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

Celebrating another MUGSHOT MONDAY while getting ready for my next art fair… prepping , pricing & packing some new pots for next weekend’s Glenview Summer Art Fair… Saturday, July 30th & Sunday, July 31st.

When dealing with drip runs & chunky bottoms with errant kiln wash… nothing works better than the DiamondCore Grinding Disc. Just wet the disc, wet your pot, and press the mug bottom to the disc while it spins fast on your wheel. Before you know it, the excess comes right off the bottom. And if your turn & shift your pot just right, you can get a pretty “perfect” footring on a pot that might have been “ruined” by a bad bottom!

Categories: bowls, classes, tools

During last week’s SURFACE DECORATION class, I was getting ready to do some carving on my marbled demo bowl… when I noticed that my DiamondCore Tools was pretty much matching the bowl!!! Like a bit of camouflage for the carving tool?!

Categories: mugs, process, tools

Just spending a little time cleaning up some crusty bottoms… glaze drips & wadding remains that needed to go!!! Getting ready for this weekend’s HINSDALE FINE ARTS FESTIVAL. Huge thanks to my pals at DiamondCore Tools for their Diamond Grinding Disc. Wet it, spin it, grind it… and that crusty bottom is taken care of in no time!!!

Click here for more information on DiamondCore Tools Grinding Discs!

Categories: tools

Okay, so maybe I have a problem?… or can we just call this studio collection some sort of “installation art”???

Categories: bowls, classes, patterns, textures, tools

This week in my SURFACE DECORATIONS class, we did a bit of carving for texture & pattern! I started with two bowls with slightly thicker walls, trimmed at leatherhard, and then we sat down to carve. Using my sharp DiamondCore Tools gives me nice crisp lines, grooves & incisions… and I’m always willing to let my students give them a try too… a mix of carving tools & trimming tools for an assortment of lines!!!

Categories: process, production, tools

A perfect spiral while trimming with a perfect tool!

Trimming fun with DiamondCore Tools!

Categories: process, production, studio, tools

Just getting ready for a little trimming session… and I’ve got my two favorites ready to go… my DiamondCore Tools & my Giffin Grip posts!

Time to get spinning, time to get trimming!

Categories: process, production, studio, tools

Cutting ribbons… spinning clay… trimming bottoms! So much easier, quicker, cleaner & a lot more fun with DiamondCore Tools & my Giffin Grip – the perfect pottery studio duo!!!

Categories: mugs, stamped, studio, tools

Just getting ready to tackle a new batch of mugs… getting ready for some fun trimming, which we all know I LOVE!!! Especially with my line-up of trimming tools from DiamondCore Tools.

Categories: bowls, classes, process, textures, tools

After our carving demo in my Intermediate Wheel class, it was great to see Christine still at it a week later… still making such crisp & clean lines with a DiamondCore Carving Tool in hand!