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

Is it just me, or does it feel like 20-degrees colder “just because” the sun isn’t shining?! The dark gloomy clouds to start the morning made my ride feel surprisingly cold today. My mind is ready for Summer… but today we’re struggling to make it feel like Spring.

Categories: mugs, process, production

Here we go again…
making more handles… making more MUGS!!!
My favorite thing to make!

Categories: flowers, garden, nature

I’m kinda excited… I’m trying to grow dahlias this summer for the first time. I started them indoors and these little nuggets popped up this morning!!! Just in time for NATIONAL GARDENING DAY!!!

Categories: textures, tools

Some new texture fun just “rolled” into my studio… some new hand rollers from MKM Pottery Tools!!! Can’t wait to give these a quick roll over some clay to see the groovy cool patterns they’re going to make!!!

Categories: color, tie-dye

Another colorful t-shirt for TIE-DYE TUESDAY!
I’ve been busy in the kitchen letting the ice melt & the colors spread! This one was just a crumpled shirt covered with ice and then sprinkled with powdered RIT Dyes! The melting does the magic!!!

Categories: color, tie-dye

More fun splashing colors & making spirals… I just can’t stop myself!

This time I scrunched a spiral into the shirt, sprinkled the RIT powdered dye onto the shirt, and then covered the whole thing with ice cubes! Easy-peezy… and so happy that the spiral turned out so well!

Categories: bike, sunrise

Not a cloud in the sky… just clear sailing this morning on my bike. A little chilly still along the lakefront… but Spring is warming up nicely… just not this morning!

Categories: art fair, artists, pottery

Look what showed up in the mail today! The poster for THE ST. CROIX VALLEY POTTERY TOUR! I’ve been going to this pottery tour for over a decade – always one of my favorite road trips.

Until now… last year & again this year they will be going “virtual” with online sales instead of an in-person event. So much more fun to touch, love & actually feel the pottery… as well as chat with the artists in-person. But I get it… staying safe during these crazy times. Guess we’ll have to play online instead… with fingers crossed for the in-person tour to return next year!!! Now if I could just wrangle an invite to be one of the potters included THAT would truly make my day!!!

Categories: production, stamped

This afternoon’s project… some quick trimming & detailing with colored flashing slips before class starts! I’ve got “a few” spoon rests to finish up… and limited time. Giddy-up!!!

Categories: flowers, nature

Beautiful sunshine streaming through splashing some bright light & dramatic shadows on the colorful Spring flowers.