Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: stamps, textures, tools

Can’t believe my collection of MKM Pottery Tools handrollers has just DOUBLED!!! Great patterns & textures made with perfectly crafted wooden handrollers. Can’t wait to start playing with them… time to get them dirty!!! Just in time for another Texture Tuesday!!!

Categories: production, stamped, textures, tiles, tools

Some early morning textured tiles in the works… getting ready for “4×4 : FOUR MAKERS” which is just about two weeks away! A mix of textures using my own handmade stamps & some using my favorite MKM Pottery Tools handrollers!

Categories: textures, tiles, tools

Playing with some of my MKM Pottery Tools handrollers… making mini textured tiles with a master plan?! I’ve got a themed project in the making… and this is the start of the first of four pieces!

Categories: bowls, surface decoration, tools

Carving some patterns through a layer of white slip. When glazed & fired, the contrast of slip to clay body will become more apparent. Nice contrast to help accentuate the carved patterns!

Nice crisp lines when carving with my favorite tool from DiamondCore Tools!

Categories: handbuilding, surface decoration, textures, tools

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

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: process, production, stamped, textures, tools, vases

New oval vases with double handles drying in the studio. Each with a textured panel on both sides between the handles… thanks to some textured handrollers from MKM Pottery Tools. Loving the contrast of the smooth rounded ends & handles juxtaposed with the textured panels. Even better… the double handles will help hold your flowers up for a low-profile floral arrangement!

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: process, tools

It’s a BIG day for trimming in the studio today. Have I mentioned lately that I LOVE trimming?… especially with great trimming tools from DiamondCore Tools & my Giffin Grip! The perfect trimming combo!!!

Categories: glaze, mugs, textures, tools

Doing some glazing tonight for my soda kiln firing this weekend. Like these “hybrid mugs” that have been dipped in a flashing slip & now have a layer of tenmoku glaze rubbed in to highlight the textures. You know how I love making mugs… and I love these textures made with MKM Pottery Tools. The perfect combination!