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

Summer Camp with a younger group : 8-10 year olds… wheelthrowing on Monday & Tuesday, trimming & handles on Wednesday, handbilding (sp) on Thursday… and then slip painting on Friday! This group was a lot of fun… especially on Thursday when we tackled textured mugs. They threw their own slabs by hand with no rolling pins or slab rollers! Then they pressed in a texture & constructed their own mugs all by themselves! Amazing work!

Categories: art fair, mugs, soda-fired, stamped

This just in… and perfect for another MUGSHOT MONDAY!

“Gary, Just bought my mug in Glenview yesterday and today I shared some tea with my giraffe collection. I love my new mug. Thanks for making it!” – Marcia

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

Another batch of mugs assembled with fresh handles!!!

Categories: mugs, process, production

Nothing like working at the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR all day today… and then spending the night in the studio pulling handles & making more mugs!!! And then back to the art fair again tomorrow! No rest for the weary.

Categories: artists, mugs, My Talented Friends

My good friend & former pottery student Kristen is doing a great pop-up this weekend! And who doesn’t love handmade pottery AND chocolate?!!! Stop by the Irving Park location of KATHERINE ANNE CONFECTIONS this weekend to see some of Kristen’s pottery & grab some yummy chocolate too!!!


And if you stop by Saturday between 1:00-2:00pm, Kristen will be in the store doing live demos of her carving techniques!


Plus, if you follow, tag & share them both on Instagram, you’ll be entered in a raffle for pottery & chocolate!!! Two of my favorite things!!!

Categories: artists, mugs

So I had a bit of regret for NOT snagging a fun new mug from Breana Ferreira during the Friday Night Opening Party in Aurora for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. But then I saw small table at Lillstreet with a pop-up moving sale as Breana is moving to Tennessee for a new artist residency. So I scored this great little mug… for a great “moving sale” price!!! Loving the textures & colors!!!

You can check-out more of Breana’s work on her Instagram… @brebreanam

Categories: mugs, soda-fired, stamped

Looks like Lora is enjoying her new blue stamped & soda-fired mug that she picked-up during the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. Perfect for another Mugshot Monday… but what day is groovy-cool coaster day???

Categories: mugs, stamped

Congratulations to Jody & Ira who are celebrating their 25th anniversary… with some quiet time together with their morning coffee ritual in a couple of stamped & glazed mugs!

Categories: art fair, mugs, soda-fired, stamped

It’s a little early this morning… but never too soon to start putting pottery on the shelves for this weekend’s NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR.

Categories: mugs

Prepping, pricing & packing a new selection of stamped & soda-fired mugs in the basement. Fresh mugs for this weekend’s art fair in Hinsdale… hope to see you there!