Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: challenge, classes, handbuilding, throwdown

Well, it’s cold & flu season… so last night in my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN class, the handbuilding challenge was a decorative Kleenex box cover! Many of my students are “not” handbuilders, so this pushed them out of their comfort zones… that and the time constraints. I also brought in my collection of textured handrollers from MKM Pottery Tools in case they wanted to try them. With just 90 minutes for this task, there were some great learning moments, some frustrated re-starts & eventually some great box covers! Well done team!!!

Categories: challenge, classes, platters, throwdown

Last night in my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN class, the first challenge was to throw a simple 12-inch platter in thirty minutes. Always fun to watch how different students approach a simple piece… with so many shapes & variations. Some were “spot-on” with their dimensions, some didn’t quite make it. But this was only the first step…

Categories: classes, throwdown

Last night during my LILLSTREET THROWDOWN, my students brought back their “homework” projects for critique & judging. The goal was to “refine & finish” their set of four tumblers from the class before. Everyone did a great job… some went even further with colored slip, water etching, handles & even goblet bases!!!

Categories: challenge, classes, throwdown

And so it begins… tonight was the first night of our LILLSTREET THROWDOWN class!!! Their first challenge was to “recreate” two drinking glasses in clay. Matching sizes, proportions, angles, textures & styles. Easier said than done!

Part two was to choose one of their new two cups… which then became their new prototype to make three more to match. Ultimately ending with a matching set of four.

Everyone did pretty good… with many of themselves even impressing themselves. So many cups made in not a lot of time. So much fun with a great group of students… some new “throwdowners” & some repeating for another season of pottery fun!!