Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: bowls, classes, surface decoration

And this is where we ended Tuesday night after my “bowls-bowls-bowls” demo with my Beginners. We talked all about altering shapes & added some decorative flourishes to their pieces not make their pots more unique. Basically… I just want them to have fun, express themselves & PLAY more with their clay!

Here we go…

Bowl #1 – Plain… the “BASIC” bowl fresh off the wheel. This is where they all started!

Bowl #2 – Two little fluted flips!

Bowl #3 – If two are nice, maybe eight fluted flips are better?

Bowl #4 – A flared flange.

Bowl #5 – A wider flared flange

Bowl #6 – A combination flared flange & fluted edges.

Bowl #7 – A split rim with two dramatic indents.
This one will get a big “up & over’ handle to make a basket-bowl.

Bowl #8 – Another split rim… this time with eight pinches to the rim.

Bowl #9 – A split rim with four indents to “square-up” the bowl a bit.

Bowl #10 – A split rim with four dents in & four dents out… kind of a lotus effect.

Bowl #11 – A “surprise” flower-snowflake-design in the bottom from a dragonscaler tool.

After the first few bowls, we discussed colored slips to add some design & detail to their bowls.
I personally like thick white slip a lot… adding texture & subtle contrast to the clay body.

Bowl #12 – Thick white slip with a simple spiral dragged through.

Bowl #13 – Thick white slip with some bands dragged through…
leaving a “canvas” area for carving in the future when the slip dries up a bit.

Bowl #14 – Thick white slip with some finger squiggles going through it while spinning on the wheel.

Bowl #15 – Thick white slip with some rhythmic chattering with a rubber rib while spinning on the wheel.

Bowl #16 – An ombre’ blend of white & black slip… which will probably be carved through later!

So for now all of the bowls are under plastic in my studio…
waiting for a little more… perhaps some stamping & detailing???

Categories: handbuilding, surface decoration, textures, tools

Letting things “roll” with my carved handrollers from MKM Pottery Tools!

Categories: stamped, surface decoration

After the hectic holidays, it feels great to be back in the studio…
getting back into the swing of things.

A simple dinner plate, now with a stamped rim to make it not-so-simple!

Categories: platters, surface decoration, tools

Oh, what to do when the class demo platter being safely stored under plastic stays under a little longer than you expected… maybe six weeks?…and now it’s too firm to stamp?! Time to pull out my favorite DiamondCore Tools to do a little texture carving! And I’m kinda diggin’ it… gonna need to make more like this!!!

Categories: glaze, platters, stamped, surface decoration, textures

Now THAT’s a lot of stamps!!! Actually, the surface decoration was created with just one of my handmade clay stamps. Pressed into the rim one-by-one, by one, by one, by one… all the way around a couple times! Fresh out of the kiln… again with my new favorite glaze… at least for this week!!! HA!!!

Categories: holiday, mugs, soda-fired, stamped, surface decoration

THE BIG CHRISTMAS MUG REVEAL!!! Not big mugs, just a big reveal!!! Especially made for this weekend’s HOLIDAY HOME SHOW. Limited quantities… so mark off your holiday gift list early tomorrow morning!!!

Categories: glaze, platters, stamped, surface decoration, textures

A new platter with a new glaze! Fresh out of the kiln… and I’m LOVING this glaze as it seems to highlight all of the stamped textures & grooved areas so sweetly. Mental note to self… must make more like this!!!

Categories: glaze, platters, surface decoration

A fun new textured platter with a swirling textured surface. Love how the chattered-slip pattern works so well with the “watery” feeling of the new glaze… pooling & puddling in all the right places!

Categories: patterns, stamped, surface decoration, textures, tools

Time to get my groove on… starting with another groovy & crisp pattern from an MKM Pottery Tools handroller. Starting with a textured slab… with a plan in mind for a new oval vase project! Coming soon… deadlines are approaching!!!

Categories: production, surface decoration, textures

Bringing out my favorite carving tools from DiamondCore Tools for some fun Christmas tree texturing! Nice crisp cuts with sharp tools… perfect for the glaze to pool & puddle in all the right places!!!