Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped, surface decoration, textures

Just finished adding handles to my new batch of “hybrid mugs”… just in time to teach class tonight. Going to try to get these to dry & pack ’em into a bisque kiln quick… gotta get my glaze game going before I load for this weekend’s soda kiln firing.

But I also gotta get my taxes done… when?… not so sure… ugh!

Categories: bowls, food, friends

Looks like my friend Jen just enjoyed a yummy lunch.. and decided to share her remains with us! Even food scraps look better in handmade pottery bowls!

Categories: process, production, tools

A perfect spiral while trimming with a perfect tool!

Trimming fun with DiamondCore Tools!

Categories: handbuilding, mugs, process, production, stamped, textures, wheelthrowing

Doing some trimming on my latest batch of hybrid mugs… making the “wheelthrown” part look even more like a nicely trimmed wheelthrown mug.

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE trimming?! It makes such a difference…

Categories: bike, sunrise

After yesterday’s sun & warmth… it’s kinda feeling like Spring may have finally found its way to Chicago?! This morning was markedly warmer & drier than it has been the past few weeks. So it felt great to be back out enjoying the best way to start my day!

Categories: handbuilding, mugs, process, production, stamped, textures

Checking my calendar… and hoping I can squeeze in just one last batch of hybrid mugs… combo wheelthrown & handbuilt mugs. They’re kind of assembled… but still need to be trimmed & handled…dried “kinda” fast… and bisque-fired so I still have time to glaze & wad them for next weekend’s soda kiln. It’s hard to get this studio stuff done when my “fingers are crossed”!!!

Categories: pottery, production, stamped, vases

With my soda kiln firing scheduled for next weekend, I’m in the final throws of studio production. Making enough to fill the kiln… and replenishing my inventory for the upcoming art fair season! Just another batch of wall pocket vases stamped, slipped & drying!

Categories: art fair, artists, pottery

Time to mark your calendars… we’re just nine weeks away from the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR! I will be playing with my pottery friend Cory McCrory at her studio location in Sandwich, Illinois… along with fellow ceramicists Linda Kiepke, Nancy Gardner, Kenyon Hansen & Lindsay Heiden. Put us on your calendar for a fun weekend road trip for some pottery fun!!!

Categories: flowers

The colors are popping… Spring is finally here! Sure, still a bit on the chilly side, but at least the Spring flowers are starting to work their colorful magic!

Categories: food

And a little “after-theater” yummy… a quick stop off at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream for a little sweet treat. A trio of flavors… Blackout Chocolate, Goat Cheese & Cherry and their newest special flavor… THE EVERYTHING BAGEL. A savory ice cream that tastes just like an Everything Bagel… cream cheese with a bit of garlic & onion! Yummy… glad I tried it… not sure I would need to do it again…