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

Another quiet morning along the lakefront. But this time the clouds didn’t seem to want to play well with others. Sometime the timing is perfect… but not today. There were a few “windows of opportunity” for the sun to make an appearance… but mostly the clouds won out!!! Luckily, we had that one big contrail for a little dramatic contrast!!!

Categories: platters, stamped, stamps, surface decoration

The large demo dinner plate needed some lovin’ too…
and some decorative stampin’ around the rim with that one handmade stamp!

Categories: hybrid mugs, mugs

Looks like Allyn is enjoying her new Valentine’s Day gift! A texured & soda-fired hybrid mug purchased by her loving husband in time for the big day! And in time for today’s Mugshot Monday!

Categories: bike, sunrise

Another beautiful morning. This time with a layer of low-flying clouds… and some puffy clouds moving in from the south. Luckily, the timing worked out and we got some nice sunrise colors & illuminated clouds to start the day.

Categories: classes, lillstreet

Tomorrow is class registration at Lillstreet Art Center for the Spring session of pottery classes. I will be teaching my usual Intermediate Wheel on Monday nights, Beginning Wheel on Tuesday nights & a once-a-year special Surface Decoration class on Thursday nights. Registration begins at 10:00am… in-person & online. But I will say… that ever since Covid, it seems like registering for a pottery class is pretty tough! My classes will typically fill-up & close in about five minutes! Everyone jokes… but sadly, it’s not very funny… that registration at Lillstreet has become kinda like “The Hunger Games.”

Here’s the online link…. and good luck… www.lillstreet.com

Categories: art fair

SAVE THE DATE : Hard to believe it’s already time to be planning my Summer Art Fair schedule. You can check my website-blog for my art fair “plan” so far. Even harder to believe that the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR is just sixteen weeks away!

Click here for more schedule details : http://firewhenreadypottery.com/show-schedule-2013/

Screenshot
Categories: platters, stamped, surface decoration

This week in class I did a wheelthrowing demo on plates & platters. The platter was a bit too plain… so of course I thought a little stamping could make it a bit more special. All done with just one handmade clay stamp. More is more, right???

Categories: challenge, classes, throwdown

Just unloaded two bisque kilns for my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN students. So much fun seeing their “Main Make” pieces coming together. Lots of soup tureens, bowls, ladles & spoons comin’ out of the kilns this morning. Now they’ve got a lot of glazing to do!!!

Categories: flowers, holiday, vases

Hope you’ve all had a wonderful day. Here’s a little vintage Valentine fun from my friends in Peoria. Celebrating with one of my early pieces… one of the largest vases I was so excited to finally make on the wheel. And a single row of fairly tentative stamping round the edge… kinda hidden by the glaze. But nonetheless… a nice “vintage” vase for special a Valentine’s Day!!!

Categories: bike, sunrise

Sunrise serenity with calm reflections & floating ice masses. It’s going to be another “warm” day, so I’m hoping for some more ice melting. I know there will be more Winter to come… but I’d love a fresh clean start. I’d even be okay with some rain to wash everything down before the next round of snow? Living on the wild side… I even got my car washed yesterday!!! Dare to dream…