AP Studio Art Syllabus
Mr. Uttendorfer
Email Shawnutt@aol.com
uttendorfers@gcufsd.net
AP Studio Art is intended to be a college preparatory class in art.
Students will work throughout the school year to produce a portfolio which
is indicative of college-level aptitude and approach.
All AP Studio Art students will be expected to produce a complete finished
project every week. The work is due at the beginning of class every Wednesday
without fail. No excuses will be accepted. If the student does not attend class on
that day, arrangements must be made for the work to be turned in. Late work will
not be accepted and on every Wednesday that the student fails to turn in work he
or she will receive a 0 grade for that week.
All AP Studio Art students are expected to participate in the National
Portfolio Day event. This event is typically held in and New York and on Long
Island early in November. More details will be provided as they become
available. Many Universities and art schools send their representatives to
evaluate student portfolios at these events and they are valuable opportunities
for the college-bound.
All AP Studio Art students are expected to complete a portfolio packet for
submission to the college board the first week of May. This portfolio will be
evaluated by college board readers, and a high score on the evaluation may be
accepted for college credit, depending on the policies of the specific institution.
This portfolio takes the place of the AP test given to students in other disciplines
and it is required.
Specific assignments will be given. Students who have strong concepts or
direction may work on projects, which reflect their own goals and interest. All
assignments will be assessed by the same standards.
Assignments will begin with fundamentals of drawing and design. Projects are
intended to show the student’s breadth of experience as well as a specific
concentration topic.
Wednesday will be critique day. As stated above each student will present one
work each week along with a brief statement. Students will critique and assess
the work of their fellows and provide feedback intended to strengthen and
improve future work and rework.
Students are requested to purchase:
Acrylic paint set (suggested brand Daler-Roney)
Assorted appropriate brushes
A sketch book
AP Studio encompasses many different types of art making. Students should
have the materials appropriate to their own direction.
Students who intend to present a portfolio in 2D or 3D design may have different
materials needs.
The instructor can provide an alternative list.
Summer Assignments:
Choose 2 assignments from section I
Choose 3 assignments from section II
Choose 2 assignments from section III
Section I assignment themes: no larger than (16x20)
1. Draw a person’s head and face using exaggeration to communicate emotion.
Work from a live model. First use a pencil to make a general drawing. Note the
shapes and planes of the face and how they fit together. Then continue over the
drawing with a darker media. Utilize strong contrast to greatly exaggerate the
areas you want to emphasize. Work from a live model and do not use a front or
side view.
2. Create a drawing of a small group of people. Utilize your skills in design to
emphasize the negative space between them. Be creative when dealing with line
and shape. Draw from life.
3. Use the garden (flower or vegetable) as a theme to compose a drawing or a
painting.
4. If you have a household pet, produce a complete drawing of the pet in its
environment. Show either action or try to evoke an emotional response.
5. Draw all wooden objects, use pen or pencil.
6. Create a composition with the ―monster in the closet‖ or ―under the bed‖ as
the subject matter.
7. Draw 3 objects related to music (ie: Ipod, earphones, CDs, etc.) with uniball
pen—contour line. Then draw again with a colored marker---contour line.
Overlap the colored drawing over the first drawing.
8. Pick one object to draw one more time---do this in uniball. Draw it over the first
two sets of drawings. It can be drawn larger or smaller. Drawing must reach the
edges of page on at least 3 sides.
9. Using an old phone book or a small existing printed book (check library book
sales –see me for a book); transform the book using any one /or combination of
the following methods and media:
a. Methods: Tear, cut, sew, create a clasp, paint pages, create a lift flap,
create secret compartments, carve out areas, write, draw, glue pages
together, manipulate existing text, cut areas away, create new text, cut
holes or openings.
Media Ideas: Pencil, marker, paint, glue, wire, natural objects, beads,
fabrics, papers, magazine clippings, old photographs or other media.
!!!!!Aim to show a theme or show unity.
10. Create an interior drawing of your bedroom. Include yourself in the image
somewhere. Focus on composition.
11. Create a drawing of your favorite object in your room. Place it in your favorite
spot inside of your house. Use contour line and focus on composition. Include
lots of details!! Extreme completion!!
12. Nonverbal Book: Using a three-ring binder with three-inch rings to serve as book
cover and spin for the book. Cut out three to five pieces of cardboard to serve as
pages. Punch holes to accommodate the binder rings. Select a title for your book
based on an emotion: The Fear Book, The Happy Book, The Book of Rage, The
Book of Angst, etc. Used mixed media to render the designs on each page
(incorporate both two and three dimensional components such
13. Do a Contour drawing many soft edge objects. E.g. upholstered furniture,
pillows, draperies, blankets, clothing draped over a chair, clothing on a hanger,
shoes, hats, gloves, and backpack. Don’t do stuffed animals.
14.Create a composition with as many different types of lettering and letter forms
as possible. Work with uniball.
Section II: SKETCHBOOK ASSIGNMENTS------------------CHOOSE 3
Feel free to use the empty pages of your Art 3 sketchbook for any of this section
Some suggestions to get started in your sketchbook…..
Leave a few blank pages at the beginning of a new sketchbook. This can take away the pressure
of creating a wonderful first page right away. These blank pages can later develop into an
introduction to the sketchbook.
If you do not like an entry just turn the page! Remember, nothing is bad-perhaps just
incomplete.
1. Draw an object from nature---THINK DETAIL.
2. Draw something you classify as ―junk!!
3. Draw outside vs. inside.
4. Draw a pile of pillows.
5. Draw a chair as a self portrait.
6. Draw 5 drawings on top of each other.
7. Draw something you might find in the garage or toolbox.
8. Draw an object that has an interesting texture.
9. Draw an enlargement of a section of an object that interests you.
10. Fill 2 pages with contour drawings of your hands holding objects and your hands in different positions.
You can overlap the hands. Use uniball pen!!! Then glue in the background with either newspaper pieces
(either cut or torn) or an assortment of candy wrappers.
11. Fill 2 pages with collage materials mixed with drawings and words. Think outside the box with this
assignment. Paint and/or draw the surface first. THIS SHOULD NOT LOOK LIKE A COLLAGE DONE IN THE
TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM.
12. Free choice Drawing: Complete composition. Fill the page-pages!!
13. Organize a still life utilizing breakfast foods. Include 4-5 items. Overlap the items. Draw or paint the
still life.
14. Draw any item and place it in a completely unusual setting. Also change its size and proportion to its
background.
15. Do a page full (20 to 25) of "mini" blind and modified blind contour drawings. (May take 2 facing
pages.) These are quick studies of people/children in different positions doing things. Perhaps --- go to a
park or a sporting event of some kind. Observe and quickly draw people being active. Do this in pen
please!!
Notes: Strive for unusual points of view, bold value, and strong contrast. Look for the
―unusua!!!
Section III…………….. Social Media Assignments……….Create 2
Students will create 2 pieces by looking at other artist from the Web
Use Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr
Follow me @shawnutt for all social media
I am available for opinions on your art work and Ideas. If you have any questions I can be
reached at shawnutt@aol.com all summer I will try to get back to you as soon as possible.