Culture Street
Mike Eden - teachers
You can include ArtisanCam in your teaching in a number of ways, from classroom activities guided by the classroom workshop video clips to research using timelapse, techniques, influences or questions sections or using the interactive online learning tools. Featured artists usually have seven sections and the table below will tell you what you should expect to see:
general

Through using the site, and being encouraged to discuss, reflect on and modify the work they produce, pupils will know, do or understand the following:
  1. identify the materials used in decorative functional objects
  2. learn to identify techniques used in decorative functional objects
  3. realise that there are contemporary artists who create art as a living
  4. understand the motivations behind the choice of art as a career
  5. create a functional object from natural materials using the techniques outlined on the site
  6. explain how they are making and decorating their objects
  7. to make comments about the work, showing understanding of why these materials are used
  8. to review what they and others have done, say what they think and feel about it and what they might change.
You may find other ILOs equally or more applicable to your pupils' needs.

cross curricular
Mike creates colourful ceramics.

Science KS 2
Changing materials.
Design Technology KS 2
Evaluating processes and products.
timelapse
The two ceramic vases took about five weeks to complete using terracotta clay and slip decoration. This includes approximately ten days when the clay will be drying out prior to firing. All of this was captured in a timelapse video.

techniques
Mike demonstrates techniques used in the production of the two vases and his work in general.
influences
Mike chose to visit The Bowes Museum in County Durham and look at their extensive ceramics collection. To find out more about The Bowes Museum why not go to www.bowesmuseum.org.uk 

classroom workshops
The clay coil workshop uses the following materials:

  1. One bag of earthenware clay (terracotta or grey will do)
  2. Wooden or cardboard boards for standing the finished work on.

The workshop uses the following tools:

  1. Plastic knives
  2. Plastic cards or pieces of flexible plastic

You may also find these things useful:

  1. Aprons
  2. Plastic top tables

Tips

  1. This workshop uses real clay not air drying clay.
  2. Ask the children to visualise a shape that they are aiming for before starting.
  3. Do not make the ball of clay that each child receives too large. This size determines the size of the finished object.
  4. Do not allow the children to squeeze the walls of the pot too thin as it makes it difficult to apply the coils and maintain the shape.
  5. Unless you have access to a kiln warn the children that the end product of the session is a photograph of them with their object.
  6. Allow the objects to dry so that you can compare wet and dry clay.
questions
Within the Questions section of the site there are three types of questions, those asked by us, those that have come from children via the live video conference links with the artist, and questions submitted via the submit button.
other interesting sites (relating to this terms activity)

National Society for Education in Art and Design www.nsead.org

An online resource for educational specialists, resources and support www.educationalists.co.uk

Gateway to over 3,000 UK Museums, Galleries and Heritage Attractions www.24hourmuseum.org.uk
activity - Slip Decorator
Slipdecorator allows the user to make a virtual decorated plate and fire it in a virtual kiln. The virtual tools are based on tools in Potter Mike Eden's studio.