Progress of Jack Hammer

It has been a while since I've posted some images.  I have bisque fired the jack hammer and fired my first glaze on the piece last week.  I have tapped off some areas and applied tool dip to the handle grips and the rubber protective piece of the hammer.  The other picture is another piece I am working on as well for my thesis exhibition.  With NCECA coming up in just a few days, I'm trying to get to a nice stopping point before the conference starts this week in Seattle. 

Jackhammer in progress

As usual there is always work going on in the studio.  I have started another sculpture to go along with my thesis exhibition.  It will be a life-size replica of a air powered jackhammer.  The industrial reference is apparent with the form and questions the "object/artifact" aspect within my research and theme for my installation.  I plan on finishing the surface with multiple glazes, some of which I developed in my glaze and calculation class from last semester.  The end result will be a trompe l'oeil piece. 
I am hand building this piece and it's been a blast!  I really love pushing myself with the technical aspects of building hollow and creating a sculpture from multiple forms by hand.  Even though I enjoy working with molds as well, in my slip-cast work, I feel a connection with the material through the whole process of building by hand.  I have been using slabs, pinch pot method, coil, and press molds (bolts and screws).  Due to the size I have had some set backs, but I've reinforced areas where it was essential for the structural integrity I needed due to the scale.  I'll be posting the other half of the piece by the end of the week if not sooner.