The Christchurch Art Gallery is still undergoing earthquake repairs, but this did not stop children learning about artists and the techniques used for creating different artworks.

This week at Cotswold School senior pupils engaged in lessons relating to clay and sculpture.

Bianca van Leeuwen, an educator from the Christchurch Art Gallery, led the pupils through a 90 minute lesson looking at professional clay artists such as Steve Fullmer, and about what clay is and where can it be found. Students then created their own clay sculptures.

Ben Camm explains that when you get a piece of clay the first thing you need to do is work it into a smooth ball no bigger than your pointer finger. Then you work your ball into a pinch pot making sure it is nice and smooth.

Joining two pieces of clay together is the hardest part as often when clay dries, pieces fall off, but Bianca showed the students a great technique to overcome this problem.

Grip, slip and smooth was the technique and Benn Camm explains:

"First you put holes where you want to add another piece of clay. Then you slip the smaller pieces into the holes and finally smooth these pieces in to join to your big piece of clay."

The school's senior pupils have been creating clay, wire and paper works: hedgehogs, owls, name tiles and frogs. They take about a week to dry after which they can be painted.