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

Just doing a little stamping this afternoon!
Using my own handmade clay stamps… pressed in one by one… by one… by one…

Categories: classes, stamped

Okay, so there may have been a “surprise” trophy too…

Categories: soda-fired, stamped

And since I had tasked my THROWDOWN’ers to make a trio of candlesticks… and knowing that we would see them all again during our final potluck… I knew I wanted to make a set for myself!!! So I did… and then I soda-fired them too!!!

Okay, so “maybe” I made four… just as a back-up in case the soda kiln gods didn’t look favorable upon all of them?! Luckily, all four came out quite nice!!! If I do say so myself…

Categories: classes, process, stamped, textures, tools

While sharing my textured hand rollers from MKM Pottery Tools in class, one of my Intermediate students tried to make her own version of my “hybrid mugs.” Darcy has been getting some great results by wheelthrowing a cylinder, then rolling a textured pattern on the sides & then cleaning up the rim again on the wheel. Always good to a student take your “inspiration” and then find a way to twist it & make it their own!

Categories: food, holiday, platters, stamped

You know how much I LOVE a good National Holiday! Especially when it’s one of my favorites. Today is NATIONAL OREO DAY! Too hard to choose one… so I had to “celebrate “ with three flavors!!! Aww, shucks!

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: food, holiday, pottery, stamped

Just got home from teaching class… and it’s never too late to celebrate! As today is also NATIONAL CHERRY PIE DAY!!! And I’m ready to have a slice of the fun!!! 🍒

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: bowls, stamped, surface decoration

Just some closer looks at the detailing that happened up in my studio after this week’s class demo. I figured if I was showing off how to make a “not-so-basic-bowl”… why not go all the way?! MORE IS MORE, right?!

Categories: bowls, classes, stamped, surface decoration

After some time under the plastic, these class demo bowls were brought out in my studio for a little more detailing. A little stamping here, a little rim indenting there. Here they are side-by-side in my studio! Just a few super bowls for “Super Bowl Sunday.”

Before…

After…