Course Syllabus

AP Studio Art 

AP 2D Art & Design, AP  

Drawing 

2024-25 

Ms. Nelson

kateokeefe@westonps.org 

Extra Help Hours: Mondays and Tuesdays 2:30-3:30 or by      appointment.

Course Overview:  

AP Studio Art is a year-long course fulfilling the requirements of the College Board program of study.  This course will provide the challenges and opportunities needed to create a portfolio that meets the  requirements set out by College Board, and outlined in the AP Art & Design Course and Exam  Description. In studio classes, students explore and develop their personal interests and ideas, and  develop an individual artistic voice. Students develop mastery in concept, composition, and execution  of drawing as they create works for their drawing portfolios. Students will create a presentable portfolio  featuring a sustained investigation into chosen topic or concept. The digital and physical submission of  this portfolio will constitute the “AP Exam” for this course. Scoring will be completed over the summer  and portfolios will be returned to students by mail. 

Selecting your Portfolio:  

AP 2-D Art and Design Portfolio:  

This portfolio is designated for work that focuses on the use of two-dimensional (2-D) elements and principles  of art and design, including point, line, shape, texture, color, value, opacity, transparency, time, unity, variety,  rhythm, movement, proportion, scale, balance, emphasis, contrast, repetition, figure/ground relationship,  connection, juxtaposition, and hierarchy. Students should consider how materials, processes, and ideas can  be used to make work that exists on a flat surface. 

Students can work with any materials, processes, and ideas. Graphic design, digital imaging, photography,  collage, fabric design, weaving, fashion design, fashion illustration, painting, and printmaking are among the  possible submissions. Still images from videos or films are accepted. Composite images may be submitted.  

AP Drawing Portfolio: 

This portfolio is designated for work that focuses on the use of mark-making, line, surface, space, light and  shade, and composition. Students should consider marks that can be used to make drawings, the  arrangement of marks, the materials and processes used to make marks, and relationships of marks and  ideas. 

Students can work with any materials, processes, and ideas. Drawing (analog and digital), painting,  printmaking, and mixed media work are among the possibilities for submission. Still images from videos or films  are accepted. Composite images may be submitted. 

 

 

The Three Big Ideas of the Course  and Exam 

1. Inquiry and Investigation  

Students will investigate materials, processes and ideas through writing, researching,  sketching and making. 

2. Making Through Practice, Experimentation, and Revision  

Students will formulate questions that will guide them through a sustained investigation. The Investigative body of work will demonstrate practice, experimentation, and revision.   Students will create artworks that bring together technique, process, and ideas. 

3. Communication and Reflection  

Students will be able to communicate in writing how process,  

inquiry and revision impacted the development of their work. 

Students will present their work for viewer interpretation. 

Course Expectations: 

Sketchbook or Journal (photo students)  

Your sketchbook should be your “new best friend”. You  

need to carry it with you every day, everywhere! Open it up first thing in the morning and last  thing at night and many times in between. Draw in it, write in it, scribble in it, paint in it, glue  things into it, cut the pages, tear the pages, change the way it looks to make it look like your  own book. It should reflect YOU and your experiences. Work in your sketchbook is an  ongoing process that will help you make informed and critical decisions about the progress  of your work. This course teaches students a variety of concepts and approaches in drawing  and 2-D design. Your sketchbook is the perfect place to investigate a variety of concepts  and techniques as you develop your own voice and style. Date every drawing or journal  entry. Photo students though you may not be drawing you will be keeping a record of your  thoughts and ideas. Plan out your compositions, draw me some stick figures, record your  exposure times or camera settings. This written record will help your work to improve and  you to make informed decisions about how to make your work progress. 

Projects and Assignments  

Projects will be due approximately every two weeks. In Class Projects will offer  opportunities for you to experiment with a variety of media, pursue a sustained  investigation while being challenged to increase depth skill and conceptual thinking.

