Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: classes, lillstreet

It’s just one week away until the start of the new Spring Session at Lillstreet!

I will once again be teaching my Beginning & Advanced Beginning Wheelthrowing
class on Tuesday nights from 7:00-10:00pm. So whether you’re a brand new beginner
or just wanting to come back to refine some skills and play in the mud?!… this is the
class for you. Don’t get left out… ONLY THREE SPACES LEFT IN MY CLASS!!!

Categories: bike, sunrise

This morning was very dark. When I stepped out on my back porch to check the weather,
I actually stopped for a second questioning if it was even the right time?! So dark…

But then the sky lightened up a bit…
and the clouds kind of looked like an odd “explosion” emanating from the horizon?!
A dark splash of cloud with tiny bits of color on each side. Did I mention “tiny” bits of color?!

And the whole time I just kept thinking…
“If that darn cloud would move just a few feet over,
we would get a beautiful splash of color on that big cloud!”                                        No dice.

Categories: glaze, pottery, studio, textures

More of my “catch-it-while-it’s-clean” studio photo tour… a little closer up this time!

 

Categories: studio

With the folks from HGTV coming over this afternoon to film me in my studio,
I knew that I had to make it presentable. Had to clean up the mess that I work in
from day to day. The wareboards with clay covered in plastic. The piles of bisque
in every corner. The overflowing garbage can. The dust & trimmings on the floor.
I had to clean up my act a bit… and make it look good for the camera!

Luckily, one of my studio neighbors has been on vacation, so her studio worked
perfectly as an “overflow” for some of my extra things while they were here. I think my
studio has never looked as nice as it did today. Thank You HGTV for making me clean!

It’s a fairly small space. Some days it feels smaller than others.
Because it’s so small, I think that I need to keep it pretty well organized too.
There’s not much space for piles of useless things. Everything is part of the process.
And it’s important that I keep the flow going.. make, bisque, glaze, fire, repeat.
Otherwise things would pile up even more. And my studio would feel even smaller!!!

So here’s a quick photo tour of my studio… while it is still clean.
After all, tomorrow is another day…

And the wonderful rolling cart my Dad made for my studio. It has removable shelves
that slide in and out on both sides of the cart. With plenty of levels for shelves at different
heights. Ideal for storing drying greenware… or waxed bisque pieces… or glazed pots for
when I roll them downstairs to the soda kiln!

Buckets of glaze on the floor… containers & buckets of slip on the shelves…
plus boxes & tubs on the top two shelves full of Summer Camp supplies!

And now… more insight into my peg-board obsession…

Plus, you know that I’m not above a little shameless self-promotion!
Hopefully, my groovy little signs made it onto some HGTV footage… free publicity?!!!

But let’s not get crazy… my wheel is still filled with trimmings! I haven’t really cleaned it
since I moved into my studio. I just empty the splash pan of the dried remains, then back
onto the wheel it goes. Why wash it? It’s only going to get dirty again!

Categories: process, production, special events, studio, television

Well, today was my day in front of the camera. Who knew?…
that my little “addiction” to kiln filler & textures might get me on HGTV?!
That making little textured rattles might get me noticed?! Crazy, huh?!

Let me back up a bit…

A little over a week ago, I was contacted by the Producer of an HGTV show.
You know, one of those shows where they go in and transform an average couple’s
home with cool design. Showing the creative choices, installation, design choices…
all leading up to the “Big Reveal” where the couple sees their new room for the very
first time. Well, this is one of “those” design shows!!! And here’s the host…

Yep… that’s Meg Caswell. Winner of HGTV Design Star season six.
One of those Reality TV shows where they compete in design challenges weekly
and get voted off one by one. Until the last one is standing… and she gets a TV Show!!!

The initial contact came through the Producer who did a search and found my work
on the Internet. Good thing I’ve been keeping my blog up-to-date, huh?! She contacted
me and asked if I would be interested in creating some custom ceramic knobs & door pulls
for the kitchen they are renovating. So of course I was intrigued… and FULL of questions.
We did some e-mailing back & forth, including some samples & “mood boards” being
shared. She also stopped by my studio to check it out, meet with me… which I now realize
was probably also my “audition.” Once we had worked out the details, I was in…
and now facing a production deadline to get all of the knobs & pulls done in time
for the “Big Reveal” taping.

Luckily, we came upon a creative solution… where I would make the knobs in a very
similar style to the textured Relic Rattles I’ve been making for about a year. Handbuilt
stoneware, textured, stained and fired to cone 10… minus the rattles! The plan gave us
different shapes, different textures and different stain colors to play with. I gave the
Producer a few samples that she shared with Meg. Her choice was to go with two shapes,
each with their own texture, and one stain color for continuity.

So I’ve already made the knobs… “squares” for the cabinet knobs, and “horns” for the
drawer pulls. They’ve already been bisqued in my last kiln… look closely, they were the
“still too wet” pieces sprinkled around the kiln… masquerading as simple “kiln filler.”

Today was my day in front of the camera!
Complete with Meg, a full crew, professional lighting, wireless microphones, makeup,
craft services, the whole “shebang”! I guess I never quite expected the full production?!
But there I was, suddenly in front of the camera, with Meg… cameras rolling!

