AP Studio Art
The two primary goals of this class are to (1) prepare a portfolio of 29 excellent works for the AP test by the end of April and (2) develop your art and yourself as an artist. The primary focus is on the AP exam, but the AP structure allows for a great deal of room for personal expression. Above all, do work that you enjoy doing and be proud to bring to class. During this class, you will also develop a healthy artistic practice. This is critical for any artist, but especially important for young, developing ones. Be mindful that everything that you create will not be appropriate for your AP Portfolio. All artists create much more work than the ones that they present to the public. This is not a waste of time. Anything that you do will contribute to your artistic ability and understanding. Even if you do not present the work, that experience "shows" in the work you choose to exhibit. This is a college level art course. The nature of the class and the work will provide you with opportunities for personal growth and exploration that are very different from other classes you may have taken. You will choose one of the following portfolios subjects:
Drawing, 2D Design, 3D Design.
TOTAL= 29 pieces due by the end of April
Prerequisites:
Studio Art 1: Art Spectrum
Studio Art 2: Ceramics, Metals, Glass, Drawing/Painting, Photography and Visual Media
Recommendation by Instructor
Drawing is generally considered more rigorous and harder to pass than 2D Design.
Drawing is "designed to address a broad interpretation of drawing issues. For example, printing, printmaking, studies for sculpture, some forms of design and abstract and observational works would qualify as addressing drawing issues. Photos, digital works, videotapes, three-dimensional works, and color photocopies of your work in other media may not be submitted.”
2D Design asks you to "demonstrate a conscious and deliberate application of design issues using a variety of forms. These could include, but are not limited to, graphic design, typography, digital imaging, photography, collage, fabric design, weaving, illustration, painting, printmaking, etc. Regardless of the medium, you should submit only works in which design is the primary strength of the work."
3D Design "is intended to address a broad interpretation of sculptural issues in depth and space. They may include mass, volume, form, plane, light and texture. Examples of approaches include traditional sculpture, architectural models, ceramics, and three-dimensional fiber arts or metal work, among others."
AP Art Portfolio:
The AP Art portfolio consists of three sections:
Quality (5 pieces) Excellence demonstrated in original artwork . "Quality is evident in the concept, composition and technical skills of your work. You are asked to demonstrate quality through carefully selected examples of your work: work that succeeds in developing your intention, in terms of both concept and execution…. Flat paper, cardboard, canvas board or unstretched canvas are acceptable." Maximum size: 18x24"
Concentration (12 pieces) An in-depth, personal commitment to a particular artistic concern. "In this section, you are asked to demonstrate your personal commitment to a specific visual idea or mode of working. To do this, you should present an aspect of your work or a specific project in which you have invested considerable time, effort and thought. It is important to define your concentration early in the year so that the work you submit will have the focus and direction required for a concentration. A concentration is a body of related works that: Are based on your individual interest in a particular idea expressed visually; Are focused on a process of investigation, growth and discovery; Show the development of a visual language appropriate for your subject; Are unified by an underlying idea that has visual and/or conceptual coherence; AND Grow out of a coherent plan of action or investigation."
Breadth (8-12 pieces) A variety of experiences in using the formal, technical and expressive means available to an artist. "Breadth in this portfolio refers to your experiences and accomplishments in a variety of two-dimensional art forms, concepts and techniques. Successful works of art require the integration of elements and principles of design; you are asked to demonstrate that you are actively working with these concepts while thoughtfully composing your art … They do not simply use a variety of media, but combine a range of conceptual approaches and physical means of creating art."
