Alumni Q&A: Anne Jarvis Thomas ’06

As an artist, designer, and business owner, Anne Jarvis Thomas ’06 wears many creative hats. After years working in design roles for companies such as Anthropologie and Sherwin-Williams, Thomas turned her passion for color, mixed media, and fine art into a thriving, multi-faceted design business. Her work was recently featured in Chestnut Hill Local.

We connected with Thomas to discuss her recent transition to full-time entrepreneurship, her favorite memories from GFS, and her advice for aspiring young artists. Read more!

Can you tell us about your career over the last few years and what you’re focused on now?

Anne Jarvis Thomas: I’ve really been leaning into the business I started. I’m an artist and designer, and my specialty is reimagining spaces—whether that’s curating a gallery wall for a residential client, styling a wedding venue, or painting a mural in a law firm’s reception area.

My background spans interior design, home staging, floral design, retail window displays, and fine art. Running my own business allows me to offer all of those creative services under one umbrella, adapting to whatever a client needs to transform their space.
 

What prompted you to make the pivot last summer from your corporate career to running your own business full-time?

I’ve always wanted to work for myself, but making that leap was scary—especially with four kids, a husband, and a dog who all depend on me!

My last corporate job was as a color consultant with Sherwin-Williams. I loved applying color theory to physical spaces, but it was more art-adjacent than actual art-making. I decided it was time to fold in all the other creative avenues I’ve always loved. Having that broad range of skills gave me the confidence that I could sustain my own business.
 

Who are your primary clients, and what kinds of projects do you take on?

It’s a mix of individual homeowners and corporate clients. A lot of my interior design work is directly with homeowners in their spaces. And, I still do freelance work for corporate brands. For instance, I recently worked with Anthropologie’s store design team to build a permanent interior art installation behind the cash registers for a new store in Marina Del Rey, California. Having that mix of private clients and commercial work gives me a lot of variety day-to-day.

Do you have a favorite medium to work in?

My first true loves are mixed media and found objects. In my seven years at Anthropologie right out of college, I learned to create 3D sculptures out of everyday items—like making a curtain out of linked paperclips, or sewing tea bags into a tapestry and steeping it to create an ombre effect. I love taking ordinary items and making them extraordinary. When it comes to traditional mediums, painting is my favorite and where I have the most formal training.
 

What do you find most rewarding—and most challenging—about running your own business?

Because I work in a visual field, the most rewarding part is when a client hires me after seeing something I previously created. It’s really special when your art starts doing the marketing for you.

The biggest challenge is that I’m just one person! When it rains, it pours, and balancing a full pipeline of projects while staying present for my family is something I’m always working on.
 

What I appreciated most about GFS is that being creative didn't put me in a box. Art was my passion, but it didn't define my entire identity or dictate who my friends were or whether I played sports. Because GFS is a smaller community, you wear a lot of hats.

Reflecting on your time as a GFS "lifer," what stands out to you about your experience?

What I appreciated most about GFS is that being creative didn't put me in a box. Art was my passion, but it didn't define my entire identity or dictate who my friends were or whether I played sports. Because GFS is a smaller community, you wear a lot of hats. If the art kids only did art, we wouldn't have had sports teams or theatre productions! That environment taught me not to pigeonhole myself.

I remember taking a drawing course at UArts during my senior year, and another student made a joke that because we were art students, no one should expect us to be able to catch an eraser. That stuck with me because I was a softball catcher! GFS taught me that you never have to pick just one lane.
 

How did the art department at GFS influence your creative development?

Art was my favorite subject, and the art room was my safe space. I had incredible teachers: Susan Lowry, who had a great dry humor and technique demonstrations; Michael Williamson, who put up with my goofing off in art history; and Elissa Sunshine, who celebrated self-expression. When I decided I wanted an artist pseudonym in junior year—Jane Ravins, an anagram of Anne Jarvis—Elissa totally embraced it and even wrote about me as "Jane" on my report card!

Working with Denny Heck, who’s sadly since passed away, was also life-changing for me in Senior Studio. I’ve always worked quickly, and previous teachers often told me I was rushing. Denny recognized that I wasn't rushing—I just loved art and wanted to do more of it. She started giving me special "in-between projects" whenever I finished an assignment early. That level of understanding and validation meant so much to me. I even wrote her a letter thanking her after graduating from GFS.

Outside of the art room, were there other experiences at GFS that shaped you?

I always had a passion for English and creative writing; I’ve kept a diary since third grade. I loved the Essentially English classes where you could dive deep into specific subjects. My Junior Project was also memorable: I worked at a pottery studio, which was my first time getting to peek behind the curtain at a professional artist making a living through their studio work.
 

What advice would you give to current GFS students or recent grads who want to pursue a path in the arts?

When I got to college, I realized for the first time that many art majors had parents who were disappointed in their choice. GFS never made me feel like I couldn't make a living as an artist.

My advice is to pursue your passion without fear. There is a viable path in fine art and design if that’s what you truly want to do. Even in the age of AI, companies and individuals will always value handmade art and human creativity. I graduated with a fine art degree in painting, and I’ve never worked a single job that didn't utilize my degree.

How have the relationships you built at GFS continued to impact your life?

Some of my best friends to this day are friends I made at GFS—some going back to kindergarten! Every fall, a group of us gets together for a girls' weekend in the Poconos, and we all stay in touch daily. Having friendships that span over 30 years is incredibly rare and special.

Whenever you run into a GFS alum, you share a common foundation and "speak the same language." That tight-knit community is something I feel very lucky to be a part of.