AP Summer Studio Assignments
The following assignments are optional, but highly suggested for all advanced and AP Studio art students.
When you return to school in the fall, you will have the option to replace several AP Breadth section
assignments with the summer studio assignments. You will receive credit for the work to replace an assignment
currently in progress at that time. (No more than 5 assignments completed outside of the classroom may be used for the replacement.)
Consider the following prompts as helpful ideas to get you started. Remember that you are expected to draw
from real life and look at the subject as though you have just seen it for the very first time. Changes to the
prompts are fine as long as they are Collegeboard quality changes. See
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2134.html for more details.
Assignment #1:
Daily Journal Challenge: 20 days, 30 mins-1hr each
This assignment can be done in any media, but created in your sketchbook and the sketchbook pages should be
complete. First you must create 10 Sketchbook pages based on themes that you are interested in pursuing for
your concentration. If you have a strong idea, you can develop that into multiple pages. In addition, you must
create 10 Sketchbook pages based on observation from life. Draw what you can see and NOT from pictures. If
you struggle with starting each day, go to your social media feed (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) and find a
simple statement or quote as inspiration. Use that to get you started and move forward into journal writing. As
you work, you will mentally develop visual images that need to be put to paper. Move forward and the pages
will develop. To receive full credit for this artwork in the fall, this sketchbook must be complete. Pages can be
graded individually if strong enough for your portfolio.
Assignment #2:
Create a work based on the theme of Isolation vs. Embrace. Use any materials to create your work but make
sure it is 28” x 20” or smaller. Think outside the box on subject and materials. Consider trying a new medium
for this one or maybe one you haven't used lately.
Assignment #3:
She's Beautiful: A Portrait of Somebody in your Life
This is strictly a 2-D assignment and can be done in monochrome or in color using any medium you desire. The
style may be handled in any way you wish: realistic, abstract, expressive, impressionistic or cubistic, etc. It’s
your decision. (Note: select the style of your favorite historical or contemporary artist to use in this assignment.
Pinterest is your friend, my boards and yours.)
This portrait should reveal something significant about the model. Hands, torso and face are important
features and should be included in the work. Try an unusual surface. The portrait may be done on any flat
smooth unbreakable surface such as cardboard, mural paper, plywood, Masonite, Plexiglas, homasote board,
etc. It’s up to you. The portrait cannot be smaller than 16”x 20” and no bigger than 22” x 28”.
Assignment #4:
Plein Aire Landscape: Large (outdoor or indoor scenes acceptable, city or country)
The landscape must show depth and distance (receding space or informal perspective). The landscape can be
done from any angle (bird’s-eye view or worm’s-eye view). Overlapping and repetition helps to create a sense of
depth and distance. NO OUTLINES PERMITTED IN NATURE! Emphasize dark and light shapes, textures and
space. Be sure to obtain a strong contrast!!! The landscape must be done in color. Any medium you wish paint, collage, mixed media. The landscape must be done on a flat, smooth, 2-dimensional surface. Minimum
size: 18” x 24”. All landscapes must have a foreground, middle ground and background. Lighting is important
and should be dramatic!
Assignment #5:
Bon Jovi Rocks: Song Influenced Artwork
Summer 2016
www.Stephaniepickens.com or spickens@forsyth.k12.ga.us
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Illustrate a song of your choice. Do NOT incorporate the lyrics into the work! Create using any media that is
18”x24” or smaller. The theme is open to your own interpretation. Consider looking at Pinterest or This is
Colossal for ideas. Now is the chance to create artwork in a style you have been curious about or wanted to try.
Assignment #6:
Exquisite Corpse: Monster Mash
Read up on what Exquisite Corpse was in the early years of artmaking. Look into monsters and the history of
monster artwork. Create a work(s) based on this theme in any media that is 18”x24” or smaller. The theme is
open to your own interpretation. Making art work with your friends, Starbucks maybe?
Assignment #7:
Online Presence: A Website or a Blog
Consider creating a website to post your portfolio. Maybe a blog works better for you. Either one will work, but
its worth starting now because you will create these in the classroom. The summer will give you an awesome
chance to get ahead on this assignment and design it like you really want. Any website will do. I use Weebly and
Blogger for my personal/professional websites. I hear Wix is a great site, but know little about it. There are
many options (free and a fee) to choose from if you Google for their websites.
Assignment #8:
AP Portfolio Planning
Consider planning out all of your artworks for the year. This would be a lofty task, but it will make your year
run much smoother. Develop the ideas and complete all of the planning for each of your breadth section. Be
sure to read the detailed instructions about what is expected for the breadth section prior to beginning. You can
also do this for your concentration, but it is much more complex to develop a concentration after your breadth.
Contact me first if you want to plan your concentration section so that I can help you work through those ideas
and share what is accepted for my classroom.
Feel free to contact me through my website at anytime for questions you have about these assignments. I will
get back to you as often as possible, but I am not as available as I might normally be during the school year.
You can also follow me on Instagram "ArtsyPick" if you want some feedback. Tag your work with
#studio1551. This will also allow other followers to comment on your work. Be careful about "safe and fluffy"
positive responses though. Ask for real feedback. I know you can do awesome at this! I look forward to seeing
what you come up with over the next two months.
Summer 2016
www.Stephaniepickens.com or spickens@forsyth.k12.ga.us
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