shown on ceramic, 12-inch tileArizona

along the Apache Trail, northeast of Phoenix

Apache Lake

— a long blue held between desert ridges.

— Where it lives

Not only on a wall.

A small tile on the nightstand catching the morning. A larger one above the fire. Yours, wherever you spend the slow hours.

— On the nightstand, a 6-inch on a walnut stand

— Among the books, a 6-inch leaning into the spines

— Down a quiet hall, an 18-inch floating off the wall

— Above the fire, the 24-inch in a walnut surround

— a note from the studio

“A seventeen-mile reservoir on the Salt River, in the Superstition country of the Tonto National Forest. Horse Mesa Dam closed the canyon in 1927; the water has been blue and still ever since. The road in, the historic Apache Trail, has been closed past Fish Creek Hill since the 2019 storms, so today the lake is reached the long way, from the east. The desert keeps it quiet.

from the studio

— bring it home

Apache Lake, on ceramic.

Each tile is finished by hand in our Knoxville studio. Artwork is slowly infused into the ceramic surface under high heat and pressure, and rests beneath a thin glossy finish. The colour lives in the surface, not on top of it.

What kind of piece?

One tile — square or rectangle.

How big?

the popular one — counter, shelf, nightstand

6 × 6 in · 15 cm · 1.6 lb

Surface finish

A clear glossy finish — the artwork reads as if under resin. Ideal for show-pieces and framed wall art.

How it sits

A hidden cleat — sits ¼″ proud of the wall.

$58

Hand-finished and shipped from our studio at the foot of the Smokies. On your wall in about ten days.

— size

6 × 6 in

15 cm

— weighs

1.6 lb

solid in the hand

— surface

ceramic, hand-finished

art rests beneath a thin glossy finish

— from

Knoxville, TN

our family studio, at the foot of the Smokies

— start a Coaster Set

Pick any four 4-inch tiles — National Parks you've been to, a Smokies set, the four seasons of one place. $ for a set of , cork-backed, ready to live on the table.

— about Apache Lake

The place, in three passes.

A little of what's known, in case you fall down the rabbit hole — or want to go see it yourself.

— the place

Apache Lake is a reservoir on the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, about 65 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona. It runs roughly 17 miles long behind Horse Mesa Dam, a 305-foot concrete arch completed by the Salt River Project in 1927. The lake sits at about 1,900 feet between the Superstition and Sierra Ancha mountains, in a steep desert canyon shaped by the river over millions of years. Surface area at full pool is around 2,600 acres.

— informed by Wikipedia, Salt River Project

— the water

The water is deep, narrow, and protected from wind for long stretches by the canyon walls. Largemouth bass, walleye, yellow bass, and channel catfish hold here, and the lake is one of the few in Arizona managed for walleye. Surface elevation fluctuates with Salt River Project releases through Horse Mesa Dam, which generates around 130 megawatts of hydroelectric power and feeds Canyon Lake immediately downstream.

— informed by Arizona Game and Fish

— the visit

The historic Apache Trail, Arizona State Route 88, has been closed between Fish Creek Hill and Apache Lake since the Woodbury Fire and 2019 storms collapsed the road. Today the lake is reached from the east via SR 188 and Apache Lake Road, about a 90-minute drive from Globe. The Apache Lake Marina and Resort offers boat rentals, fuel, and lakeside cabins. A Tonto Pass is required for shoreline use.

— informed by Tonto National Forest

— where

United States · Maricopa County, Arizona

— within

Tonto National Forest

— the neighborhood

What's nearby.

A handful of named places within an hour's walk or short drive. Some we've already painted; some we will.

at the lake

Horse Mesa Dam

hydroelectric dam

12 km W

Canyon Lake

reservoir

20 km E

Roosevelt Lake

reservoir

5 km S

Superstition Wilderness

wilderness area

Apache Lake

Horse Mesa Dam

Canyon Lake

Roosevelt Lake

Superstition Wilderness

— common questions

What people ask.

A few questions we get about Apache Lake — and about bringing the piece home.

— about the place

A 17-mile reservoir on the Salt River in Arizona's Tonto National Forest, formed by Horse Mesa Dam in 1927. It sits between the Superstition and Sierra Ancha mountains, about 65 miles east of Phoenix.

From the east via Arizona 188 and Apache Lake Road, about 90 minutes from Globe. The historic Apache Trail approach from the west has been closed past Fish Creek Hill since 2019 storms damaged the road.

Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow bass, and channel catfish. Apache is one of the few Arizona lakes managed for walleye, and the deep canyon water keeps temperatures cooler than the lower Salt River chain.

Horse Mesa Dam, a 305-foot concrete arch completed by the Salt River Project in 1927. The dam generates about 130 megawatts of hydroelectric power and releases water into Canyon Lake immediately downstream.

Yes. The Apache Lake Marina and Resort operates lakeside cabins, a campground, a small store, and boat rentals. A Tonto Pass is required for shoreline use elsewhere along the lake.

— about the piece in your home

It has been a meaningful gift for anglers and houseboat regulars who know the canyon. A Small or Keepsake with a handwritten note from the studio carries the lake home.

Southwest, Desert-modern, and Mountain-modern rooms. The deep blues of the water against warm canyon walls sit well with oak, leather, and pale plaster.

A single Large above a console. For a longer wall, a 4-tile Mural extends the canyon horizon; a 9-tile Mural anchors a feature wall above a sofa.

Yes, in the Dura Satin or Matte finish. Both are scratch-resistant and handle steam and splash, which makes them well suited to lake-house bathrooms.

A microfibre cloth and water. The colour is slowly infused into the ceramic surface under high heat and pressure, so no household cleaners are needed.

— if this one stayed with you

A few you might also love.

Hand-picked by the eye that found Sorapis. Same air, same kind of quiet.