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

Now THAT’s a beautiful berry bowl!!!
Sure, the bowl is pretty… but those berries are stunning! Thanks for sharing Beth!

Categories: art fair, bowls, food

Today’s the last day for “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS.” And what would a gallery show be without some treats for our guests?… water, wine, grapes, chocolate, pretzels & more! And once again, the mint OREOs are ready to go!!! No “yellow towel” required! … HA!!!

Categories: bowls, nature, soda-fired, stamped

So many people love the gingko… so I’ve got some gingko leaves in one of my stamped & soda-fired bowls! Ceramic gingko leaves you can enjoy forever. Still hanging out the the “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” show… waiting for that special someone to give the gingko bowl some loving!

Categories: bowls, stamped

A little stamping. A little fun.
Another not-so-basic bowl.

Categories: art fair, bowls, soda-fired, stamped

So I’m celebrating with a “super bowl”!

Stamped, soda-fired & ready for our “4×4 : Four Makers” gallery show on March 3rd, 4th & 5th at Space 900 in Evanston. Mark your calendars!!!

Categories: bowls, food

Looks like Kristy is starting off her Saturday with some yummy homemade granola on a bit of vanilla yogurt… in one of my handmade stamped bowls! Looks amazing AND healthy!!! And yet everyone knows that your food will taste even better when served in handmade pottery!

Categories: bowls, surface decoration, textures, tools

I was also pondering what to do with that slip-stenciled rectangle inside one of the class demo bowls. Do I try to stamp it?… or carry-on with my carving spree??? So I continued playing with my DiamondCore Tools and carved out this pattern inside the rectangle. I wanted to accentuate the rectangle, but give it something fun to play with the glazes later!

Categories: bowls, surface decoration, tools

I also felt like this bowl with an ombre’ blend of white & iron red colored slips needed a little sumthin’-sumthin’. So I took out another one of my DiamondCore Tools to do some more carving through the slips. This time a bit of a freeform, organic kind of motif. Thicker grooves that will allow the glaze to pool nicely inside the carving lines… while the slip ombre’ will show through the glaze!

Categories: bowls, patterns, surface decoration, tools

I took one of my class demo bowls that was covered with white slip & a few banded details… and started carving into it. Love my DiamondCore Tools for clean & crisp carving lines. Going right through the leatherhard white slip & digging into the darker clay body for a nice contrast. The details & pattern will look great after glazing… as the color difference & grooved carving lines work well with the glaze!

Categories: bowls, stamped, surface decoration

After my class demo on Tuesday night, I had a table full of “not-so-basic” bowls up in my studio for a little more refining… and “quite possibly” a bit of stamping. Allegedly!

So I did a bit of stamping… altered some of the rims a bit more… added some more details & accents. As you know… MORE IS MORE!!!