Michael Sherrill, NC ceramicist

 

Micheal-Sherrill ceramic flower art

Dream of Wildflower – Michael Sherrill

 

” My desire is to create something that might bring the observer to this same place of wonder. For me to respond to a stimulant and then to make it work is one thing, but its another for that work to make the next step and draw a likewise response from the viewer. “an extract from Michaels artistic statement.

Gifted ceramicist Michael Sherrill draws inspiration from his rural environment in the mountains of North Carolina where he work and lives. This is elucidated by his observation : ” I am compelled by the sensation of seeing things fresh, as if for the first time: like waking from sleep and being surprised by all that surrounds me. In my case, I see the flora and fauna outside my studio, and among them are discoveries and epiphanies.”

His life-like plant sculptures depict a natural fluidity, texture and detail that breathes subtlety and realism into his flora creations. He achieves this by combining porcelain,moretti glass and bronze in his nature sculptures. Their organically patterned, multicolored surfaces involve a painstaking process of layering and abrading and require four kiln firings. In the interest of “expanding what clay can do” Sherrill has introduced metal into his sculptures: “ “How do I draw with small pieces of porcelain? Metal becomes the backbone for a line or an idea that I want to express.” He has also introduced glass for its color and its heightened translucency

In the example below the leaves are from moretti glass  ( a specific type of colored glass rod that is melted to create patterns in glass ), the central stamen is porcelain and the branches are bronze.

 

 

Michael Sherrill - Night Moderne ceramic floral sculpture

‘Night Moderne’ 

 

Essentially  a self taught artist, Michael Sherrill moved from Charlotte, North Carolina to the Western North Carolina mountains in 1974. His primary influences came from being in the proximity of the North Carolina folk pottery tradition and the community surrounding Penland School of Crafts and the Southern Highland Handicraft Guild. Specific individuals who have influenced significantly his development include Cynthia Bringle, Don Reitz and Sid Oakley.

 

Michael Sherrill in studio

Michael Sherrill

 

 

Michael Sherrill working in the studio

Along with being  an artist, Michael also lectures and  is the creator of Mudtools, which was born out of a need to develop a line of innovative clay tools for himself,  which he has also made available to other ceramic artists. Maybe this influence came from his father who was a self-taught inventor who patented industrial processes and created machines.

 

 

 

 

A collection of  ceramic works from Michael Sherrill :

Michael Sherrill bottles

Michael Sherrill bottles

Michael Sherrill ceramic vessel

Michael Sherrill ceramic lidded vessel

Michael Sherrill ceramics

Michael Sherrill ceramic lidded vessel

Michael Sherrill ceramic floral arts - Descending Rhododendron

Descending Rhododendron – Micheal Sherrill

 

 

Michael Sherrill teapot

Michael Sherrill black/white teapot

MIchael Sherrill abstract sculpture

Michael Sherrill abstract sculpture

 

 

Michael Sherrill floral sculpture

Michael Sherrill floral sculpture

Fire Within, 2008, Night Flowers series, silica bronze Moretti glass, mokume porcelain.

Michael Sherrill teabowl

Michael Sherrill teabowl

Michael Sherrill lidded vessel

Michael Sherrill lidded vessel

Michael Sherrill-vase

Michael Sherrill-vase

Michael Sherrill curvy neck bottle

Michael Sherrill curvy neck bottle

Michael Sherrill pottery vessel

Three legged vessel – Michael Sherrill

NC Michael Sherrill ceramic floral arts

Michael Sherrill – Alma’s Weed, 2003

silica bronze, Moretti glass, porcelain with abraded glaze.

Michael Sherrill ceramic floral art

Temple of the Cool Beauty – Michael Sherrill

Yucca, detail, 2006, silica bronze, Moretti glass, porcelain with abraded glaze

Michael Sherril ceramic art

Sea Flower, Julesvernium

Michael Sherrill ceramic pottery

Michael Sherrill ceramic pottery

Michael Sherrill ceramic pottery flower art

Flourish Rhododendron by Michael Sherrill

2008

Extruded, Temperature : Cone6, Glazing/Surface finish : Electric Oxidation

 

