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

Tonight I did my stamping demo on ZOOM as part of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. We had a great time, answered a lot of questions, covered a lot of topics and stamped a couple bowls along the way! We thought it would be maybe 20 minutes… turned out a bit longer… almost a full hour longer!!! Like I said, we covered a LOT!!!

As part of the Pottery Tour, they’re hosting free demos by several of the Potters… all you need to do is register for free on the website! More of demos tomorrow – www.northernilpotterytour.com

Categories: pottery, process, soda-fired, stamped, textures

Some of my favorite surfaces are the “plain” stamped pieces! Not a ton of bright colors… maybe just a few little pops here & there. It’s more about the soda-firing process creating the surface. But for me it all starts with the STAMPING!!!

And don’t forget… these “teasers” are NOW AVAILABLE in my brand new ETSY Shop! – www.etsy.com/shop/FireWhenReadyPottery

Don’t forget that I will be doing a ZOOM demo this evening at 8:00pm CST live from my studio! You just need to pre-register for the free demos on the Pottery Tour website to get the ZOOM link! – www.northernilpotterytour.com

Categories: art fair, glaze, stamped, textures

Some fun stamping & colorful green glazes that pool & puddle in all the right places. Sometimes you just need a pop of color to brighten your day! Well THAT day might just be this Friday at 8:00am… when each of these pieces show up in my new ETSY SHOP as part of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR.

Categories: art fair, pottery, soda-fired, stamped, vases

A little more “eye candy” for those who love a bit of texture… like me!
A few more “teasers” of a couple of the vases that will be part of my “brand new” ETSY SHOP launch Friday 6/18 at 8:00am as part of the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY.

Categories: art fair, bowls, stamped, textures

A few more bowls… a few more colors, a few more stamps… and who doesn’t LOVE a good spiral?! Always food-safe & dishwasher-safe. Perfect for everyday use… just not guaranteed “gravity-safe”! A few more pieces that will show up in my “brand new” ETSY SHOP during the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR next weekend!

Categories: bowls, soda-fired, stamped

A little more stamping & soda-firing to “bowl” you over… little glimpses of some of the bowls that will be available during the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR. It’s this weekend on Friday, Saturday & Sunday… with twenty-one potters, free demos on ZOOM & even some free pottery giveaways!!!

Check out www.northernilpotterytour.com for more details… and be sure to follow The Tour on Instagram @northernilpotterytour

Categories: art fair, pottery, stamped, textures

Just pulling together & photographing a lot of pieces for the NORTHERN ILLINOIS POTTERY TOUR… and noticing a smidge of textures & stamps here & there?! Go figure… a little visual “teaser” of the pieces that will be available on my new ETSY SHOP starting Friday, June 18th at 8:00am!

Check out the website for more Pottery Tour information & free demo schedule! www.northernilpotterytour.com

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

Just a few of the new “wheelthrown-handbuilt-combo” mugs fresh out of the soda kiln! These are just a few of the orange ones… my favorite color! I’m loving the bright, clear color, the flash of soda-white that highlights the textures & the all-around-the-mug texture pattern! Many of the textured patterns were made with hand rollers from MKM Pottery Tools.

Methinks there’s a very good chance that a few of these might just make their “Big Debut” at the HINSDALE FINE ART SHOW this weekend.

And yes, I’m still looking for a clever name to call these new mugs!
Open to suggestions… please…

Categories: bowls, classes, process, surface decoration, textures

You’re the “Master of Water-Etching”… and I’m sure my students loved your demo! You went above & beyond with that splash of color… but I knew you would. Thanks for being the best sub teacher ever for my SURFACE DECORATIONS class last Thursday!

Categories: flowers, nature, textures

Colorful coleus on my back porch at home… plenty of textures & ruffled edges to celebrate Mother Nature’s TEXTURE TUESDAY. Loving the color contrasts of reds, rusts & chartreuse yellows!