Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: production, soda-fired, stamped

I’ll also be bringing some new lidded casserole dishes to the art fair this weekend. But I’ve got to share… so for those who can’t make it to Schaumburg this weekend, I’ll also have some at the Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival next weekend!!! But there’s a limited quantity… I only have four for Schaumburg & four for Hinsdale!

Categories: bowls, glaze, process, production

All lined up… ready for a quick layer of wax resist on the footrings… then some quick glazing before teaching class tonight. I’d love to get them in the kiln soon… as this coming weekend is the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival!!! And I’d really like to have some of these berry bowls ready for this weekend!!! Fingers crossed…

Categories: production, wheelthrowing

Finally getting around to throwing some small “drip plates” for my newest batch of berry bowls. Made enough to fill my whole wedging table!!! Hoping to speed these through trimming, drying, firing, glazing & firing in time to have them at my upcoming art fairs… coming up in just two weeks!!! Yikes!!!

Categories: clay, process, production

Here we go… wedged & ready to get busy!!!

Categories: bowls, classes, production

While I might “allegedly” be in Minneapolis already to play & shop at this weekend’s St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour… I wouldn’t want my SURFACE DECORATION class to miss me too much tonight. So I’ve set them up with my favorite sub, and her best demo ever!!! And I even pre-made some pieces for them to “play with” in class! Can’t wait to see what Catherine does with them as they tackle “water etching” tonight! Sadly, without me…

Categories: production, wheelthrowing

Looks like I’ve got some trimming to do…

Categories: bowls, process, production

Finishing up a large batch of berry bowls… so much quicker & easier with my power drill. Just some quick cleaning-up of the tiny burrs when they dry. Soon enough they’ll be dry enough for the bisque kiln. Now I just need to make a bunch of drip plates to go with these berry bowls!

Categories: kiln firing, pottery, process, production, stamped

Lots of pots last night on my studio rolling cart… all glazed & wadded. Ready to start loading… looks like it might be a late night?! GIDDY-UP!

Categories: process, production

Like glazing wasn’t “fun” enough already… ugh… I also need to add little balls of wadding to the bottom of every pot being loaded into the soda kiln. Wadding is basically a soda-resistant clay that will help keep my pots from sticking to the kiln shelves after the soda-atmosphere adds a layer of glaze on everything!

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production, stamped

A little early morning glazing! Flower pots now with a liner glaze & inlaid glaze in the stamps… both with my favorite tenmoku.

Next up for these?… wadding!!!