 

Quarterly Portfolio Assessment  

At the end of each quarter, you will be asked to prepare a digital portfolio demonstrating  progress in your sustained investigation. This digital record of growth will also include some  written self-evaluation and goal setting. 

Critiques  

Critiques are an integral part of this course. All students come together for critiques at regular  intervals—generally when assignments are due. Work is evaluated by the group as a whole.  Every student plays a role in evaluating their own work and that of other students. This  formative assessment process offers you concrete ways to improve your own work.  

Time Outside of Class  

This course does not offer enough time to fully investigate your topic. The assigned projects  will not completely fulfill the requirements of the AP Exam Portfolio. Instead, you will need to  be sustaining your investigation on your own time. This is part of the habit of artistic behavior.  Drawing and journaling on your own time is what separates someone who is “kinda good at  art” from an artist. Schedule time to make art. Make it a habit. Artists do not wait for  assignments. Instead, let the assignments offer inspiration and direction to your ongoing  personal investigations.  

Ethics, Artistic Integrity, and Plagiarism 

Although the use of appropriated images is common in the art and design world today, AP Art  and Design students who use images made by others as a basis for AP Art and Design  Portfolio Exam work must show substantial and significant development beyond duplication.  Any work that makes use of (appropriates) photographs, published images, and/or work of  someone else must show substantial and significant development beyond duplication. This is  demonstrated through manipulation of the materials, processes, and/or ideas of the source.  The student’s individual vision should be clearly evident. It is unethical, constitutes  plagiarism, and often violates copyright law simply to copy someone else’s work or imagery  (even in another medium) and represent it as one’s own.  

Students are strongly encouraged to become knowledgable about copyright laws and to  maintain reference citations for all resources used to develop their work. Your teacher will be  monitoring your use of resources ensure that you understand and demonstrate integrity in  making art and design. You are encouraged to create works based on their own experiences,  knowledge, and interests. Universities, colleges, and art schools have rigorous policies  regarding plagiarism.  

Digital images of student work may be edited. However the goal of image editing should be  to present the clearest, most accurate representation of the student’s work and to ensure that  images meet the requirements of the digital submission web application. When submitting  your portfolios, students must attest: “I hereby affirm that all works in this portfolio were done  by me and that these images accurately represent my actual work.”

 

The Exam

The AP Studio Art Exam contains two sections--Sustained Investigation and Selected Works. 

1. The Sustained Investigation section requires students to conduct a sustained investigation  based on questions, through practice, experimentation, and revision. 
2. The Selected Works section requires students to demonstrate skillful synthesis of materials,  processes, and ideas.  

Both sections of the portfolios require students to articulate information about their work. Both  sections are required. Students earn a score for each section, and sections scores are combined to  produce an overall portfolio score that may offer opportunities for college credit and/or advanced  placement.  

Section	Section 1:Sustained   Investigation 60% of exam  score	Section 2:Selected Works 40%  of exam score
Overview	Fifteen images that demonstrate  how a body of work explores   essential questions and   demonstrates HOW a student thinks.	Five chosen pieces that highlight a  student’s technical skills and   craftsmanship as well as ability to  synthesize materials, processes,  and   ideas.
Required Materials for   submission	For all three portfolios: 15 digital  images that include works of art and  design and process documentation  For all three portfolios: One artist  statement that identifies the   questions that guided the practice,  experimentation, and revision that  lead to the body of work (1200  characters).   For all three portfolios: Each work  must include a written statement  about: Materials used(100   characters) Processes used (100  characters) Size(height x width x  depth in inches)	For AP 2-D Art and Design and  AP Drawing: 5 physical works or  high-quality reproductions of  physical work mailed in a   provided portfolio  For all three portfolios: Each  work must include a written  statement about Ideas visually  evident (100 characters)   Materials used (100 characters)  Processes used (100 characters)

Registering for the Exam  

In order to receive college credit for AP Studio Art, you will need to pay for and submit a portfolio for  the AP Exam in May. A passing score may also count as college credit.