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

Thrown ten spoon rests before 10:00am!!! Just replenishing some of the “basics” for the kick-off of art fair season… which is coming a lot faster than expected.

Categories: bowls, process, production

After trimming the bottoms to form a good footring, I let these dry a bit more before drilling drainage holes… with my POWER DRILL!!! The fastest & cleanest way to make a lot of holes fast. And who doesn’t like using power tools on their pottery?!

Categories: bowls, production

Another 10×10 challenge… ten pieces thrown by 10:00am! Working on another batch of new berry bowls for the start of my art fair season… coming sooner than you think! Can’t believe it’s already April?!!!

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: 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!!!

Categories: pottery, process, production, teapot

Finally got around to finishing up some class demo projects today. They’ve been under plastic for quite some time.., and I’ve had to spray them several times to keep them workable. But finally done & drying. Finally.

Categories: color, process, production

So I was spray painting some bisque the other day… as I have repeatedly for several years right around this time. It has always worked perfectly… but this time it peeled right off??? Wait, what??? Same paints. Same bisque. Same everything???

The only thing I can think of is that I didn’t give it enough time to dry between the layers of different two different paints. Because shortly after spraying the second layer… it all peeled off like a fine layer of gold leaf?!

So I peeled it all off like a bad sunburn, did some quick sanding… and spray painted again. This time with an “overnight” between layers of paint. And it looks perfectly good & sparkly!!! WHEW!!!

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!