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

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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.

Learn More

Florence Thomas Art School Gallery space.

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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

A big thank you to @jimhallenbeckjr for sharing his talent and insight during last week’s pastel demo and 2-day landscape workshop! We’re grateful for the inspiration and creativity he brought to FTAS.

#ftas #pastel #pastelartist #pastels #workshops #pastelworkshop #westjeffersonnc #landscapeart

A beautiful day for plein air painting! 🎨

@majesticfineart is back this week leading a 2-day Plein Air Workshop at @oldbarnwine. These views! 😍

#pleinair #pleinairpainting #oldbarnwinery #florencethomasartschool #ftas #painters #painting #ashecountync #mountainliving #outdoorpainting #enpleinair #oilpainting #enpleinairpainting

🎨 FREE Artist Demo with Jim Hallenbeck tomorrow!

Join us Thursday, May 15 from 5:00-7:30pm at Florence Thomas Art School for a special pastel demo with artist Jim Hallenbeck.

Jim will start with a watercolor underpainting, then transition to pastels as he demonstrates how to build a strong focal point, blend colors smoothly, balance vibrant greens with warm purples, and create depth with lost and found edges.

This is a FREE event, open to the public! Stop by, enjoy light refreshments, and get inspired by Jim’s expressive and colorful landscape techniques.

📍 Florence Thomas Art School, West Jefferson, NC

#freeartdemo #jimhallenbeck #pastelartist #pastels #artevent #artdemo #FTAS #ncarts #westjeffersonnc #meettheartist #artistdemo #freeevent #pastels @jimhallenbeckjr

🌟 Instructor Spotlight: Jim Hallenbeck 🌟

Jim Hallenbeck’s path to becoming a full-time artist took an unexpected detour through the corporate world. After earning his degree in Art Education from Florida International University, he planned to teach and build a life around art, but a career opportunity at IBM shifted his trajectory. For 35 years, Jim worked his way up to Vice President, all while continuing to paint when he could. Upon retirement, he finally returned to his first love: making art.

With retirement came a return to his passion. Jim fully immersed himself in the world of painting, joining local art communities, attending over a dozen workshops with master painter Albert Handell, and exhibiting in more than 65 juried national and local shows. His vibrant, narrative-driven landscapes have earned him awards and recognition, including shows with the American Impressionist Society and Oil Painters of America.

Jim is currently a studio artist at Artspace and works in both pastel and oil. He’s a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of North Carolina and an Elected Member of the Allied Artists Professional League.

📅 Join Jim This Week at FTAS!
Jim will be teaching a 2-Day Pastel Landscape Workshop this Friday & Saturday. This hands-on workshop will guide you through building strong compositions, crafting color harmony, and mastering techniques to bring trees, rocks, and water to life with depth and realism.

✨Register now at florenceartschool.org/workshops or call us at 336-846-3827.

#workshops #artworkshops #pastel #pastellandscape #pastelworkshops @jimhallenbeckjr

🌟 Instructor Spotlight: Brenda Smith 🌟

We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Brenda Smith, an inspiring educator, passionate forager, and cherished part of the FTAS community. Brenda is a retired English teacher who has been foraging for wild foods for over 40 years and studying herbalism for the past seven. She brings a wealth of knowledge and contagious curiosity to every workshop she leads. 🌿

For the past four years, she has shared her expertise through foraging and tea-making classes across the region, including here at FTAS, where she also serves as Vice President on our Board of Directors.

Join Brenda next Wednesday from 10:00am–1:30pm for our Wild Foraging & Tea Making Adventure 🌱 at the beautiful Waterfall Farm in Warrensville, NC. This hands-on experience includes identifying edible wild plants, a guided foraging walk, and a delicious tasting session featuring salad or dessert, and herbal tea made from your harvest. You’ll walk away with knowledge, recipes, and new confidence to continue foraging on your own.

To register, call us at 336-846-3827 or visit florenceartschool.org/workshops.

We hope to see you in the wild. 🌿

#foragingworkshops #foraging #FTAS #westjeffersonnc #waterfallfarm #guidedtour #teamaking #workshops #ashecountync

Join us tonight from 5-7 for the Chocolate Crawl! ✨ Sip wine, enjoy sweet treats, and view our newest exhibition, Three Artists, Three States, Three Styles, featuring stunning work by Addren Doss, Amy Evans, and Julie Hayes, also known as Three Who Paint.

@westjeffersonba @ashecountyarts

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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

Visit Us

What Our Students Say

Connect with Us on Instagram

Leave us a Google Review!

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

​

Leave us a Google Review!

Stay Connected

Hours

Address

Contact

Explore

Support

Fostering Creativity in the
Heart of the High Country