTAS, Old Barn Winery, and our SPARK Creative Aging sites offered opportunities to explore everything from watercolor and pastels to tea making and hand building. We’re grateful for every student and instructor who made last month so inspiring!

#workshops #artworkshops #westjeffersonnc #octoberrecap #fallworkshops

What a magical night! 🌙🍵

Our Spooky Tea Workshop brought together wild-foraged herbs, handpicked ingredients, and creative energy to craft truly enchanting blends.

Thanks everyone who came out & joined us! ✨

#teaworkshop #spookyteaworkshop #halloween #halloweenevents

✨ November at Florence Thomas Art School is full of creativity! ✨

We’re kicking off the month with a sold-out Country Kettle Basket class, followed by a lineup of inspiring workshops you won’t want to miss:

🎨 Wrapping Wild: Making Animals out of Recycled Materials with Bryant Holsenbeck – Nov 7–8, 9:30–4:30pm

Create imaginative animals using recycled materials!

🪟 Intro to Stained Glass with Ian Wilson – Nov 13, 12–5pm

Choose from 3 designs and learn the basics of stained glass art.

🌸 Holiday Watercolor Batik with Lydia de la Cerda – Nov 15, 1–4:30pm

A festive take on this beautiful layered watercolor technique.

🐑 Wet Felted Animal Caricatures with Jane Campbell – Nov 21, 9:30–1:30pm

Turn wool into whimsical animal characters!

🏔️ Paint Like Bob Ross: Blush of Winter with Lee Robinson – Nov 22, 12–4:30pm

Capture the peaceful beauty of a snowy scene.

❄️ Carolina Snowflakes with Betty Miller – Nov 29, 9:30–12:30pm

Create woven snowflakes just in time for the holidays!

Spots are filling fast, visit florenceartschool.org/workshops to register and join us for a cozy and creative November at FTAS!

#workshops #holidayworkshops #artworkshops #westjeffersonnc #ftas

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Downtown West Jefferson including the exterior of Florence Thomas Art School.

Fostering Creativity in the
Heart of the High Country

WELCOME TO FLORENCE THOMAS ART SCHOOL

Art Workshops

Our Mission

Local Art

The Florence Thomas Collection

Who Was
Florence Thomas?

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

Local Art

The Florence Thomas Collection

Who Was Florence Thomas?

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

Who Was
Florence Thomas?