It began like a "Once upon a time" bedtime story...in a small one room classroom.

Fast becoming one of the leading  art education centers in Atlanta for local classes and workshop which offers local and  destination workshops, The Art School in Sandy Springs is entering its 8th year and has been fortunate to have had many exceptional instructors and students visiting the school.  

The school hosts workshops by such exceptional local artists as Gary Bodner,  Rae Broyles, Lorraine Christie, Bill Davidson, Margaret Dyer, Sabre Esler, Nancy Franke, Millie Gosch, Christy Mull, James Richards, and Halima Washington (now residing in England). 

Reaching well beyond our state, we have hosted workshops by Ken Auster (California), John de la Vega (NC),  Tim Horn (California), Qiang Huang (Texas), Stefanie Lieberman (Philadelphia), Carol Marine (Texas), Angela Nesbit (NC), Ray and Peggi Kroll-Roberts (California), Maggie Siner (Virginia/Italy/France), Stan Miller (Washington State), and David Shevlino (Philadelphia) to name a few. 

The Art School in Sandy Springs, located on Roswell Road inside I-285 south of Mount Paran Road north of Buckhead, was founded in 2005 by local Sandy Springs artist and past gallery owner of The GASP! Gallery on Bennett Street in Atlanta and The Gallery at Paper Mill, Donna Thomas.  Having a true passion for art, Donna's dream of being able to offer quality instruction was realized when she began offering classes by local, national and international instructors who were accomplished in their medium, represented in galleries, and/or featured in books, magazines, newspapers, and radio.  The school offers a broad spectrum of art classes and workshops by these exceptional artists meeting the needs of  many students - from the beginner to advanced, student and professional artist alike.   Donna's main goal was then and still is today to provide small, interactive regular six week class instruction providing individualized attention with a focus on fundamental instruction in design, composition, drawing, value and color.  This smaller class size which maximizes at 10 offers mobility within the classroom with a free interchange amongst students with sufficient personal instruction.   The school has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Northside Neighbor and Radio Sandy Springs, The American Artist Magazine, American Artist Workshop Magazine and Art Galleries and Artists of the Southeast magazine.  Due to the accomplishments of our workshop instructors, these workshops are filled on a first come, first serve basis.

In late 2009 through late 2010, the school hosted nationally juried shows at an exhibit space, The Gallery at Paper Mill Village.  Other art shows that have been hosted by the school include Huff Harrington Fine Art, the Sandy Springs Library, the Defoor Center, the Limelight Gallery and The Gallery at Paper Mill Village. 

The school has sponsored "Trees in Art", the first national show for Trees Atlanta and the sixth annual national show for the Atlanta Artists Center.  The school has also enjoys relationships with some of Atlanta premier galleries include Anne Irwin Fine Art, Huff Harrington Fine Art and Lagerquist Gallery.

A book, "A Studio Guide to Creating Encaustic Art" was  co-authored at the school and is for sale by the school and Amazon.com.