Ceramics – Pottery Wheel for Beginners

Neil grew up in New England where he received a lot of inspiration from Cape Cod ceramicists. It wasn’t until college that Neil’s dialogue with clay started when he studied figurative and Renaissance art in Rome, Italy. When he returned to the states Neil took ceramics classes at multiple institutions studying with some of our nation’s leading ceramicists.

After working in the sports marketing world Neil moved to Santa Barbara, CA, where he deepened his artistic commitment, began working in clay full time and started the search for his artistic voice. Neil then moved his home and studio to Lake Arrowhead, CA where his work was influenced by the natural raw beauty of the mountains and the peacefulness it brings to all who see it.

In the fall of 2018, Neil relocated to Sedona, AZ after falling in love with Sedona earlier in the year. Neil looks forward to building a new studio in Sedona and developing a body of work that is inspired by the spiritual energy and the magical natural beauty of Sedona.

Neil’s pieces are represented in many collections in Southern California and New England. His ceramic pieces range from functional thrown forms to coil and slab-built figurative sculptures. His current clay pieces meld thrown forms, slabs, altering, incising and sculpting. The glazes on the functional pieces, fired in an electric kiln, have been developed to give the surface the depth and beauty traditionally associated with reduction firing. Neil’s pieces meld a spiritual simplicity with a figurative rhythm and physical energy. This comes from being a kinetic individual, from a lifetime of playing sports, and his appreciation of Japanese ceramics and classical sculpture.