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

On a damp & rainy night here in Chicago, looks like Emma has settled in for a yummy night of soup! Remember, food always tastes better in handmade pottery! Thanks Emma!

Categories: art fair, mugs, pottery

Today it’s all about MUGS in my studio… with over 75 mugs looking for good homes! Whether it’s your home or a friend’s… everyone lives a nice handmade mug! Stop by my studio today until 5:00pm to help support & celebrate SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.

Categories: art fair, mugs, pottery, studio

Today’s the day to celebrate SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! Come out, shop & support the small businesses in your neighborhood. And if you’re near Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago… I will be in my studio selling mugs today until 6:00pm! It’s the perfect gift for a friend, a co-worker, family or even yourself!!!

Lillstreet Art Center – Second floor – 205 West, 4401 North Ravenswood, Chicago

Categories: art fair, mugs

Busy this afternoon setting up for my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW this weekend. The shelves are filling quickly… and I already have OVER A HUNDRED MUGS ready to go!!! They make the perfect holiday gift for your friends, co-workers or even yourself! Always food-safe, dishwasher-safe & microwave-safe! Surely there will be plenty of handmade mugs here to choose from!

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production

As most of you know, I hate glazing! But oddly, I totally enjoy waxing bottoms!!! A zen-like process with one clean hand & one wax hand. Wax on, wax off. Now I just need to keep my motivation alive & start glazing all of these if I hope to have them ready for next weekend’s HOLIDAY HOME SHOW!!! Wish me luck…

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped, surface decoration

Handles attached & mugs are done for today! For now they’re under wraps for the night so they can “rest” and let the moisture levels even out before I open them up to dry fully. Then it’s into a bisque kiln… and then a glaze kiln… and then to my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW in less than two weeks! Giddy-up!

Categories: mugs, process, production

Giving them a little time to stiffen up a bit before I start attaching them to my stamped mug cylinders. At least this way the curve of the handle is 90% established before I even start attaching them!

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

Handles attached… mugs assembled!!! Now just a little cleaning-up, a little smoothing… and then some drying, firing, glazing & firing again! Coming along… but still a lot of steps in the process!

Categories: mugs, process, production

Prepping to make some mug handles… a little reminiscent of Stonehenge… err, Clay Henge???

Categories: mugs, soda-fired, stamped

Looks like Diane has finally moved into her new place… lots of boxes & lots of paper… and unwrapping her pottery collection first thing!!! Perfect timing for another Mugshot Monday!