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

This weekend in the north suburbs… the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR!!! Lots of talented artists filling the park to show off their handmade wares. I’ll be there with plenty of fresh pots looking for their new forever home! This Saturday & Sunday on the grassy grounds of Lyon School on the corner of Lake & Waukegan Roads.

Categories: bowls, classes, stamped

Just a little early morning stamping session in the studio. Adding a bit more detail & texture to my already “not-so-basic” bowls from last week’s class demo! You know my motto… MORE IS MORE!!!

Categories: stamped, stamps

A little early-morning stamping… working on my class demo placesetting challenge project. Dinner plate… salad plate… side bowl… serving bowl… tumbler… and the single handmade stamp that did all of the work!!! Coordinating in design… but not too matchy-matchy!

Categories: mugs, stamped

Starting today in the studio… painting accents & details of colored flashing slips onto my latest set of stamped mugs. This set will be waiting for my next soda kiln firing in early September!

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

Celebrating another Mugshot Monday with another batch of stamped mugs.
Handles attached… next they need some accents of colored flashing slips!!!

Categories: soda-fired, stamped, vases

Celebrating another TEXTURE TUESDAY with a new stamped vase… fresh out of the soda kiln!

Categories: mugs, soda-fired, stamped

So it’s been a hot-minute since I unloaded my soda kiln…
and a very HOT day today!!! But I digress…

So I’m finally getting around to sharing some photos from this latest firing. You know MUGS are my favorite thing to make… and these turned out great with fun colors & flashing marks!

Categories: mugs, soda-fired, stamped

Celebrating another Mugshot Monday… with a photo from my friend Eric with his favorite mug! Relaxing & enjoying a little “Father’s Day time” on the front porch with his pooch by his side. Looks like yesterday was also “Happy Doggie Daddy Day!” Thanks for sharing Eric!

Categories: art fair, platters, stamped

A very special THANK YOU to everyone who came out for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR this weekend. I know all of artists at the Sandwich location appreciated everyone who made the trek out to the country to see some pottery! We loved seeing all of you! Thanks to all the pottery-lovers out there that keep this event growing year after year. And if you didn’t make it this year… start planning now for next year!!!

Categories: glaze, stamped, surface decoration

Just in time for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… a new glaze combination I’ve been playing around with!!! A drippy runny mess of color playing nicely with my stamped textures. Frequently, glaze tends to fill in all of my stamps. But this time, it’s dripping, running & making cool rivulets of color. Even the undersides have been turning out pretty groovy! We’ll see if people dig ‘em as much as I do?!

Big debut this weekend at the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR! C’mon by…