It almost reads like a "Once upon a time" bedtime story...

What began as a one room classroom . . . is fast becoming a popular art center which offers local and  destination workshops (northern Georgia) and an art show space and workshop venue at The Gallery at Paper Mill on Johnson Ferry Road (a half a mile north of the river).

The Art School in Sandy Springs is entering its 5th year and has been fortunate to have had many exceptional instructors and students visiting the school.  

The school began hosting workshops in 2008 and 2009 by such exceptional artists as Gary Bodner, John de la Vega, Sabre Esler, Nancy Franke, Millie Gosch, Christy Mull, Angela Nesbit, James Richards, Stefanie Lieberman and Halima Washington.  In 2010 we are reaching well beyond our city limits  and will be hosting Ken Auster (California), Gary Bodner, Lorraine Christie, Robert Christie, Isabel Forbes (Spartanburg, SC), Nancy Franke,  Tim Horn (California), James Richards (Athens, GA), Ray and Peggi Kroll-Roberts (California), Maggie Siner (Virginia), Margaret Dyer, and Stan Miller (Washington State) and in 2011, Carol Marine (Texas) and Katherine Cartwright (New York and Maine).

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, 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 group instruction providing individualized attention.  The smaller class size which maximizes at 10 offers mobility within the classroom with a free interchange amongst students with sufficient personal instruction.  The school, one of a few in Atlanta, offers instruction in encaustic, an age old wax medium of painting.  The school has been featured in the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Northside Neighbor and Radio Sandy Springs. 

In late 2009 through late 2010, the school acquired an exhibit space, The Gallery at Paper Mill Village, 255 Village Parkway, Suite 320, Marietta, Ga.  30067 and hosted juried art shows.   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 a number of national exhibits including "Trees in Art" 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 which authored at the school and is for sale by the school and Amazon.com.