Gary Jackson: Fire When Ready Pottery
A Chicago potter’s somewhat slanted view of clay & play
Categories: kiln firing, process, production

Front stack loaded… two shelves deep with a lot more pots. Quite a few mugs. You know they’re my favorite thing to make! I love loading the soda kiln… pot by pot, shelf by shelf until it’s full.

Now time to brick up the door… ugh.

Categories: glaze, mugs, process, production

So I’ve finally started glazing these combo mugs! Since they’re going to be soda-fired, I pretty much need to just put a liner glaze inside, and then hope that the soda-kiln atmosphere makes all the “magic” happen! They were all dipped in colored flashing slips before bisque firing… so there should be some fun colors when they come back out of the kiln!

Categories: mugs, process, production

So I’ve unloaded the bisque kiln and now I’ve got just a bit of glazing to do. These are more of my new “wheelthrown-handbuilt-combo” mugs. They’re all ready to go… but I might tackle these tomorrow! Seems a little daunting right now?! I’ve got time… my next soda-firing is still a ways away!

Categories: mugs, process, production, stamped

So I finished up another batch of stamped mugs tonight… adding the handles in “a bit of a rush” so I could skip out early for some evening ice cream fun with friends!!! Feels good to have the mugs done & under plastic overnight… feels even better to have had my fill of Lickity Split frozen custard!!!

Categories: mugs, process, production

Here we go again…
making more handles… making more MUGS!!!
My favorite thing to make!

Categories: mugs, process, production

Score, slip, attach… repeat, repeat, repeat! You know by now that making mugs is my favorite thing to do in the studio! So today was another good day with another batch assembled.

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

So I’ve just finished stamping the newest batch of cylinders… getting one step closer to becoming mugs! Stamping each of the cylinders with my own handmade stamps… one stamped impression at a time… again, and again, and again…

MUG 1 –

MUG 2 –

MUG 3 –

MUG 4 –

MUG 5 –

MUG 6 –

MUG 7 –

MUG 8 –

MUG 9 –

MUG 10 –

So now they’re back under plastic for the night…
as I’m hoping to trim the bottoms tomorrow.

Categories: process, production, stamped, stamps

Stamping patterns one indentation at a time… over & over again… to get a repetitive textured pattern all the way around the mug. I like to make my own clay stamps with my own patterns… better than buying someone else’s designs! I don’t sell my stamps… but I do teach my students how to make them & encourage everyone to try.

Categories: mugs, production, textures

Adding handles & making mugs on another MUGSHOT MONDAY! Another batch of my “wheelthrown-handbuilt-combo” mugs with textured patterns all-around!

The more I make of these, the more I’m lovin’ them! And as I’m lovin’ them more… I’m kinda thinking they need a new groovy name?! Any suggestions???

Categories: process, production

Working on another batch of my “wheelthrown-handbuilt-combo” mugs… trimmed the feet & waiting for handles to be attached!