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

Just in case you’ve “missed” all of my not-so-subtle hints… this weekend is ART IN THE BARN on the grounds of Advocate Good Shepard Hospital in Barrington. It’s a wonderful collection of artists, entertainment & fall fun for everyone! I will be in the Lower Barn in my double booth as usual. Twice the booth, twice the amount of pottery!!! It looks like it’s going to be a beautiful weekend. I hope you can come out to say “Hi”… and bring a friend!!!

Categories: color, glaze, platters, stamped, textures

Swirls, spirals & stamps! A mesmerizing combination with a deep green glaze making this platter a stunner! More plates & platters like this will be coming with me to ART IN THE BARN this weekend in Barrington! C’mon out… I’ll be in the Lower Barn in my usual double booth space!

Categories: art fair, holiday, terra cotta

Cute little guy showing off his skull necklace… my photographer friend Brad’s son Jack! Apparently he loves the skull, and wears it as a good luck charm at every baseball game!!! Just one of the holiday pieces I make for ART IN THE BARN. I have a little collection of Halloween necklaces just for the kids… just a dollar if the kids buy them for themselves, but more expensive if the parents get involved! I like introducing the kids into making decisions & purchases at an art fair… made especially for them!!!

Categories: art fair, kiln firing, process, production

Just under the wire!!!… making the weekend’s art fair deadline… CPLT… two kilns done… and now cooling! One kiln full of devils & pumpkins, the other kiln full of new bowls & platters! Looking forward to unloading them both for ART IN THE BARN this weekend… whew… just in time!!!

Categories: bike, sunrise

What a difference a day makes… not a cloud in the sky after yesterday’s gray cloud-fest! Still a few gentle waves, but nothing compared to the crashing waves from yesterday. A beautiful start to the day… even though I have added long-sleeves to the morning ride… it’s a bit chilly in the morning these days!

Categories: art fair, mugs, soda-fired, stamped

Don’t think that ART IN THE BARN will be “just” Red Devil Ghouls!!!… I will also have plenty of mugs, bowls, vases & all of my other functional work! No worries… I’ve been stamping, soda-firing & glazing regular pottery for this weekend too!!! It’s not just about the little red devils!

Categories: friends, mugs, soda-fired, stamped, textures

I’ll also have a selection of my new “hybrid mugs”… the combined wheelthrown & handbuilt mugs with textured pattern all the way around. So be sure to come to ART IN THE BARN to grab yourself a new mug… crying kid not included!!!

Thanks for the photo Nancy… looks like little Teagan wants to “get out” of that huge mug!

Categories: terra cotta, The Ghouls Collection

And I know we’ve been so focused on my little Red Devils lately… but they’re not alone. There are some new pumpkins going in the mix too!!! A couple different colors… still being painted & detailing with underglazes to get them into the kiln along with the little devils!!!

Categories: glaze, terra cotta, The Ghouls Collection

Right now, the new Ghouls are “green with envy”! A bit of sprayed glaze… looking kinda like mint chocolate chip ice cream… but will turn to a glossy clear glaze after firing! Getting ready to go into the kiln… one step closer to this weekend’s art fair!!!

Categories: terra cotta, The Ghouls Collection

After a long night of painting underglazes, the newest Ghoul is getting cuter & cuter! Little pops of color to give each of them a little more attitude! Can’t wait to get these done so they can join all of the others in THE GHOULS COLLECTION… and their Big Debut this weekend at ART IN THE BARN in Barrington!