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

Lots of clouds this morning… dark & gloomy. I was hoping for some colorful clouds as the sun came up. Instead we got more dark clouds… and I even pedaled through some sprinkles!!! And NOT the yummy candy jimmies kind of sprinkles!

Categories: artists, friends, My Talented Friends, pottery

HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Randal, Fred and the rest of The Rogue Potters on getting a new sign… now looking so “legit” and official. Hard to believe it’s already twelve years since I met the “merry band of Rogue Potters” during the Minnesota Pottery Tour… not an official tour stop, but a great add-on with clever signage on the highway! A talented group of potters… so glad I’ve been able to be part of their journey! The sign looks great guys!!!

Categories: glaze, kiln firing, mugs

It’s been a LONG day at the studio… morning camp, afternoon camp, glazing, more glazing… and then teaching again tonight. And as if that weren’t enough, I also loaded a kiln after class … later than planned as the person before me didn’t unload their pieces yesterday as they were scheduled to do. I had to wait… finally able to load late tonight after class!!! Here’s just one layer of the kiln with some new, colorful mugs… which might be coming “still warm” to the GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR this weekend?!

Categories: glaze, mugs, production

Between summer camp & teaching tonight, I’ve been trying to get a lot of glazing done! Trying my best to squeeze in one last glaze kiln before this weekend’s GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR. It’s been rough… as glazing is my least favorite part of the whole process!

Categories: classes, surface decoration, textures, tools

Always willing to share my DiamondCore Tools with my students… especially when they do some crazy cool carvings like this lidded jar that Ari was working on in class! Crisp & clean carving lines for everyone!!!

Categories: glaze, studio

Reconstituting some glaze that had settled out a little too much in my studio… I mean, it didn’t get used much what with the pandemic and all. So with the help of an immersion blender, some more water & a fine sieve to press the glaze through… I now have this bucket of glaze back in working order!!!

Categories: process, production, stamped, stamps, textures

Making grooves… pressing stamps… making frames… playing with textures on another Texture Tuesday!

Categories: Uncategorized

Just a little early morning waxing before Summer Camp starts. Trying to squeeze in one last glaze firing before this weekend’s GLENVIEW SUMMER ART FAIR!

Categories: bike, sunrise

This morning was a great example of MORE IS MORE!
More clouds. More color. More drama.
More fun pedaling along the lakefront to start my day!!!

Categories: bike, sunrise

Another beautiful morning with some dramatic clouds blowing through. I will say that I felt strong & sure this morning as I was pedaling along the lakefront… until I turned around to head home… INTO the headwind!!! I guess I didn’t really realize that I was “enjoying” the tailwind the whole way down… no wonder I was going fast & strong?!!!