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

I’m working on my part of the collaboration project I’m doing with my pal Cory McCrory for ART IN THE GARDEN. We’re just three weeks away so it’s time to get things going in high gear! Gotta get my part done… as I would hate to be the one who doesn’t fulfill my part of the collaboration!!!

So I’ve been stamping & details another set of bowls… getting one step closer…

Bowl #1 –

Bowl #2 –

Bowls #3 –

Bowl #4 –

Bowl #5 –

Bowl #6 –

More to come as I keep working on my part of the collaboration!
This is just a start… and little bit of a “teaser”!!!

Categories: art fair, artists, collaborations

Very exciting to see that one of my fellow ART IN THE GARDEN artists is already planning his part of the collaboration! Woodworker Ken Staggs busy at work on his first “prototype” idea!

Categories: art fair, bowls, collaborations, friends, handbuilding, My Talented Friends

Here’s a sneak peek at what my “cohort in collaborations” has been up to … looks like Cory McCrory has been working on our newest collaboration for this year’s ART IN THE GARDEN. Each year we do a special project together just for this one special art fair in Glenview! I’m sure there will be more photos to come… but for now it looks like Cory is keeping her secret project pieces “under wraps”!!!

Categories: art fair, artists, collaborations, mosaic

Looks like I’m not the only one working on some collaboration projects for ART IN THE GARDEN!!! I see that mosaic artist Kristin Conneely is making a sweet little piece with some textured pottery pieces from my friend Cory McCrory! These collaborations are so much for for all of us… getting to play with each other to make cool things we don’t usually get to make… as “normal” art fairs kinda frown upon this kind of collaboration!!!

Categories: collaborations, porcelain, process, production, stamped

Painting some accents & details onto my lidded jars with colored flashing slips. These lidded jars will all be soda-fired… so hopefully the porcelain will get a beautiful blushed effect & the colored flashing slips will pop with color! Working my way towards ART IN THE GARDEN with a few of our special collaboration pieces!!!

Categories: collaborations, porcelain, process, production

Lidded jars without knobs… whoops… but, part of the plan!!! Working on these lidded jars as part of my collaboration pieces for ART IN THE GARDEN. Drilling holes through leatherhard porcelain?… why not use an actual drill bit???

Categories: collaborations, porcelain, process, production, stamped

YEAH!!! The lids all fit… as you can now hear me exhale!

Throwing lidded jars in porcelain with lids that fit is not an easy task. A lot of caliper measuring & hoping for the best. My biggest piece of advice?… throw a lot of extra lids. Because inevitably a “few” of them are not going to fit the way you want them too!

Categories: art fair, artists, collaborations, soda-fired

Packing up some of my handmade beads to send off to Kristin & Lynda! They’re both going to work their “magic” by somehow incorporating them into their work. It’s always so much fun to see how these collaborations come together for ART IN THE GARDENI can’t wait to see what they do!!!

Categories: collaborations, porcelain, pottery, process, production, stamped

Part two of my production today… the bottom jars to go with the new lids!!! The jar bottoms are a little further ahead as I just finished stamping them! Just hope the lids fit?… always said with fingers crossed.

Categories: collaborations, porcelain, process, production, studio

So now I’m focused on my parts of the collaboration projects we have planned for ART IN THE GARDEN. Right now I’m making lids… can’t totally tell you why quite yet… but that’s part of the fun of our collaborations…

TEASERS!!!