Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Tipping, and I'm really looking forward to learning with you today about ceramics through cake culture.

We are going to do lots of thinking, talking, and exploring together in this lesson.

So shall we get started? Let's go.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to sketch and design a celebration cake using shading techniques and incorporating cultural elements.

Before we start, I would like to introduce you to some keywords.

We'll be using these keywords during the lesson, so it might be a good idea to write these words down.

The keywords we'll be using today are: sketch, composition, proportion, and texture.

I'm going to say those words again, and I would like you to repeat them after me.

Sketch.

Composition.

Proportion.

Texture.

Good job.

Now let's think in more detail about what these keywords mean by taking a look at their definitions.

To sketch means a rough drawing used to plan a design before creating a final piece.

Composition is the arrangement of elements within an artwork to create balance and interest.

Proportion is the size relationship between different parts of a drawing.

Texture is the visual or physical feel of a surface created through shading or materials.

Pause the video here to make a note of these keywords, and when you're ready to continue, press play.

These are the learning cycles that we're working through together in today's lesson: understanding cake culture, and developing a cake design.

In this first learning cycle, we're going to understand what cake culture is.

As delicious as cakes can be, they are more than just food.

Cakes are used for celebrations such as birthdays, weddings, and festivals.

They're also used for cultural traditions and events, and for creativity and art, showcasing design and decoration skills.

Different cultures make cakes to reflect traditions, symbols, and celebrations.

Cultural cake examples include moon cakes for the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.

The galette de rois, or king cake, for the 12th night after Christmas in France.

The Dia de Reyes is a traditional ring-shaped cake for January the 6th celebrations in Mexico.

And kunafa cake is often made for the Islamic celebration of Eid.

Cakes are prepared and enjoyed for many different special occasions.

Discuss with a partner if you've ever seen a unique celebration cake and what made it special.

Pause the video here to have that discussion with your partner, and press play when you're ready to continue.

When have you ever seen a unique celebration cake? Was it a birthday, a bit like this birthday cake in the style of a police car, or was it something different? Well, Izzy says, "I went to a wedding where there was a huge cake that was beautifully decorated with flowers.

And when the married couple cut the cake, everyone cheered and clapped." And Alex says, "I remember having a birthday cake that was in the shape of a giant caterpillar.

Being able to share it with my friends and family made it feel really special." Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Why do different cultures have unique cake designs? Because cakes are only used for decoration.

To reflect traditions, symbols, and celebrations.

Because cakes need to be as simple as possible.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think about the answer to this question, and press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said different cultures have unique cake designs to reflect traditions, symbols, and celebrations, you are absolutely right.

Well done.

A sketch is a rough drawing used to plan a design before creating a final piece.

Sketching allows us to think visually, explore ideas, and see things more closely.

And you can use your cake sketch to experiment with shapes, details, and composition.

To sketch a cake, start by lightly drawing simple shapes like circles, ovals, and squares.

And then these shapes can be developed to look more 3D.

Try adding lines and details to turn them into cylinders, domes, and cubes.

Can you see here how those simple shapes have then been created into shapes that are 3D? So here, if I draw an oval and then I extend it into a cylinder, I could experiment with the size and the angle of that cylinder.

So you have a go now, draw an oval and then extend it into a cylinder.

Pause the video here and give yourself enough time to have a go at doing that, and press play when you are ready to continue.

How did that go? Well, you may have found that more of the top is visible when using a rounder oval, or that a tall cylinder can be made by lengthening the sides.

So can you see that in those images here? Now if I draw a square and extend it into a cube, I can also experiment with the size and angle, thinking about how I could draw the sides a bit longer to elongate that square on each side.

So you have a go now, draw a square and extend it into a cube.

Pause the video here and give yourself enough time to do that, and press play when you are ready to continue.

How did that go? Well, you might find that squares and rectangles become cubes or cuboids depending on the length of the sides.

So if you make all of the sides equally long, then it remains a cube, but then becomes a cuboid if you have two sides that are longer than the other two sides.

Now check that your shapes are in proportion, looking to see if they are the right size in relation to each other.

Think about symmetry to make the cake look balanced.

And also think about what types of toppings you might find on cakes and which ones you want to include in your design.

Do you want to have fruit or cream? Any seasonal or cultural decorations or candles or icing? Now with the basic cake shapes sketched in proportion, the next steps are to outline those details.

So you might add layers and decorations, whether that's fruit or icing or cream.

You might want to neaten any rough pencil lines.

You can see those around the edge of the cake there.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What is the purpose of sketching a cake before designing it? To use up time before making the final design.

To create a perfect drawing on the first attempt.

To experiment with shapes, details, and composition.

Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner about this question, and press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said to experiment with shapes, details, and composition, you are right.

That's the purpose of sketching a cake before designing it.

This brings us to our first learning task.

I'd like you to create a sketch of a celebration cake, experimenting with shapes, tiers, and decoration ideas.

You could demonstrate your understanding of cake culture by including shapes or symbols that represent a culture or particular celebration, or by selecting a colour palette that represents a culture or particular celebration.

So pause the video here and give yourself enough time to have a go at creating a sketch of a celebration cake, and then press play when you are ready to continue.

How did that go? Were you able to create your sketch and demonstrate your understanding of cake culture? Well, in this example, a sketch of a cake has been made while considering the proportions and overall composition, and toppings and icing have been added for decoration.

Maybe your sketch looks similar.

Maybe you've included some symbols that maybe represent a birthday or a wedding or some other celebration.

Well done for having a go at this learning task.

This now brings us to the second part of our lesson.

We're going to be developing a cake design.

As well as cultural celebration cakes, many artists have highlighted the beauty of cakes through their art.

The artist Wayne Thiebaud paints cakes with bold colours and textures, while Jae Yong Kim paints ceramic glazed donuts that feature vibrant and intricate patterns.

Cake designs can be made to look realistic by adding texture and details.

However, not all cakes must be realistic.

Creative and exaggerated effects in designs can make cakes look visually exciting and unique.

Take a look at that vibrant and colourful cake artwork there.

Look at these examples of cake designs.

Can you think of any ways that they might be improved? Pause the video here and have a discussion with your partner, and press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? How could they be improved? Well, Andeep says, "Maybe by adding colours and textures would look great here." Izzy says, "Adding more texture, shading, and neatening the lines would improve this cake artwork." And Alex says, "Shading could help make it look more 3D." So there's lots of different ideas there on how to improve these cake artworks.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

Why might Wayne Thiebaud's artworks be useful for cake design inspiration? He paints cakes with bold colours and texture.

He only paints realistic food.

He sculpts cakes out of real sugar.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think, and press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said he paints cakes with bold colours and texture, you are absolutely right.

That's why they might be useful for cake design inspiration.

Now to refine a sketch into a more developed design, you might experiment with hatching or crosshatching for some shading.

You might also look at some stippling for soft textures.

Maybe some bold outlines to define key shapes.

And using an eraser to create highlights.

Now, think about composition and the arrangement of elements to create balance and interest.

And remember that the focus should be on the design of the cake.

So looking here, we're too close up.

We're not really in the right place there, the composition isn't quite right.

But looking at this image, we've got that arranged into the right place, and the balance and interest is there.

Consider how the cake design sits on the page, if the design feels balanced and if it would look good as a 3D sculpture, like in this third image here.

Now to develop your cake design and make it stand out, consider the composition and placement of elements.

Think about how to adjust proportions for visual balance.

Think about how to add patterns, details, and textures, and experiment with shading techniques.

To make your design stand out, you might also include visual elements that connect your cake design to a culture or a specific celebration.

You can see this cake here has been themed for a Chinese celebration using the red and the gold and some of those symbols there from Chinese culture.

Let's take a moment to pause and check our understanding.

What is the best way to make a cake design stand out? By adding layers, textures, and cultural patterns.

By using only one shape and colour.

By keeping it completely plain.

Pause the video here and give yourself a moment to think, and press play when you are ready to continue.

What did you think? If you said by adding layers, textures, and cultural patterns, that's the best way to make a cake stand out, you are absolutely right.

Well done.

This brings us to our final learning task.

I'd like you to develop your sketch from task A by adding texture, shading, and details using hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling.

Think about how the cake would look as a 3D sculpture.

What details would help to make it stand out? So pause the video here and give yourself enough time to develop your sketch from the first learning task by adding that texture, shading, and details, and press play when you are ready to continue.

How did that go? Did you also think about how your cake would look as a 3D sculpture? Well, your design might look like this.

This cake design here uses crosshatching for shading, stippling for texture, and an eraser for highlights.

Toppings, berries, and tiers are also incorporated to create visual interest.

Can you see that crosshatching there on the brown areas of the cake? The eraser is being used on the icing there.

Can you see where that highlight is? Well done for having a go at developing your sketch by adding that texture, shading, and details.

Before we finish this lesson, let's summarise what we've learned about sketching and designing a celebration cake.

Cakes are used in different cultures for celebrations and events.

Cake design can incorporate elements which show cultural influences or certain celebrations.

Sketching allows for experimentation with basic shapes, proportions, details, and composition, before developing into a detailed design.

And shading techniques can be used to create depth and texture.

Thank you for joining me in this lesson today.

I hope to see you in the next one.

See you next time.