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

With the stamps all cleaned off, I just added a liner glaze to the mugs. Since these are going into the soda kiln this weekend, they don’t really need any more glaze on the outside. The mixture of soda ash & soda bicarbonate that I add into the soda kiln towards the end of the firing will “magically” create a kind of glazed finish on all of the mugs! I still need to clean up the edges on the rims… but we’re getting there! Might be done for the night though… as it’s time to head downstairs to teach class!!!

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production, stamped

By wiping the top surface of the mug, the tenmoku glaze stays only in the indented impressions. Sure, it might be labor-intensive… but I really think it makes a HUGE difference to the stamped details!

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production

Painted some tenmoku glaze into the stamped impressions on the mugs. Adding some dark accents in the stamps will really help them “pop” more after they go through the soda firing process! Now I need to clean them off!

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production

Celebrating MUGSHOT MONDAY with just “a couple” mugs! I’ve got a bit of glazing to tackle today. My soda kiln is scheduled for this weekend… so the deadline is coming quick and I’m just starting to glaze!!! Gotta stay focused… and get my glaze on!!!

Categories: platters, process, production, stamped, studio

Bright & sunny outside… but I’m trying my best to stay focused & productive inside! The sun is streaming in through the studio windows and creating some cool shadows as my platters continue to dry.

Okay… truth be told… MY studio has no windows! But my friend & studio-neighbor Karen has windows and plenty of unused table space! Well, “unused” until I needed to spread out just a bit. Thanks Karen… we miss you!

Categories: platters, process, production, stamped

Did a little stamping again… go figure.
Always fun to see what kind of pattern emerges using just one stamp over & over again! This pattern & this stamp are quickly becoming one of my new favorites!

Categories: ornaments, process, production, stamped

Added some accents & details of colored flashing slips onto my latest batch of holiday ornaments. Hopefully these colors will “pop” after the soda-firing! Which is coming up very quickly… it’s THIS Saturday!!!

Categories: ornaments, process, production

Trimmed, stamped & top rings attached…
and now they’re starting to look more like Christmas ornaments, right?!

Categories: process, production, stamped, stamps

Doing some more repetitive stamping on a couple larger pieces tonight… row by row, layer by layer… one stamp at a time!

Categories: kiln firing, process, production

My most recent bisque kiln layer by layer… getting ready to start glazing for my next soda kiln which is just two weeks away! Yikes!!! Not my tightest packing ever… but I needed to move things along as I’m still making more pieces for the next bisque!

Bisque Kiln Layer #1 –

Bisque Kiln Layer #2 –

Bisque Kiln Layer #3 –

Bisque Kiln Layer #4 –