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

Fresh from the soda kiln in time for another MUGSHOT MONDAY!
These hybrid mugs got some great colors & flashing marks. Most of these hybrid mugs are slated for a special commission, with the rest going to “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” this coming weekend.

If you can’t make it to the 4×4 show… I’m sure I’ll be making a few more batches of my hybrid mugs for upcoming shows & art fairs!!!

Categories: kiln firing, pottery, soda-fired, workshop

Here’s another great example of soda-firing… BEFORE & AFTER.

This collection is mostly Kelsey’s handbulit pots. Some classical forms with some contemporary surfaces. It’s cool to see them side-by-side to see & how they all transformed during the firing.

Well done Kelsey!!!

Categories: kiln firing, soda-fired, workshop

After unloading the kiln, my 3-DAY SODA WORKSHOPpers also got to finish it out with the “glamorous side” of soda-firing. They had the “privilege” of scraping all the shelves, adding a new layer of kiln wash, cleaning the fire boxes, sweeping & mopping the floor! I mean… they want to “experience” soda-firing… and now they’ve done ALL of the steps in the process! They all had a great time… and are already asking if they can do another firing with the same group!!! WELL DONE TEAM!!!

Categories: soda-fired, workshop

Happy faces all around when the door was off of the soda kiln for my 3-DAY SODA-FIRNG WORKSHOPpers!!! They were so excited Wednesday night as they unbricked, unloaded & admired their new soda-fired pottery! Becky was giddy & Kelsey was documenting with photos!

Categories: soda-fired, workshop

A glimpse inside the soda kiln after firing with my 3-DAY SODA-FIRING WORKSHOP. A lot of different pots by a lot of different potters. They all had a great time & did a good job loading their kiln… and now they can enjoy the soda-fired “fruits of their labor”!!!

Categories: classes, kiln firing, soda-fired, workshop

Back to my 3-DAY SODA-FIRING WORKSHOP… and last Wednesday night when the workshoppers got to finally unbrick their first soda kiln! The excitement was palpable as the door came down brick-by-brick. Revealing their work after being transformed by the soda-firing process. So much fun to watch them find their pieces in their very first soda-firing!!!

Categories: kiln firing, soda-fired, workshop

Last night my 3-DAY SODA-FIRING WORKSHOPpers finally got to unload their very first soda kiln. Always a great treasure hunt… with this being their very first peek into the kiln! So far, so good… more to come…

Categories: bowls, food, holiday, soda-fired, stamped

Just a little afternoon snack celebrating NATIONAL MUFFIN DAY.
You know how I love a good holiday!!!

Categories: kiln firing, soda-fired, workshop

Yesterday was my firing day for the 3-DAY SODA-FIRING WORKSHOP. So much fun firing the kiln when the flames start to peek out during “body reduction.” Basically, when the gas-to-air ratio is a bit out of whack and the flames are searching for more air!

Categories: classes, kiln firing, soda-fired

So much fun watching Kelsey get so enamored by the flashings & patinas on some of the crusty kiln door bricks. Sure, it might have slowed down our process a little… but Kelsey is right… some of the bricks are GORGEOUS!!!