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

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #7…
Throw five matching cutie-patootie vases off-the-hump in 10 minutes.
It was Katie versus “sit-in ringer & former “Throwdown Champion” Christine!

Categories: challenge, classes

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #6…
Pull the largest slab using 1.75-pounds of clay in 10 minutes… but using only one hand and no tools!!! Not as easy as it sounds!!!

Categories: challenge, classes, wheelthrowing

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #5…
Wheel throw the tallest cylinder… with a bottom & straight sides in 10 minutes!!!

Categories: challenge, classes, handbuilding

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #4…
Handbuild a perfect egg… hollow while using 1.75 pounds of clay in 10 minutes!!! Ellen versus Ruth… pinch pots but with two different approaches. One went equal half & half, while the other went fat end, skinny end!!!

Categories: challenge, classes

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #3…
Pull the longest handle without breaking… for 10 minutes! Shannon versus Joanna…
and who woulda’ thought it would be such a shoulder workout...well, me…
but obviously not Shannon who figured it out soon enough!!!

Categories: challenge, classes

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #2…
Handbuild a 5″tall free-standing pyramid in just 10 minutes… it was Claire versus Taylor… and GO!!!

Categories: challenge, classes

After everyone paired up, we started the THROWDOWN challenges… which is also when they found out their “pairs” were actually going to be competitors!!! One winner, one loser for each challenge on the wheel. Spin the “Wheel Of Challenges” and find out what’s in store for you & your competitor!

LILLSTREET THROWDOWN : Challenge #1…
Wheelthrow a dinner plate with the wheel going in the”wrong” direction!

Categories: challenge, classes

Last week in THE GREAT LILLSTREET THROWDOWN class, I challenged my students
to spin the “Wheel Of Challenges.” And then hilarity ensued… as we let the games begin!!!

Categories: nature

Amazing fungus finds on a big old stump in the woods along side a small creek.
Loving the textures & layers of Nature’s winter beauty!

Categories: weather

The snow is still melting… and the tiny succulents seem to be thriving?!