Last night we had our final pottery class of the Winter session. Always a bittersweet night. Fun to see what my students have made and how they’ve grown over the 10-week class. Sad to see some of them leaving… some of them moving on… one of them just plain moving! Luckily, I believe many of them will be coming back again next session to play some more in my class!

As part of our last class, I always challenge them to a trading-exchange White Elephant sort of game. They have the 10-week class to make a specified item, and then we do a big trading game on the final night. This session it was plates. 12″ or smaller for my new beginners, 12″ or larger for my returning beginners! Let me just say we didn’t quite pull out the ruler, but most of them gave it a great effort. So much fun with so many great students.

And then you see this kind of a post on Facebook the next day…

Direct from Katie’s post on Facebook…
“Latest pottery… plate from Patty via our end-of-term exchange and bowl by me! As always, massive thanks to and adoration of Gary Jackson!”

Aw shucks… warm fuzzies all around. And some pretty sweet pots too!!!

This movie looks pretty incredible. The style, the process, the visuals.
Apparently it’s the first time ever using this film-making process. Think of it as a stop-action, clay-mation type movie… but using individual oil paintings instead of clay?!!! Amazing… and slightly crazy, right? I’ll definitely be “Van Gogh-ing” to see this one! Would be great at the Drive-In under some beautiful Starry, Starry Night.

Click here to see the trailer video of “Loving Vincent” on INSIDER’s videos.

Celebrating Pi Day with a slice of homemade pie around my neck!
It’s so much fun to have talented friends who know you so well…
and know of your love of homemade pie! We’ve often joked that the main reason I bike so much is so that I can eat more pie!!! And my bike has been known to stop at many a homemade pie place!

So this wonderful little adornment was a gift from my friend & talented metalsmith Amy Taylor. Such a “sweet” and thoughtful gift from one pie lover to another! Click here to see more of Amy’s wonderful metalsmith masterpieces!

The latest addition to my already overflowing Mug Collection!
This beauty was made by my friend & potter Catherine Tweedie.
The beautiful soda-fired surface accentuates her “numerical obsession” quite nicely.
Perfect for Mugshot Monday!

Click here to follow Catherine Tweedie on INSTAGRAM.

Amazing craftsmanship does it once again! So amazing to watch these fine craftsmen create these amazing printing blocks. From simple plank of wood carved with intricate repetitive patterns. All by hand. No machines. Just some simple tools and a plank of wood. Makes my hand-carved ceramic stamps look like child’s play!!

According to Alchemiya.com….
“Turning a plank of wood into an intricately carved printing block. A highly skilled practice filmed by the V&A Museum as part of their Fabric of India Exhibition.”

Click here for the amazing video to go from plank to printing block.

Continuing the “Show Me Your PMI Selfie Challenge”… Susan Cordner from Pasadena, California checked in yesterday with her contribution. Not only did she send the Selfie as requested… but she’s been busy in her pottery studio as well.

Sharon took her Selfie, and then went one step further…and started making her own textured wall pillows! Good to know that my little tutorial made sense. That someone could actually read my instructions, follow-along and make something this cool. Glad I did my “job” for POTTERY MAKING ILLUSTRATED. I love the textured pattern she put on them. It looks so much like vintage tooled leather. Style, pattern and surface all look very leathery. Love it.

Here’s my e-mail message from Sharon…
“LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your work … and all those beautiful sunrises:). Here’s a … choke/gag … Selfie LOL!  And, my attempt at a wall pillow … that isn’t. I made the basic idea, all slab, handbuilt, textured. These will be decorated with oxide and shino then ^5 ox firing. Thanks so much for sharing your processes!!”

For more about Sharon, her pottery and her new textured wall pillows, check out her Facebook page by clicking here. And thanks again Sharon for sharing your Selfie and your pottery!

Anyone else up for the Selfie Challenge??? Just e-mail me a Selfie of you with your copy of POTTERY MAKING ILLUSTRATED!!! Send to gary@firewhenreadypottery.com

Look at the great bicycle cup my friend & printmaker Judy Zeddes made in her “print on clay” class at Lillstreet. It’s one of her own original print designs typically 2D on paper! I’m going to have to act really surprised when she gives it to me for my birthday!!! Hint, hint…

Another faithful Facebook Fan sharing a Selfie all the way from Ft. Myers Beach. She looks so warm, sunny & tropical… as I’m here in Chicago bracing for another overnight Winter storm! Thanks Carol for sharing your PMI photo… now if you could just share some of that Florida sunshine too!!!

Anyone else up for the Selfie Challenge??? Just e-mail me a Selfie of you with your copy of POTTERY MAKING ILLUSTRATED!!! Send to gary@firewhenreadypottery.com

I’ve always been intrigued by installation art that incorporates a LOT of pieces!
And these wonderful ceramic pieces are pretty darn incredible. Such wonderful details, colors and textures. So amazing when they’re all put together into one amazing installation!!!

According to ThisIsColossal.com…
“Doubling as an artist and ocean advocate, Courtney Mattison produces large-scale ceramic installations that draw attention to conservation of our planet’s seas. Her latest installation “Aqueduct” showcases hundreds of porcelain sea creatures including anemones, sponges, and coral sprouting from a porcelain air duct. The piece asks us to imagine the plight of these undersea creatures as tropical sea temperatures begin to rise, asking where they might migrate to once their homes have been rendered uninhabitable.”

Click here to see the full article on www.thisiscolossal.com.

And some detailed looks at some of the amazing details of Courtney Mattison’s work…

Congratulations to the first person to respond to my “PMI Call For Selfies”!
Special thanks to Reid Brinton who has been potting since 2002 in Gilbert, Arizona.
“Gonna make some stamps and sprigs real soon and add some new language to my pots. Fantastic job you’re doing by the way.”

Anyone else up for the Selfie Challenge??? Just e-mail me a Selfie of you with your copy of POTTERY MAKING ILLUSTRATED!!! Send to gary@firewhenreadypottery.com