Tom Shuman’s artistic and functional wares on display in his new Pescadero studio. Photos courtesy of Phoenyx Nist-Ferrare.

by Shannon Bowman-Sarkisian

November 2011— Tom Shuman, of Pescadero’s Shuman Pottery, was drawn to ceramics at an early age. “I started out as a kid, playing in the mud. I remember us working with clay in second grade. I had a great teacher who brought us in touch with so many things — the environment around us, the animals. She talked to us about the local Native Americans.”

His interest increased during his time as a student at Mountain View High School and into college. He bought a potter’s wheel, and began working in his garage and at the Palo Alto Art Center. Shuman apprenticed with master potter Al Johnsen in Davenport for two years. Like many artists, he was drawn to the South Coast and moved to Pescadero to work at Phipps Country Store and Farm while he threw, fired, glazed and sold his pottery.

In 1985, Shuman opened his own studio next to the San Gregorio Store. In 2001, the studio moved onto Phipps’ property. Last year, the studio moved to a new location on Stage Road in Pescadero. More growth is expected with this latest move. “Plans are in the works for a larger presence, a gallery-type setting, in the Stage Road and North Street area of Pescadero,” says Shuman. “The work is ready to be presented to the public in abundance in the next couple of months.”

Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival attendees are already familiar with Tom Shuman — or at the very least, they know his work. Shuman, a founding member of PAFF, has been creating and selling iconic mugs every year since the festival’s inception. “It was a no-brainer,” says Shuman. “They always sell those kinds of things at art and wine fairs.”

Each mug is one of a kind — some are tall, some short, a handful have handles, others do not. However, each features gentle curves, cool green and blue glaze, and the words “Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival” along with the year in Shuman’s practiced script. Handmade, earthy, and in soothing coastal colors, these souvenirs are unique to Pescadero.

Shuman is also known for using Raku technique — a Japanese style of firing that creates a crackle glaze — and for his goddess form pieces. Shuman is inspired by the tradition of celebrating the female body through art. “In studying ancient pottery, Peruvian art,” he says, “they do this pottery honoring the feminine form. It’s part of the natural process. It was natural to take that form and add a belly button and breasts and honor it. I’ve done vases in that form. It’s a touch of my spiritualism peeking out in my work. It seems to do that more and more as time goes on.”

Shuman can be reached at 650-703-7962.