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

After the first HOLIDAY HOME SHOW, I could tell that a lot of people liked the Christmas trees with pierced holes for candles or fairy lights. So, that’s what I’m making more of… and today was the day to trim & drill holes!!!

Categories: art fair, holiday, process, production

With my second HOLIDAY HOME SHOW just two weeks away… I’m pretty sure I can crank out another batch of Christmas Trees! They were a big hit at the first show, so my inventory is very low! But give me some time… and I’ll have a whole new forest of Christmas Trees WITH STARS!!!… as they seemed to be a big hit! So if you missed them the first time, never fear… there will be more for the second show on December 16th & 17th at my place. Mark your calendars!

Categories: holiday, process, production

There’s been a forest “growing” in my studio… festive trees in line for some glazing fun tonight! Gotta get these moving if they’re going to be ready for my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW next weekend! That’s the plan anyway…

Categories: process, production

Looking at the calendar…
hoping that I can squeeze in one last batch of clay ornaments & gift tags!
Fingers crossed…

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: bowls, process, production, stamped

Stamping & trimming. Another set of bowls in the works… this time a bit wider & shallower than normal. Just hoping to get these done & glazed in time for my Holiday Home Show!

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: process, production

Great shadows coming from a group of clay “carrots” that will soon be pulled into mug handles!

Categories: holiday, process, production

Just spent some “quality time” tonight in the studio doing some detailing of my latest batch of ceramic Christimas Trees! More textures, more patterns, more holes… MORE IS MORE!!! And this time, some even got textured stars at the top!!!