Website: https://schumacherceramics.com
Biography
Robert Schumacher is a sculptor, potter, and professor, with a studio in Galt, California. His professional career spans 47 years in northern California. He graduated from Cal-State, Hayward with a B.A. in Fine Art and from Indiana University, with an M.F.A. in Ceramics. He has been teaching at Sacramento City College for 27 years and Delta College for 20 years. He’s also worked with middle and high school students for the past 10 years through a grant from the Yolo Arts Commission.
Artist Statement
My thrown ceramic work consists of classic forms with sgrafitto patterns in a variety of firing methods, from pit fire and raku to medium and high fire stoneware.
My artwork is mostly figurative ceramics, while sometimes delving into other media to best examine the possibilities of an idea. My recent thrown and sculptural pieces utilize idioms, visual puns, sayings and the like in subject matter. Some are humorous, and some are more thought provoking.
I have been teaching college students for many years. In that time, I have helped them to grow in creative and technical ways to assure overall success. But ceramics goes way beyond the classroom. Our interactions have fostered growth in social skills, problem solving, and even physical abilities.
My work is figurative, both functional and sculptural. I use idioms and visual puns as subject matter. It lends itself to fertile ground and bountiful in that I like to educate the viewer and therefore help them to grow in an informative and light hearted way.
The Upper Hand
Hand thrown Stoneware
23"x 9"x 9"
2022
POR
Elements
Wheel Thrown Vessel
18"x 7"x 7"
2024
POR