The Cup: Neil Estrick - Grayslake, IL

Neil Estrick Mug wheel thrown porcelain,
incised and layered glazes, Cone 6 oxidation
(4.75 x 5 inches) CUP 070 $28 SOLD

Statement:

There is a cupboard full of handmade mugs in my kitchen.  Over the years my wife and I have decided which of the mugs our favorites are, and those pieces have migrated to the front of the cupboard.  The rest of the mugs rarely see the light of day, unless we have a large party.  All of the mugs in our cupboard have some level of visual appeal, but what sets our favorites apart from the rest is that they are a pleasure to use.  There is something about the quality of their construction and design that makes us want them to be a part of our daily lives.  I want every pot I make to have that same appeal.

Neil Estrick Mug wheel thrown porcelain,
incised and layered glazes, Cone 6 oxidation
(5.75 x 5 inches) CUP 071 $28 SOLD

I demand from myself a high level of craftsmanship.  My pots must be light enough to be handled comfortably, but not so thin as to make them too fragile for daily use.  The walls must be of consistent thickness for good balance, and the glaze application must be clean and even.  This attention to detail helps to ensure that my p0ots will be used for their intended purpose.  Functional pieces that are aesthetically pleasing but do not successfully perform their intended function will not be used, and will be destined to sit in the back of the cupboard.

Neil Estrick Mug wheel thrown porcelain
incised and layered glazes, Cone 6 oxidation
(4.5 x 4.75 inches) CUP 072 $28

Bio:

Neil Estrick holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Art with an emphasis in ceramics and photography, and a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics.  He has been making pottery for more than 19 years, and specializes in wheel thrown porcelain.  Neil was born and raised in Colorado, but currently resides in Grayslake, IL with his wife Sara, a veterinarian, and his two young sons, Jack and Henry.

Neil Estrick Mug wheel thrown porcelain
incised and layered glazes, Cone 6 oxidation
(4.75 x 4.5 inches) CUP 073 $28 SOLD

For the past 7 years he has been the owner of Neil Estrick gallery, LLC, in Grayslake.  In addition to being a working studio and gallery, the business has a large classroom studio space where Neil holds pottery classes for kids and adults.  Neil also offers workshops for teachers, sells kilns and other pottery equipment, and repairs pottery kilns and wheels in the Chicago-Milwaukee area.

Neil Estrick Mug wheel thrown porcelain
ribbed surface, Cone 6 oxidation
(5.5 x 4.75 inches) CUP 074 $28 SOLD

Website: http://www.neilestrickgallery.com/