Sure, I coulda left them plain, but why would I do that?!


Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play |
Sure, I coulda left them plain, but why would I do that?!


A little closer detail of tonight’s quickie bowl stamping session.
The four bowls stamped… and the stamps that did the work!
BOWL ONE –


BOWL TWO –


BOWL THREE –


BOWL FOUR –



Did a little stamping tonight in the studio… four smaller bowls.
Simple… yet quite dramatic with that side lighting!!!


Just finishing off another batch of my new “wheelthrown-handbuilt-combo” mugs… whew!… done in time to teach class tonight!
Still looking for a new name for them… any suggestions???




You know how I love a good holiday… especially when it’s National Deep Dish Pizza Day!!! So I felt somewhat “obligated†to celebrate with a slice for dinner before class tonight!!! I mean, if I must…



Celebrating with this little cutie …
stamped & soda-fired with an orange flashing slip.



And for those who don’t do Easter at all… HAPPY SPRING!
It’s still a perfect chance to appreciate the warmer weather, the new spring growth & the early flowers popping up everywhere! Here’s an amazing collection of hellebores gathered by my friend Yuki presented & floating in one of my stamped bowls. I love the colors, textures & patterns of Yuki’s collection – thanks for sharing!!!

Just a quick “before & after” shot of six stamped & soda-fired tumblers! A special “surprise” commission project for a friend who was sworn in as the Clerk of Montgomery County yesterday! They said the wanted stamped & soda-fired with bright blue accents… I think these will work just fine!


I only needed two for the order… but I always like to “hedge my bets” with a few extras in case something goes awry during the process! Luckily, all six of them turned out great. So Karen will be excited, and I’ll have a few extras for the next big sale!



So I’ve just finished stamping the newest batch of cylinders… getting one step closer to becoming mugs! Stamping each of the cylinders with my own handmade stamps… one stamped impression at a time… again, and again, and again…
MUG 1 –



MUG 2 –



MUG 3 –



MUG 4 –



MUG 5 –



MUG 6 –


MUG 7 –



MUG 8 –



MUG 9 –



MUG 10 –



So now they’re back under plastic for the night…
as I’m hoping to trim the bottoms tomorrow.
Stamping patterns one indentation at a time… over & over again… to get a repetitive textured pattern all the way around the mug. I like to make my own clay stamps with my own patterns… better than buying someone else’s designs! I don’t sell my stamps… but I do teach my students how to make them & encourage everyone to try.

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Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
Lillstreet Studios ∙ 4401 North Ravenswood, Chicago, Illinois 60640 ∙ 773-307-8664 gary@firewhenreadypottery.com |