Ceramic Magnolia - Michael Sherrill

Undressed Magnolia  – Michael Sherrill

2003

Michael Sherrill floral arrangement

Mouths to Feed, 2009, silica bronze, Moretti glass, mokume porcelain,

Michael Sherrill abstract bottles

Michael Sherrill abstract bottles

MIcheal-Sherrill barn studio at North Carolina

Michaels 5,000-square-foot barn studio – NC, USA

Micheal Sherrill Japanese style vessel

Micheal Sherrill Japanese style vessel

ceramic-cacti-sculptures Micheal Sherrill

Michael Sherrill ceramic cactus sculptures

Ceramic rhododendron growing from a rock sculpture

 ” Beauty in a Hard Place “  by Michael Sherrill

( rhododendron growing from a rock sculpture )

The Ramble, Asheville, NC

White House Collection

White House Collection of American Crafts

Michael Sherril Modern Sculpture

Michael Sherrill Modern Abstract Sculpture

Michael Sherrill Honey Locust

Michael Sherrill Honey Locust 

Michael Sherrill ceramic Vessels

Michael Sherrill ceramic Vessels

Michael Sherrill Teapot

Michael Sherrill Tall Teapot

3 ceramic vessels MichaelSherrill

3 ceramic vessels MichaelSherrill

MIchael Sherrill

MIchael Sherrill – Kohler residency

Michael Sherrill Gold Glaze teapot

Gold glaze tower teapot – Michael Sherrill

Michael Sherrill teapot

Michael Sherrill teapot

Website Michael Sherrill link here

 
 
 
 
 

 

13 Comments

  1. Lois Adam
    Posted October 30, 2012 at 2:52 pm | Permalink

    Wow I love everything but the flowers are my favorite. Fire Within is awesome and enchanting.

  2. Anonymous
    Posted September 27, 2013 at 12:56 am | Permalink

    Absolutely amazing, love everything

  3. Posted January 23, 2014 at 5:57 am | Permalink

    Hello there! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new
    initiative in a community in the same niche.
    Your blog provided us beneficial information to work on.
    You have done a extraordinary job!

  4. Louise Bizzell
    Posted January 27, 2014 at 1:20 pm | Permalink

    Hello Michael,
    Harry & I think of you often.
    We are so proud of our spiritual children.
    We are in the mountains of NC also now and have
    been for 20 years.
    Would love to hear from you and your family.

    Love Never Fails,
    Harry & Louise

  5. Posted March 29, 2014 at 9:31 pm | Permalink

    A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!!
    I absolutely love your work. Thank you for sharing your gift of creativity. It is truly exo. May you enjoy continued success.
    Best,
    Cleaster

  6. mohammad
    Posted March 17, 2015 at 7:23 am | Permalink

    like for your art

  7. Sara Chandler
    Posted May 16, 2015 at 10:34 pm | Permalink

    I tried to email you earlier and I don’t know if it came through. What I’m looking for is something of your artwork that is on the natural aspect. Your work is beautiful. Interested in what you have available.

    Look forward to hearing back from you,
    Regards
    Sara Chandler

  8. Michele Simpson
    Posted June 7, 2015 at 7:41 pm | Permalink

    Awesome work!

  9. anat schachar
    Posted August 20, 2016 at 6:29 am | Permalink

    Your work is magnificent.

  10. Angela Seabra
    Posted September 12, 2016 at 4:48 pm | Permalink

    Maravilhoso, o seu trabalho, amei tudo, nem sei dizer, qual que eu gostei mais!!! Suas flores, são simplesmente divinas, as cores empregadas são perfeitas, parabéns!!!! Deus te ilumine sempre , para que mais obras sejam criadas… sou sua fã!

  11. Robbie I. Hood
    Posted September 12, 2016 at 7:28 pm | Permalink

    Translation of above comment – Wonderful, your job, loved everything, I can not even say what I liked most !!! Its flowers are simply divine, the colors used are perfect, congratulations !!!! God enlighten you always, so that more works are created … I’m your fan!

  12. Joyce Salvage
    Posted October 4, 2016 at 4:03 pm | Permalink

    Your work represents so many different styles and techniques of such high quality, but I am most bedazzled by your plant life with pods, flowers, “Dream of Wildflower” being just the most exquisite. Also, inspiring to me, since I’ve seen insects of so many designs and colors in St. Peterburg, FL. The colors and shapes all in one piece are amazing. I’m happy to have seen these. Are you still in N.C.? I am moving to VA Beach, so may get to N.C. to explore all the potteries.

  13. Cliff Lindemann
    Posted July 7, 2018 at 8:08 pm | Permalink

    A true artist! I was drawn by the black and white teapot but found an amazing very multifaceted artist.
    Cliff from South Africa.

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