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

More sunlight streaming through… creating cool angles & shadows on an upcoming “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” pop-up collaboration project.

Categories: clay, process, studio

There was a LOT of trimming that went on yesterday… so I had a lot of clay scraps everywhere. Perfect chance to “pulverize” my bone dry scraps before adding them to my reclaim bucket. The finer the bits, the smoother the reclaim!

And yes, bone dry clay is important for easier reclaiming of clay. I get frustrated all the time when I see students just tossing lumps of clay into a bucket filled with water… and then expecting it to do something magical to become reclaim?! Word to the wise… a wet lump of clay won’t get “wetter” in a bucket of water… it will still be a lump.

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

Handles attached… with plenty of time to spare before teaching class tonight!!!
This year’s Shamrock Mugs are now assembled and ready to start drying!
Wow… look at me way ahead of schedule!!! HA!!!

And in time for another Mugshot Monday!

Categories: mugs, process

Got some clay nuggets here… ready to go… time to start pulling some handles!!!
And yes, contrary to popular opinion… I do love making handles.

Categories: mugs, process, production

The old-school traditional way. But then I like to loop them over onto themselves… so that the majority of the curve is already established as they start to stiffen up before attachment.

Categories: mugs, process

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE trimming?! Well I do… so this was a fun time trimming all of these mug bottoms!!! And yes… I do hand-sign the bottoms of every piece.

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

Lots of shamrocks popping up in the studio today! Well on my way to this year’s batch of Shamrock Mugs!!! Trimming & handles coming soon…

Categories: clay, process

Here we go… giddy-up!!!

Categories: classes, kiln firing, process

I just unloaded a “quickie-bisque” kiln that I loaded & fired for my Lillstreet Throwdown students. They’re all working hard on their fairy tail themed teapot sets. And I figured their pieces would be “safer” after bisque firing… and it might give them a jumpstart on their glazing?! Especially if they hope to get all their themed sets done by Week 10!!!

Categories: color, process

So I placed an online order for some new Amaco Underglaze colors from Blick Art Materials. Unfortunately, when they arrived at my studio I only received the small jars… and not the only pint jar of my order?! Assuming it was just a packing mistake, I emailed them & sent pictures of what I received. They were very responsive with FANTASTIC customer service!!! My pint of underglaze arrived quickly… and now I’m moving forward with a new colorful project!!! Thanks to the folks at Blick!!!