AP Studio Art Expectations
This course is a college level studio art course. With this title comes expectations of student performance. You need to
commit to the following things in order to be successful in this course.
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Notes:
Be present for class and use class time efficiently. Frequent absences lead to less in class work time. We also
need people present in order to have efficient critiques. All absences will need to be EXCUSED in order to get
any extension on deadlines. Do the planning and research phases of each project at home so you can maximize
your time with the materials and instruction while in class.
Plan out ideas in sketchbook (thumbnails and planning notes) before completing each project. Your
sketchbook should be the place where you jot down ideas, do materials tests, practice new techniques, etc. This
is your LIFELINE in this class! Bring it with you every day!
Look at art on a regular basis to inform your practice and provide inspiration:
o tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, deviantART, studentartguide.com, textbooks, museums, gallery
exhibitions, street art, etc.
Attend studio hours outside of class- it is a requirement to be here for a total of 2 hours after school per month.
Work on art in and out of class- you will NOT be able to complete this portfolio with class time alone. It is
imperative that you make a commitment to work at home on a regular basis in order to complete assignments
to the quality required by the College Board.
Complete and SUBMIT the number of assignments required for the College Board AP Studio Art Portfolio.
o 12 Breadth, 12 Concentration = 24 total ; 5 Quality pieces out of these 24 (best work)
Turn work in ON TIME. There will be substantial deductions for any late work. This is a college level course and
late work is not tolerated.
Create a Dropbox account with a folder labeled AP Studio Art- share with laurendell0704@gmail.com
Photograph work after completion and upload to Dropbox for critiques and grading purposes- do not use your
phone to photograph work. There is a camera at school if you do not have access to a high quality one at home.
Contribute to a positive learning environment, be supportive of peers, take risks, and be engaged and in tune
with your artistic process.
Maintain the cleanliness of the studio and supplies.
Pay a requested lab fee of $50 to purchase high quality supplies and materials for class.
AP Summer Assignments
Course: AP Studio Art (Drawing & 2D Portfolios)
Lauren Dellaria
dellaria@fultonschools.org
Date due: 2nd day of class
Estimated time for completion: 8 weeks (throughout summer break)
Resources needed to complete assignment:
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8 ½ x 11” / 9 x 12” sketchbook, 80lb white drawing paper, and other art supplies as needed.
Assessment: Each piece will be assessed using the AP Art rubrics (see attached forms).
YOU WILL NEED TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
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3 Major projects: The average of the 3 major projects will count as one major project (summative)
grade. Summative grades account for 50% of your average for the course.
10 sketchbook assignments: The quality of the 10 sketchbook assignments will be evaluated and will
count as 2 formative grades. Formative grades account for 35% of your average for the course.
Purpose of assignment:
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Review of foundational material/concepts/skills.
Expose students to required material/concepts/skills/texts that cannot be covered during the academic
year due to the fast-paced nature of this AP course.
If you took an AP course this past year, you already have a log in for the College Board. If you did not, go to
www.collegeboard.com to register. You will find information on the AP Studio Art courses, the “exam”,
scoring rubrics as well as examples of past student work and how they were scored. It is an invaluable website.
Under “My organizer” you can create a free user account – you can use this account to access information about
any AP exam and class.
Under the “College Board Tests” section, you can click on “AP” which will take you to the AP homepage.
The link to the Studio Art homepage is:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/sub_studioart.html?studioart
You will receive an AP Art poster at the beginning of the school year. This provides you with invaluable
information on the portfolio requirements. Take some time this summer to familiarize yourself with the three
sections of the AP Art portfolio: Quality, Concentration and Breadth. All three are required and carry equal
weight when scoring the portfolio.
Keep in Mind:
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Your portfolio may include work that you have done over a single year or longer, in
class, on your own or in a class other than high school such as one at a museum.
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If you submit work that makes use of photographs, published images, and/or other artists’ work, you
MUST show SUBSTANTIAL and significant development beyond duplication of the original work.
This may be demonstrated through manipulation of the formal qualities of design and/or concept of the
original work. It is unethical, constitutes plagiarism, and often violates copyright law to simply copy an
image (even in another medium) that was made by someone else. This is true of any and all images on
the internet!
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Your AP portfolio will be evaluated by a minimum of three and a maximum of seven artist-educators.
Each of the three sections will be reviewed independently based on criteria for that section and each
carries equal weight.
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You MUST follow the detailed specifications listed in the current Course Description and the Studio Art
Poster. If the guidelines are not followed, your score report will carry a message saying that your score
is based on an incomplete or irregular portfolio. The goal is a 5, not an incomplete.
Summer Assignments for
Advanced Placement Studio Art
Summer assignments help alleviate the pressure during the school year of producing the many pieces needed for
a successful portfolio. There are 2 assignment categories: Sketchbook Assignments (10), Major Projects
(3). Completing more of these pieces than required will only put you that much further ahead when school
starts.
