Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
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!

Categories: glaze, terra cotta

The pumpkins are green with envy… glazed with a low-fire clear and headed into the kiln. Still working on the other new addition to “The Ghouls Collection.”

Categories: glaze, porcelain, process, stamped

Here’s a sad example of what can happen when you’re rushing work & sleep-deprived at the same time. Keep in mind there’s always a chance you may “forget” to dip the bottom half in the glaze bucket before putting it in the kiln. And here I thought it was so easy wiping the glaze off the bottom foot ring… now I know why. Dang. Would’ve been nice, right???

Anyone else have a good “sleep-deprived” pottery story to share?!

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Categories: glaze, kiln firing, mugs, porcelain

Happy Mugshot Monday… as I’m pulling some warm porcelain mugs out of my cone six glaze firing. Loving the new colors. Can’t wait to show them off this weekend!!!

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Categories: bowls, glaze, kiln firing, stamped

Just unloaded my “last minute” cone six glaze firing. Very excited about my new blue glaze that will be making its big debut at ART IN THE BARN this weekend!!! Limited quantities though… since this was the first time I’ve used this glaze! There will definitely be more…

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Categories: glaze, porcelain, process, production

For me, kiln firing days are always filled with studio cleaning & projects… or in my case today, glazing another whole kiln full for a cone six firing tomorrow! Pots are waxed & drying… let the glaze dipping commence!

Green wax you may ask?… nope. Not really. It comes as a clear wax which is always a little tough to see when you wax your pots. But add a few drops of food coloring and it will be a LOT easier to see!!!