DeAnne Thorn has spent her life creating and teaching art

Story and photos by Laura Brookhart

Shelby County resident DeAnne Thorn has many titles … artist, teacher, grandmother.

Often, those titles overlap, like when she teaches art classes at the Alabaster Senior Center through the Shelby County Arts Council.

A Missouri native, Thorn graduated with a B.A. from Washington University School of Fine Arts, then in order to teach, returned for her Masters of Arts & Aesthetic Education.

“My older brothers gave me (a hard time) about studying art and I almost quit in my junior year. Fortunately, I received excellent advice from the dean, who told me ‘I understand you wanting to teach, but if you finish your fine art degree, you’ll be a much better teacher.’”

To read more about DeAnne Thorn, pick up the October issue of Shelby Living. Pick up your copy here.