You will be required to complete 10 of the Sketchbook Assignments, as well as pick from the list of Major
Projects and complete 3 of the options listed. Any additional assignments completed will count as EXTRA
CREDIT, but only if they are of the same quality as the required amount of works. Now is your time to start
planning ahead! The more planning ahead you are able to do, the more successful your portfolio will be, and the
better score you will receive.
Helpful hints:
1. Draw directly from life instead of using reference photos, whenever possible. If you must use a photo, take
your own or use a photo in order to control your light source and compositional choices. Attach the photo to the
back of the work.
2. Use quality materials for your art. Good materials make it easier to create good work. Use at least 80 lb.
white drawing paper and stretched canvases for painting.
3. Use standard sizes. Stay within the 18” x 24” size, so that these pieces could be used for the quality section
of your portfolio.
4. Use a sketchbook to plan your artwork before executing. Make several thumbnails, jot down notes, glue in
reference images, and do color and material studies when needed.
5. Use a variety of media, even combining them for mixed media.
6. DO NOT SIGN YOUR NAME TO THE FRONT OF YOUR WORK or place any identifying marks on
the front as per AP Guidelines. Be sure to write your name on the back.
7. Visit the AP Central website for the portfolio you are submitting often to see sample portfolios
and to become familiar with requirements.
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http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/studiodrawing
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/studio2d
Other good resources: http://lhs.loswego.k12.or.us/z-mcbrides/AP/Portfolio/breadth07.htm
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http://www.studentartguide.com/
AP Scoring guide:
http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap14_studio_art_scoring_guideline.pdf
8. Look at good art! Visit the local art centers, galleries, art museums, and art festivals. Take your sketchbook
with you and render the work as well as your response to it. It is a good thing to jot down your thought process
in your sketchbook as well as draw in it. Notes can be just as helpful as sketches!
9. Read about art! Read art magazines, such as The Artist’s Magazine and International Artist. You will find
these in local libraries. Check out books about famous artists in the library while you are there. Study the
images in them. With the prevalence of technology in our day, take advantage of being able to learn from other
artists. Their successes can help you solve problems you may be struggling with or give you inspiration!
10. Search the Internet for artists dealing with the same subject as you. Study their work, life history, and
influences.
Major Projects: (max size- 18 x 24”)
Complete at least 3 of the following major project options (2 from the first list, 1 from the second). The AP
Readers (Judges), as well as art schools love to see a drawing made from life. Spend the time needed to
complete the work. Don’t just draw a contour. Use a full range of values, with deep shadows and bright
highlights to create form and depth. Use the entire page, placing your focal points in the sweet spots, and
running of the edges with your composition. Fill the paper up, using more positive than negative space. During
the drawing/painting process, ALWAYS take breaks to back away from your easel/drawing board to look at
your work from far away.
*For each piece, try to use a different material(s). The purpose of the Breadth section of the portfolio is to show
your strength as an artist in a RANGE of media. These works will contribute to this section of the portfolio.
Pick 2 from this list:
1. A self-portrait that expresses a specific mood. Think about the effects of color and how it conveys the
individual mood. You may use any style (realism, cubism, expressionism, etc.). Research online to study
various artists’ self-portraits and their styles and techniques. Check out Van Gogh, Frieda Kahlo, Rembrandt,
Kehinde Wiley, and Chuck Close.
Suggested materials: charcoal / colored pencil / pastel (chalk/soft or oil).
2. Still life that consists of 3 or more reflective objects. Set up the objects on a table, cover it with cloth, and
place a lamp near it to create dramatic lighting. Your goal is to convey a convincing representation of these
objects. Render as accurately as you can, and paint exactly what you SEE, not what you think you see. Erase in
highlights for the most dramatic whites.
Suggested materials: Charcoal / graphite / ink pen
3. A drawing of an unusual interior – for example, looking inside of a closet, cabinet, refrigerator, inside your
car, under the car’s hood etc. Include as many details as you can.
Suggested materials: Charcoal / graphite / pen and ink / watercolor
4. A still-life of your family members’ shoes. You should include at least three shoes - go for interesting
shapes, design, texture, color. Place them in different, unusual positions.
Suggested materials: Charcoal / graphite / pen and ink / watercolor / pastel (chalk/soft or oil).
5. A close-up drawing of a bicycle/tricycle from an unusual angle. Don’t just draw the bicycle from the side!
Make this composition interesting and captivating with mechanical details of the bike juxtaposed with the
curvy, more organic shapes of the wheels.
Suggested materials: Charcoal / graphite / pen and ink
6. Buildings in a landscape: Do a drawing on location. Look for a building or spot in your neighborhood that is
part of your neighborhood’s identity. It could be a fire house, restaurant park, church or any other building or
place that you would miss seeing if it were torn down.
