Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: art fair, glaze, kiln firing, porcelain

So I’ve been rushing around this week trying to get everything set-up for this Saturday’s Second Holiday Home Show. I’ve even glazed and fired a cone six glaze kiln just to replenish the shelves!!! I unloaded the kiln tonight… always fun to see the bright pop of colors in a cone six firing. A stark contrast to the earthy colors of a soda kiln firing. And I’m pretty pleased with how the glazes I’ve made are not only nice colors, but are also breaking & highlighting the stamped patterns really well.

Mark your calendar for THIS SATURDAY for “Mud & Metal” A Collaborative Holiday Home Show. It’s at my place this Saturday from 10:00am-6:00pm!

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Categories: glaze, porcelain, process, production

And while we’re selling mugs online today, I’ve been in the studio waxing bottoms and glazing a kiln full for this weekend’s Second Holiday Home Show! Shelves will be replenished, shlepping sale will be restocked, and a lot of new pots fresh from the kiln!!!

Categories: artists, glaze, pottery

Today at the “One Of A Kind Show” I met a potter from Denver, Colorado. It was my friend Sarah who noticed his work first and then sent me over to check out his pottery a little closer. She was “intrigued” by his lidded boxes. When I went over to “investigate” I met Peter Karner and admired his work. His functional pieces are well-made and beautifully glazed. His surface decoration is created primarily with a wax resist over a base shino glaze, then a second layer of a colored glaze. It’s the wonderful interaction of the two glazes that works so beautifully on his pieces. Melting, blending, “halo” effects and carbon trapping to create beautiful “one of a kind” finishes.

Click here to see more from Peter Karner Pottery.

But it was these wonderful little boxes that caught Sarah’s eye…

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Categories: glaze, process, production

Well, I’m finally all glazed & wadded. My studio cart is close to full, which means the soda kiln will be close to full as well. I can always glaze a few more pieces if I need to as I’m loading. The masking tape “seat belts” help keep the pots from “jumping off” my cart as I roll it downstairs in the rickety freight elevator!

 

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production

Moving right along. Still glazing & wadding for tonight’s soda kiln loading.
It’s gonna be a LONG night!

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production

Lots of mugs still waiting for their liner glaze!!!

Categories: glaze, process, production, special events

Big night in the studio. Let the glazing begin! Let the game begin!!
GO CUBBIES!!!

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Categories: glaze, process, production, tiles

Spent some time tonight glazing up the last batch of textured tiles for a commission piece I’ve been working on. Can’t wait to see them come together into another ClayQuilt wall piece.

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Categories: artists, glaze, My Talented Friends, tiles

Came home from ART IN THE BARN with this beautiful porcelain tile from My Talented Friend Mike Skiersch. He hand carves the master tile and then makes a mold to produce these tiles. The glaze is one of studio recipes that looks incredible on his tiles. I love the color & the pooling. The crackling looks great on his tiles… not quite so good on my functional work.

To see more of Mike’s tile work, click here for his website.

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Categories: art fair, glaze, process, production, terra cotta

Looks like these little critters are making their way into the kiln… and then into my booth at ART IN THE BARN. The latest addition to “The Ghouls Collection” will be infesting Barrington early Saturday morning! Sure, they might still be warm from the kiln, but at least they’re almost done… and just in time!