AP STUDIO ART
Dear Students & Parents:
You have elected to enroll in Advanced Placement Studio Art. This class is designed to provide talented young art students
the opportunity to build a portfolio of work that can be submitted for AP credit. It is also a chance for the visually gifted to
receive national recognition for work produced as it is compared with other high school students throughout the country. All
students enrolling in this course must submit a portfolio in May of 2016 for AP credit. Students may submit either a
Drawing, 2-Dimensional or 3-Dimensional Design portfolio. Digital images of your work will be submitted online to AP, and 5
of your best (Quality) works will be required (Drawing & 2D only) to submit a portfolio in May of 2016. Drawing and 2-D
Portfolios require twelve images to demonstrate a breadth of skills showing mastery of a variety of media and problem
solving, and twelve images are an exploration in depth of a concentration area. A 3-D Portfolio requires 16 images (8 works,
2 views of each) to demonstrate a Breadth of work that demonstrate an understanding of the principles of 3-D design, and 12
images (some may be details) that show an in-depth exploration of a particular 3-D design concern.
Homework:
All this work can only be completed with extra effort and work. Two hours or more per week will be necessary to keep up.
You also need to get started in the summer. The assignment list for summer will help alleviate the pressure during the school
year. Students who enter school in August will need to complete summer work to assure success. Students who do not
complete summer work may sacrifice the privilege of taking AP Studio Art. Your grade average will drop 5% for the
semester if you do not complete one quality work of art over the summer.
Another option may be to take a summer class at a local college or academy of art. (See Mr. Sohn for information.) The
artwork produced in class can be turned in for summer work. (Parents should be aware that colleges will use the draped and
undraped human figure for drawing exercises.) Students who complete quality work during the summer have a proven
track record of succeeding in AP.
Summer Homework: If you choose to work on your own you are required to complete one quality work of art over the
summer. If time and inspiration allows please feel free to do more work because your portfolio will be stronger. Do not
complete all the assignments in the same medium. Use the medium you think is appropriate.
AP Drawing
1. Still-Life: Set up a still-life with a strong light source, like a window or a desk lamp. Try a crumpled bag or
piece of paper, a glass jar filled with something unusual, fruit or vegetables on some drapery. Be sure to make
an interesting composition that fills the picture space. Put unexpected objects together for added interest.
2. Magnify a metallic object: Zero in on a section of metallic objects, such as a close up of a bike or motorcycle,
a toaster or blender. Observe and draw the hard edge metal reflections and cast shadows.
3. Landscape: Do a drawing on location – the beach, the park, looking down your street, your backyard, or a
study of a tree form.
4. Hand holding a tool: Do a drawing of your hand holding a tool or an instrument. Be inventive about position
and lighting, and incorporate other tools, size and scale change.
AP 2-Dimensional Design
1. Logo design – Create a new logo for your own company
2. Design based on nature – Take a close look at a flower or leaf and create an organic design
3. Kaleidoscope – A circular design that resembles what you might see in a kaleidoscope.
4. Poster design – Create a poster for a real or made-up event
5. CD cover – Create a design for your favorite band
6. Photography – Take photographs that focus on the elements and principles of art – ask Mr. Sohn for a list of
photography ideas. Consider how some of the ideas listed above could be created with your camera.
AP 3-Dimensional Design
1. Humorous Assemblage – Create a sculpture using a collection of found objects that normally would not be
put together
2. 3D design based on nature – Take a close look at a flower, seed, leaf, or rock (for inspiration) and create an
organic sculpture
3. Non-traditional war memorial – Use any material you like to express your feelings about war and how it
should be remembered.
4. Monumental sculpture design – Create a sculpture for a real or made-up building (skyscraper)
Suggested Media:
Try a variety of media. Do not just use pencil. Pencil drawings need to have strong contrast to photograph well. Try
sharpies, colored pencils, pastels, markers, or anything you might have at home. Remember to fill the picture space and
leave a border. Try an unusual viewpoint, like an ants view or a view from the top, or how would it look from the inside of
your mouth looking out? Drawings should not be bigger than 18” x 24” or smaller than 8” x 10”. Sculptures can be
any size but should be transportable. Sculptures can be created using traditional sculpting materials like clay, plaster,
wood, or stone. Sculptures can also be created using non-traditional objects that can be found at home or collected from the
trash, junkyard, etc.
Relax and have a great summer. Create as much as you can. Have fun… you will be more creative. If you or your parents
have any questions you may email or call me.
God Bless,
Mr. Sohn
LHSOC Art Department
714-998-5151 ext. 633
sohnd@lhsoc.org
P.S.
Remember that any of the work you complete this summer and any quality works of art you have from past
classes can assist you in meeting your goals. Save the portfolio of work you have and bring it in next year. THE
MORE WORK YOU PRODUCE, THE BETTER YOUR PORTFOLIO WILL BE.
Suggestions for the serious art student:
(These items are optional but can make a good gift from parents for a student that is
always creating.)
Buy some art supplies that you can always have with you and put them into a fishing
tackle box. Some things to include in your box may include any or all of the following:
A set of Prismacolor pencils, Pencils of varying hardness, Charcoal pencils of varying
hardness, Erasers (magic, pink pearl, kneaded), Xacto knife, ebony pencil, India ink &
pen, anything else your heart desires like brushes, paints, or pastels.
The following is a list of textbooks that are good resources for ideas and Inspiration:
Resource books:
Betti, Claudia, and Teel Sale. Drawing: a Contemporary Approach. 2nd ed. Holt, Rinehart and Winston,
1986.
Brooke, Sandy. Drawing as Expression. 1st ed. Prentice Hall, 2002.
Guasch, Gemma, and Josep Asuncion. Color: Creative Painting Series. Parramon Ediciones, 2005.
Guasch, Gemma, and Josep Asuncion. Form: Creative Painting Series. Parramon Ediciones, 2003.
Lauer, David A., and Stephen Pentak. Design Basics. 5th ed. Wadsworth Thomson, 2002.
Mary, Stewart. Launching the Imagination. 1st ed. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2002.
Mendelowitz, Daniel M., Duane A. Wakeham, and David L. Faber. A Guide to Drawing. 6th ed.
Thomson Wadsworth, 2003.
Roukes, Nicholas. Design Synetics. Davis Publications, Inc, 1988.
Zelanski, Paul, and Mary P. Fisher. Design Principles and Problems. 2nd ed. Thomson Wadsworth,
1996.
AP STUDENT ________________________________
Mr. Sohn will be able to give you some personal advice if you want to show him your portfolio before you leave for
the summer. Stop by and see him if you have any questions.
If you have good digital images of your artwork be sure to save them and bring them in next year. If you have a web
page for your art, please share it with Mr. Sohn.
Be prepared to bring in your portfolio next fall when classes begin. A PORTFOLIO SHOULD INCLUDE WORK DONE
FROM ALL CLASSES TAKEN UP TO THIS DATE AND MAY INCLUDE SOME WORK DONE ON YOUR OWN. YOUR
PORTFOLIO SHOULD INCLUDE 10-15 PIECES OF YOUR BEST WORK – 2D, 3D, & Drawing. (If you are interested in
Photography you must have taken at least one photography class. Bring your portfolio from class.)
Mr. Sohn will use your student email account as needed over the summer.