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

Here they are… a bunch of handles pulled and almost ready to go! I like to loop them over like this so they can set-up for awhile before attaching. I want them to be soft & malleable… but not sticky & squishy. Plus, the loop sets-up most of the handle’s curve for later when it goes onto the mug!

Categories: clay, mugs, process, production

And here we go… this is how my mug handles begin!
Little wedged clay nuggets ready to be pulled the traditional way!

Categories: hybrid mugs, process, production

Hybrid mugs moving along! Trimmed the bottoms today on the wheel. You know how much I LOVE trimming & a good footring!!! Gives everything a sense of style & refinement.

Categories: art fair, bowls, glaze, production

Some fresh new berry bowls just in time for some fresh Spring berries… also ready for my first few art fairs! First up… the Schaumburg Prairie Arts Festival on Memorial Day weekend. Well look at me trying something “new” by having these ready ahead of time!!! Shocking, I know!!!

You can check out this year’s art fair schedule by clicking here : Summer Art Fairs 2025.

Categories: hybrid mugs, mugs, process, production, textures

It’s been a productive afternoon assembling these “hybrid” mugs… wheelthrown & handbuilt combos. There’s still a good amount of work to do on them… refining, trimming, adding handles, drying, firing, etc. But this feels like a good start. It’s always great seeing these “hybrid” mugs come together!

Categories: hybrid mugs, process, production, textures, tools

It’s been fun using some of my new handrollers today from MKM Pottery Tools. I’m generally a more “geometric” kinda guy when it comes to patterns & textures. But I will say I’m pretty excited about some of these new rollers that a more “illustrative” pattern on them. We’ll see how it goes with more rollers for more patterns!!!

Categories: process, production, stamped

Time for some stamping… giving the spoon rests some decorative edges.
Gotta make those sloppy spoons look good while you’re cooking, right?!

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?!!!