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

It’s been a productive afternoon assembling these “hybrid” mugs… wheelthrown & handbuilt combos. There’s still a good amount of work to do on them… refining, trimming, adding handles, drying, firing, etc. But this feels like a good start. It’s always great seeing these “hybrid” mugs come together!

Categories: mugs, soda-fired, stamped

Good thing there are “always” more where that come from!
Plenty of mugs for another MUGSHOT MONDAY…
and a LOT happier than Matthew’s broken one!!!

Categories: mugs

Okay, so not all MUGSHOT MONDAYS are happy days… and this much loved mug has definitely seen better days. Looks like gravity got the best of it. Sadly, it was one of Matthew’s “favorite” mugs as he bought it on his first visit to my studio at Lillstreet Art Center. Guess you’ll just have to come back to Chicago sometime soon Matthew!!!

Categories: mugs, process

ugh.

You know it’s my least favorite thing to do… but at some point, a little glazing has got to happen.
But first… I get to apply wax to all of the bottoms to make my glaze clean-up easier later.
I do enjoy waxing bottoms… glazing not so much.

Categories: flowers, mugs

A little pop of Spring color… a trio of tulips in one of my favorite mugs by Cory McCrory! In just two months, I will be hanging out as a Guest Potter at Cory’s place in Sandwich, Illinois for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. Mark your calendars for June 7th & 8th for a roadtrip to Sandwich for a whole lotta pottery fun… then continue on to the rest of the Tour locations. A full weekend of pottery adventures!

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

Just adding a few accents of colored flashing slips on this latest batch of stamped mugs. The slip colors will change dramatically when fired in the soda kiln… more colorful with flashing effects from the flames!

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

Handles attached… another batch of mugs made! I’m planning on soda-firing these in the future, so I think they might still need some colored flashing slips before I call them done & let them start drying.

Categories: mugs, process, production

Just pulled a bunch of handles… all lined up & almost ready to go. I’ve got to let them set-up a bit before I start attaching them to the mug cylinders. I want them to hold their shape, yet still be malleable… but not sticky or squishy!

Categories: hybrid mugs, mugs, soda-fired, stamped, surface decoration, tools

While I’m in the middle of making my “normal” stamped mugs for a future soda-firing… I need to remind myself that it’s time to make more of these “hybrid” mugs too!!! My collection of carved handrollers from MKM Pottery Tools has recently “doubled” & I can’t wait to try out some of their newest patterns while making more of these wheelthrown & handbuilt combo “hybrid” mugs!

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped, stamps

Been busy stamping cylinders again… getting ready for another batch of mugs! My favorite thing to make! Each one stamped with a different clay stamp that I made myself. Handmade mugs need handmade stamps!!!