About Us
Anam Cré Pottery Studio opened in 1999.
Our first studio was in the Old Creamery Building on Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo. In 2016 we expanded and moved to our Monterey street location.
Shevon Sullivan chose the name Anam Cre’ from the inspiration she felt while reading John O’Donohue’s book Anam Cara. Translated from the gaelic language Anam is soul and Cre’ clay. Clay forming comes in many shapes. Some with the use of a pottery wheel, others with the hands of the maker forming and sculpting. Those who choose to make this their craft feel the magic while touching the soul of the clay. Shevon has 35 years of experience in sharing this craft with groups and individuals.
Meet Our Instructors and Staff
Shevon
Founder
Shevon Sullivan is a San Luis Obispo county native. She grew up on a ranch with 4 sisters . Her first intro to clay was right under her feet! She began hand forming clay as a child, then attending classes at Cuesta college, Full moon studio and then Hancock college. Shevon owned and operated an orthodontic laboratory working with Dentist throughout the county. She also started teaching pottery in the local recreation department, elementary schools and which eventually led to opening her own studio.
Shevon currently lives in San Luis Obispo and has two daughters. Her oldest daughter, Shannon, owns Len Collective downtown. Her younger daughter, Sarah, owns The Len Co. & Materia Magazine in Mexico City.
Jess
Manager / Ceramics Instructor
Hey there, my name is Jess. I have been doing pottery since 2017, I started in Seattle, WA where I took a beginning wheel class - the rest is history. You could say I was hooked from there. My favorite thing about teaching pottery is watching people fall in love with the craft and seeing their individual skills evolve. It's amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it. I have a background in photography / film. In my spare time, I love hiking, camping & of course, treasure any chance I have to meet a cute puppy. I love animals. I also sell my pottery at local markets and online, working out of my home studio. You can find my work available at www.sticks-stones.store
Jennifer
Ceramics Instructor
Jennifer Hope was born and raised in San Luis Obispo, CA and received her Master’s in Sculpture from Claremont Graduate University in 2009. She teaches Sculpture, Beginning and Advanced Ceramics. She currently works in porcelain so she can create fine detail. Her works are inspired by antiquity and nature and she strives to capture brief moments in time. Her works are currently on display at Park Street Gallery in Paso Robles, Anam Cre, and in private collections.
"When I was very young my late Grandfather asked me if he could buy one of my drawings for a quarter. I was so excited to have sold something that I quickly made more to try and get more money. I asked him if he wanted to buy them as well, but he declined. His reasoning was that he wanted me to spend more time on my work because that's what made the first drawing special. In that moment I was humbled and I learned to take my time so I could put my all into each piece."
Grace
Ceramics Instructor
Hello! My name is Grace. I am originally from the Bay Area but now live in SLO with my wonderful husband. I am currently pursuing a degree in communications and hope to someday work with kids. I love the idea of getting to impact kids and help them love learning. When I am not at my day job, or in school, I love to bake, play piano, and of course, do pottery!
I was first introduced to pottery when I was about 7. I instantly fell in love with the idea that I could create something with my hands. I did not have a chance to try pottery again until I was in my junior year of high school. I quickly realized that doing pottery brought me so much joy and I have continued to find ways to have art as part of my life. One of my favorite quotes, from Jana Stanfield goes like this, “ I cannot do all the good that the world needs. But the world needs all the good that I can do.”
John
Ceramics Instructor
I’m John. I made my first ceramic sculpture over sixty years ago in a fourth-grade classroom. It was a little black skunk that stills sits on my shelf. I was born in the San Joaquin Valley and moved to Pismo Beach after earning a degree in Art Design from UCLA. I taught school in the area before retiring. I started coming to Anam Cré Pottery Studio fifteen years ago. Working with clay is a very relaxing way to spend my time. Sculpting decorative elements to adorn platters, bowls, and garden plaques is my primary interest. It is so rewarding to turn simple lumps of clay into fun and useful works of art. Outside the studio, I enjoy painting watercolors and playing folk music with my friends.
Rod
Sculpture Instructor
I am a Retired Family Physician from Orange County. Took up ceramics in retirement and fell in love with hand-built sculptures. I love sharing what I’ve learned over the years. And especially, I love teaching!
Kailey
Marketing & Communications Consultant
I’m Kailey! I graduated from Cal Poly in 2016 with a bachelors of science in Business Administration, concentration in Marketing, and minor in Environmental Studies. When I’m not playing with clay, I’m trail running, riding my bike, rock climbing, reading classic novels, gardening, or illustrating. I’m fairly new to pottery, but have been enjoying every minute of the learning process. Anam Cré has been such a sanctuary to learn a new craft and I’m so happy to be a part of the studio family.