Suggested materials: Charcoal / graphite / watercolor / pen and ink
7. Expressive landscape: Locate a landscape near your home or use a photograph that you have taken of a
landscape. Or, you can also use multiple sketches or photos of different landscapes to create a unique one. It is
best to work from an actual subject, so draw outdoors while looking at the actual landscape if possible. Use
expressive color to draw. Check out the Fauvists or the Der Blaue Reiter to see expressive use of color at work.
Suggested materials: Acrylic paint / watercolor / pastels (oil or soft/chalk).
8. Create a self-portrait, using your reflection in an unusual surface, something other than a normal mirror.
This could be a metal appliance (toaster, blender), a computer monitor, a broken or warped mirror, a car’s rear
view mirror, or tinted windows. For this assignment, it may be best to work from a photograph.
Suggested materials: Charcoal / graphite / pen and ink
9. Café drawing (or any other local hangout): Go to a place where you can sit and sketch for a long period of
time. Capture the essence of this place (local eatery/café, bookstore, mall, etc.) by drawing the people and
things you see. You may take a photograph of this place to capture more detail when you are away from it.
Suggested materials: Charcoal / graphite / pen and ink / watercolor
10. Action portrait: Have a friend or family member pose for you doing some sort of movement (jump roping,
walking, riding a bike, walking down stairs, etc.). Capture the entire sequence of their action in one piece of
artwork. How will you portray movement in your work? Look at “Nude Descending a Staircase” by Dada artists
Marcel Duchamp, as well as the work of Futurist artists Giacomo Balla or F.T. Marinetti. Check out the
photographic motion studies by Muybridge.
Suggested materials: Graphite / colored pencil / acrylic paint
Pick 1 from this list:
For these, you may choose any media or combination of media, including traditional painting and drawing
media, collage, photography, or digital art. Photographs and digital art must be printed out. Start your project by
developing each idea in your sketchbook. Plan your composition with big shapes, value/color contrasts, scale
relationships, point of view, and lighting. Make use of the elements of art and principles of design with
intentions. Plan it out! Solutions need to be fresh and unique instead of obvious, predictable, and trite.
1. Create a series of 3 new artworks around a theme of your choosing. Consider this a mini concentration.
Look at artists who worked in series, such as James Ensor, Andy Warhol, Stella, Mondrian, Matisse, and
Picasso.
2. Create a comic strip about a social issue. All characters must be original. Include text and color. 3. Create a
photomontage, using Photoshop if necessary. Research Barbara Kruger.
4. Using media of your choice, design a CD/album cover for an imaginary musician or group, or for any local
band that you personally know. It must be totally original and be packaged in a plastic CD case.
5. Research and create a Pop-inspired work incorporating personal symbols or words. Research the art of
Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana and Ed Ruscha, as well as their photography. Think about your color use!
6. Create a colorful design for a handbag or other item of clothing. Research Tina Turk’s bags, as well as
the psychedelic art movement.
8. Create an off-beat portrait of a family member/friend using thick bold outlines and arbitrary colors, using
paint and/or oil pastels. If you use a photo, draw on top of it with oil pastels. Research Van Gogh, Gauguin, and
Georges Rouault.
9. Create a new, artsy label for a real can of food. Use a social issue as a theme. Visit the website
http://artandsocialissues.cmaohio.org/ to see how other artists dealt with social issues.
10. Photograph details: close-ups of faces, architectural details, textural surfaces, interesting lighting and
compositions. Check out the photographer Simon Lewis, Diane Arbus, and Annie Leibovitz.
Sketchbook Assignments
In addition to using your sketchbook to plan your projects, you must complete 10 sketches and spend
approximately 20-30 minutes per idea. Sketchbooks should display forethought, good composition,
exceptional craftsmanship, have mature subject matter (avoid trite, overused symbols). These sketchbook
assignments should be finished drawings. Sometimes breadth pieces come from sketchbooks. Choose from
this list or create your own ideas for your 10 sketches (you can do more!)
*You will be evaluated on the level of completion of these sketches as well as your artist/thought process,
creativity, compositions and mark-making. I will evaluate 2 groups of 5 for each grade, and each grade will
count for a formative assessment, totaling in 2 formative assessments.
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Texture / pattern found in nature
Illustrate a genre of music (reference Kandinsky)
Pile of pillows
Fabric with pattern
Look up words you do not know and illustrate them
Insects
Draw on top of an old drawing
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Man vs. Nature
Close up of an object making it abstract
5 drawings on top of each other
Transformation
Jim Dine: tools
Negative space only
Only objects I found at this location_________
Non objective
Oops, wrong color
Contradiction
Outside vs. inside
Plugged in
Extreme light source
Extreme perspective
Chinese proverb
Social statement
A tiny image repeated several times
Café
Park
View from a car mirror
What was for dinner
Laundry day
Glass bottles
Shoes
Create a texture surface and draw on it
Sink with dishes in it and soapy water
Yourself in 15 years
Abstract drawing of a building
Opposites
Conflict of interest
Layer it on
Anatomy
Morphs
The senses
Fill a plastic bag with objects and draw
Metallic objects
Autumn forest floor
Threads