Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: bowls, classes, glaze, surface decoration

For the final class of my SURFACE DECORATION class, we pulled together all of the glazed bowls we had gotten back from the kiln. A couple weeks prior, I had challenged them all to try a different technique on a little slip of paper. It was fun to watch how each student approached their glazing challenge… but even more fun to see all of the final results!!!

Categories: art fair, glaze, process, production

Waxing poetic about how much I love waxing bottoms… glazing not so much!!!
But it’s a necessary step in replenishing my inventory for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR just a week & a half away! Mark your calendar for June 6th & 7th.

Categories: classes, glaze, surface decoration

So last night in my SURFACE DECORATION class, I challenged my students to a bunch of experimental glazing techniques. They each randomly chose a different “challenge”… and glazed one of my “freebie” demo bowls following & interpreting the instructions! They all had so much fun… and now we’re all anxious to see the results!!!

Categories: glaze, platters, stamped

Another bright green platter fresh out of my latest cone six kiln. I love how the vibrant green glaze puddles & pools in all the right places. And how it accentuates the stamped patterns exactly as I want them to be!

Categories: glaze, process, production

My studio cart was filled with glazed & wadded pots… ready for a soda-firing!
We all made it safely downstairs in the rickety freight elevator.
Thanks to some masking tape “seat belts” to keep pots from bouncing off
the shelves during the journey downstairs!

Categories: glaze, process, production

One last kiln to unload before this weekend’s pottery sale!
Just in time for my SECOND HOLIDAY HOME SHOW!
C’mon by!!!

Categories: glaze, platters, surface decoration

Here’s one of my class demos on carving & surface decoration that I finally got around to glazing… been a while. The platter has white slip on the flange rim that I dried a bit before carving the leaf pattern. And then I added little “berries” using a darker clay body. A rich green glaze makes it perfect for the holidays! Kinda now wish I had carved holly leaves instead?… ah, next time!!!

Anyway… this platter will be there for one lucky customer this weekend
at my SECOND HOLIDAY HOME SHOW!!!

Categories: glaze, platters, surface decoration
Categories: glaze, mugs, stamped

Fresh out of the kiln… a batch of fun colored mugs for another Mugshot Monday!!! Each & every one will be at my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW this weekend!!! Along with a few more… as we’ll be starting out with over a hundred mugs when the doors open Saturday morning!!!

Categories: glaze, holiday

Just a little more festive flair to make the holiday shine brighter! There’s a selection of mixed metallics… silver, gold & copper! And some trees with no stars for the “nature purists” out there!!!