Andy Graves Structures

Barring unforeseen obstacles I will be posting ceramics again regularly.

End of 2024 and most of 2025 I was spending my energy elsewhere. In Sept 2025 I was back in the studio. It was an unexpected breath of fresh air. Like rediscovering this thing I love.

My long range focus is on large objects, I'm upscaling my work. But before I start making large objects I wanted a platform to work on my glazes. Needed a bigger format test tile. So I came up with my CTGS, Concave Tableau Glaze Studies. I've posted a few photos of them. Turns out they are a thing! I love them. I also made a new small test tile mold, the Skull Monolith (which doubles as a bud vase or the good ones).

I planned on spending some time, like a couple months, just working on glazes. Then about the time the first CTGS's were getting glazed my motorcycle was stolen, recovered the same night but ultimately "totalled" by the insurance company. Energy shift to new motorcycle happened and is now pretty much sorted out. It's my mode of getting around NYC and important to me. My brain can only handle so many creative tasks and the motorcycle has been at the top.

But now, I'm back in the studio making ceramics. When I posted the first group of CTGS someone important to me encouraged me to make a larger version.

The first version, which are only about 10-1/2" x 6-1/2" when they are done, were a challenge to make. The mold is unlike any I've made before. In the kiln I wanted to fire them standing up, so glaze could flow down them. I mean they are basically a test tile. I want to make larger work and so it's to help me dial in my glaze formulas for large vertical surfaces. i have about 20 bisque fired waiting for glaze-coming soon.

I took the bait for the even larger version. Modifying the shape a little but basically upscaling the first one. Same program, will fire standing up. Size is equal to the what will fit in my kiln. They will slipcast 17"Hx24"Wx2"D

I developed my own recipe for my casting slip. I also developed a cream/hand building clay that is compatible with it. For the large CTGS I finally get to really use the cream clay for support. Stay tuned.

One of my pieces Gallery in the New York Times.