The plan was that we were going to do a little banter, discuss the project, look at a few
rattles I’ve made as samples, do some interactive demos where she plays with clay,
and so on. Everything went really well… despite the fact that it was SO hot in the studios!
No one expected 80-degree days in mid-March… so no one planned on air conditioning.
I’m sure we’re both going to be glistening with sweat. Even though the makeup guy did a
couple touch-ups along the way.

Hopefully they got some good shots of my work and my studio while they were there.
And the witty repartee and banter with Meg will come off well on-screen. Even though
I’m pretty confident that my hours & hours of “brilliant, Emmy-award worthy” footage
will be edited down to a mere 20 seconds or so!

We finished the initial filming – the interactive studio work with Meg… “the Talent.”
Then they left for a short time to do some prep-interviews that will be spliced into the show.
While they were gone, I set up two more demo areas so that they film some B-roll film
that they might intersperse – montage shots of me working on the actual knobs!
Complete with a change of wardrobe to make it “appear” as though time has passed
and the process is well on its way making the actual hardware the homeowners will see
in the “Big Reveal.”

So… that’s the story so far.
I’ve kept it to myself for the most part. It was kind of in the category of “too good to be true.”
I didn’t want to hype the project until I was sure it was going forward. I was afraid that the
plug might be pulled at any time… apparently, not to worry. It was a very professional
production. All of the people were great to work with. And I wouldn’t mind doing it again!

I just hope I don’t look too stupid on screen.
Or too sweaty…

When I find out the air date, I will definitely keep you posted.
I will also do a blog entry about the step-by-step process of the actual pieces I’m making.
Until then… you’ll need to wait for the “Big Reveal” also!!!

Categories: bike, sunrise

It’s still quite warm in Chicago… reaching into the 80’s and we’re loving it!
And this morning was another beautiful day. With one dark cloud looming over
the horizon, I knew that there was great potential for a great sunrise!

And as the sun continued to rise, the colors began to pop! And I loved how the sky’s color
began to reflect on the gentle waves. But the colors were stunning & ever-changing…
even it was “just” under that one big cloud!

And then the sun finally made its way over the horizon. Ready to greet the day.

Then it was time for me to get back on the bike… pedal on… and finish my morning ride.
Today’s going to be a “BIG” day!!!

Categories: process, studio

Tonight I unloaded my “still-too-warm” bisque kiln… with gloves!
And proceeded to wax the bottoms of everything while I was trying to find
a place to store them until I find a chance to start glazing! Tough to find a
space shelf… things are piling up! Which I guess is a good thing, right?

I love waxing.

Categories: bike, photography

With the “heat wave” still keeping it in the 80’s in Chicago…
and we’re loving it by the way… looks like we don’t really need all the snow fence
along the lakefront anymore?! I think they place it “strategically” along the beaches
to prevent drifting & erosion over the snowy Winter months. But now, it’s kind of
just sitting there doing nothing… except making a cool photo!!!

Categories: bike, Chicago, holiday, special events

The city was beautiful this morning. The sky was clear and the sun was shining!
And surprisingly warm… so I decided to ride my bike downtown to watch them dye
the Chicago River a beautiful shade of Irish Green! An annual tradition here in Chicago.
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY CHICAGO!!!

Let the games begin… and let the color “splash” across the Chicago River.

So the first boat drops the orange dye into the water… yes ORANGE!!!
The orange powder surprisingly turns an oddly phosphorescent lime green in the water!
As the powder is dropped in, the second boat follows closely to stir it up into the river.

After several passes back & forth, the river has taken on a vibrant shade of green.
Striking as it spreads and changes the entire look of downtown for one Irish day!

The dyeing of the river is an annual tradition, and yet somehow, I’ve never been downtown
to actually see them do it. But this being a Saturday, and an unusually sunny & warm day,
I thought it would be fitting to ride my bike down. I thought I was on top of my game.
Until I saw a bunch of kayakers in the river… color me JEALOUS!!!…
thinking I might need to try that next year?! What better vantage point could you find, huh?

And to top off the morning… they were passing out free swag!
Well it’s not my favorite flavor, but it was free… and oddly fitting for today! I guess their
marketing team gets this one day each year to promote their product!

Categories: kiln firing, process, production

Tonight I loaded another kiln full of greenware!
Okay, I must admit that some of it was a little “wetter” than I would like.
Seriously, some of the pieces I made earlier today, with them in front of the fan!
I just hope they “dry” in the kiln before the explode!!!

Layer #1 – ovals, mugs and a lot of kiln filler… you know how I LOVE kiln filler!!!

Layer #2 – berry bowls & plates, soap dispensers and more kiln filler.

Layer #3 – stamped platters & plates, spoon rests, filler… and Nadine’s bug mug.

Layer #4 – stamped bowls, an oval, mugs, spoon rests and a lot of kiln filler!

Layer #5 – spoon rests, small dishes, Karen Patinkin bowls and more kiln filler!
As you can see, some of the filler is a little wetter than it should be! Still dark. Still wet.