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

Stamped & soda-fired… a great example of how the soda kiln atmosphere affects the sides of the pot. Chemically altering the colored slip accents on each stamp… as they all started out the same. Also creating a great “orange-peel” effect on the sides of this oval vase. Just a reminder… there is no glaze on the outside of this pot other than the tenmoku inlay. All of the “shine” & “glaze” comes from the soda-firing process.

Categories: pottery, soda-fired, stamped

While setting up my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW for next weekend… I realized that I never quite shared enough photos from my kiln unloading. So here are a few more freshly soda-fired pots still in the kiln! I mean, they’re not “now”… ‘cuz they’re already on some display shelves waiting to go to their forever homes!

Categories: flowers, garden, soda-fired, stamped, vases

Sad, but true... I think this is the final dahlia of the season! I saw it blooming yesterday out in my garden. But when I saw a few little snowflakes this evening, I thought I would bring it inside to enjoy it a little longer. Perfect as a single bloom in one of my stamped & soda-fired ikebana vases!

Categories: soda-fired, stamped, vases

Just another “teaser” of what you’ll find at next weekend’s HOLIDAY HOME SHOW! Another stamped & soda-fired vase from my last firing. This one… and a LOT more will all be available & ready to make the perfect holiday gifts for everyone on your list… including yourself!!!

Categories: mugs, pottery, soda-fired, stamped

Celebrating another MUGSHOT MONDAY with a quick glimpse at some of the new mugs that came out of the soda kiln last week! These and many more will be ready for my HOLIDAY HOME SHOW... as we’ll start with well over a HUNDRED mugs to kick-off the Home Show!

Categories: flowers, soda-fired, stamped, vases

Looks like some last minute flowers are being pulled in from the chilly nights up north… filling some small stamped & soda-fired bud vases. Even the cat seems to be liking them!!! Thanks for sharing the photos!

Categories: platters, process, production, stamped, stamps

Another night in the studio… and some more stamping done! I had a class demo platter under wraps in my studio that I kinda forgot about. So I was relieved that it was still wet enough to do some stamping on it tonight. One-by-one… by one… by one…

Categories: soda-fired, stamped, vases

I’ve always know it was bound to happen… finding one of my older pieces in a local Thrift Shop! Well, kinda. I didn’t find it… but one of my Facebook Followers found this in a local shop and checked in to see if I could confirm that it was indeed one of mine! And it was… so I hope she swooped back to snatch it up!!! Thanks for fulfilling one of my “dreams” Marsha!

I “kinda” want to know how much it was priced in the Thrift Store???… but then again, kinda not too!!!

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production, stamped

Lots of mugs… looks like I’ve got a LOT of glazing to get done tonight!!! ugh… definitely not my favorite part of the process!

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

So now that we’ve got a bunch of mugs, it’s time to add some colored flashing slip accents. If all goes as planned, these slips should change to brighter colors in the soda kiln. I know it doesn’t look like orange right now, but this mug should when it comes out of the kiln! Fingers crossed…