South Effingham High School
Visual Arts Department
2011-2012
Mary Cale Anderegg, Art Instructor
manderegg@effingham.k12.ga.us
912.728.7511
AP Studio Art:
Drawing Portfolio
(Fall Semester Course: Art II)
Course Syllabus
Course Description
In this course, students will use a range of conceptual approaches as well as show technical skill in a variety of
mediums and familiarity of traditional and contemporary approaches to art. Class assignments will challenge
students to set and achieve creative goals. Throughout the course, the instructor will weave the issues of artistic integrity,
plagiarism, original work, and moving beyond duplication into the course on a day-to-day basis. The expectation is that the
student will be involved in a sustained investigation of all three aspects of portfolio development: quality, concentration, and
breadth.
This course is equivalent to a first-year college art class and all students are expected to challenge themselves to develop
mastery in their ideas, skills, and abilities in drawing.
The goals of the AP Studio Art course are:
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To encourage creative as well as systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues in the Quality,
Concentration, and Breadth sections of the portfolio.
To emphasize making art as an ongoing process that involves the student in informed and critical decision making
to develop ideation.
To develop technical versatility and skills while using the visual elements and principles in compositional forms.
To encourage students to become independent thinkers who will contribute inventively and critically to their
culture through the making of art.
Course & Portfolio Structure
The AP Studio Art course addresses three major concerns that are a constant in the teaching of art: (1) a sense of quality in a
student’s work; (2) the student’s concentration on a particular visual interest or problem; and (3) the student’s need for breadth
of experience in formal, technical, and expressive means of the student’s art. AP work should reflect these three areas of
concern: quality, concentration, and breadth.
AP Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio requires students to produce a minimum of 24 works of art that reflect issues related to
Drawing. These works may include traditional as well as experimental approaches to Drawing. This may be done through a
variety of approaches, techniques, media, concepts, and subject matter.
In the Concentration section, students will create and develop a cohesive concentration, exploring a single visual concern in
depth. Each student will also provide and present an outline of their specific coherent plan of action or investigation, growth,
and discovery involved with their compelling visual concept to the class.
For the Breadth section, the course will provide experiences in a variety of media and approaches to problem solving to
express concepts and ideas. Problem-solving is an important component of this course. Students will learn to use previously
learned information in new and concrete situations to solve problems that do not have a single answer. They will break down
observations and works into their component parts, examining and trying to understand the organizational structure and
develop divergent conclusions. They will creatively or divergently apply prior knowledge and skills to produce new and original
wholes. These discoveries and syntheses will be communicated and expressed through the use of a variety of concepts and
approaches in drawing, art mediums and techniques, as explored in their art works, structures, models and designs
The student’s best work will be included in the Quality section of the portfolio, which will be selected for excellence in
concepts, composition, and execution of drawing. Each work will show mastery of varied media, techniques, approaches,
concepts, and subject matter.
Assignments & Projects
The first part of this course will require students to create work for the breadth section of their Drawing Portfolio. Students
will be given assignments that will guide them through various techniques, materials, concepts, and visual problems.
Assignments will have clear due dates, and students will be required to meet them. Assignments given will help students
develop skills, techniques, and ideas about a variety of issues in Drawing. The second part of the course will allow students
more flexibility as they begin to develop their concentration section for their portfolio. Students will be given strict deadlines
for completion of each work of art. Critiques will be held frequently, both as a group and on an individual basis.
Homework & Sketchbooks
It is expected that students spend a considerable amount of time outside the classroom working on assignments. Portfolios
and sketchbooks should be taken home daily. Materials and tools may be checked out through the teacher. It is the student’s
responsibility to meet deadlines by working in class and outside of class. It is critical to the artistic growth of the student that
they devote time outside of class to their artwork. Doing out-of-class and at-home work reinforces skills, vocabulary, and
higher level thinking models including sketchbook/visual journal and summer assignments.
Additionally, a sketchbook will be required as an essential tool to assist the student in a successful 2D Design Portfolio.
Students will use sketchbooks for planning works of art and brainstorming as well as journaling, planning, reflecting, and
documenting artistic growth and direction of their studio art experiences. Students will include in their sketchbooks visual
ideas, notes, photos, doodles, plans, short assignments, quick sketches, and various techniques. Sketchbook assignments will
be given weekly and progress will be checked frequently. This will provide students with the opportunity to explore a variety
of approaches to drawing. In addition to sketchbook work, students will be required to plan for projects and artworks outside
of class. This reinforces skills, vocabulary and higher-level thinking modes, including sketchbook/visual journal and summer
assignments.
Homework, maintaining a sketchbook or journal, and work outside the classroom and beyond scheduled periods is necessary
and is used throughout the course.
Summer Assignments
Assignments will be given to students to be completed over the summer prior to enrollment in the AP Studio Art course.
These assignments will deal with the production of works of art as well as sketchbook explorations. Assignments will be
checked in the first week of enrollment in the course, and are an important element in the exploration of a variety of artistic
issues.
Evaluation, Assessment, and Critique
Assessment and critique are an integral part of the AP Studio process. Work will be evaluated through group and individual
critiques with peers and faculty. Group critiques will take place both at the in-progress state of the work and after work has
been completed, and will occur weekly. Students will demonstrate understanding of vocabulary in classroom discussions and
critiques and are reminded to analyze the following during a critique: composition, execution (technique), and concept.
Successes and areas of improvement will be discussed with teacher and with their peers. Individual critiques will take place in
the form of dialogue or written feed-back. Individual critiques will focus on assessment of strengths and weaknesses in student
work and further development of works. Individual critiques will be both scheduled and spontaneous, as students work in the
studio. Students will learn skills in self-assessment and art criticism to facilitate this progress.
The College Board’s AP Studio Art rubric, which is distributed separately, provides the grading criterion which is used for
scoring Drawing Portfolios. This rubric will be used as a tool for assessment and evaluation of student work. Additional
objectives and ideas will be assessed as needed.
Grading Percentages
9-Week Percentages
Project Grades – 55%
-Projects, Exams, Artworks
Classwork Grades- 45%
-Planning Sketches, Sketchbook Entries, Quizzes, Daily Activities, Written Assignments, Work Ethic Grades,
Participation in Critiques, etc.
Homework Grades- 10%
-Any classwork assigned to be completed outside of class time
Late Work Policy
For every day that an assignment is late, 5 points will be deducted from the students earned score on that assignment.
Absences
If a student is absent when a project is turned in, it is the student’s responsibility to turn in the work when they return. If a
student is absent when a test is given, it is the student’s responsibility to schedule an appointment with the teacher to make up
the test. This applies whether an absence was excused or unexcused.
Artistic Integrity
If you submit work that makes use of photographs, published images, and/or other artists’ works, you must show
substantial and significant development beyond duplication to ensure personal artistic ownership in the work.
Plagiarism, using an image (even in another medium) that was made by someone else, is unethical and it will not be allowed in
this course. Students will review both the AP poster and the Course Description during a class discussion on artistic integrity,
plagiarism, original work, and moving beyond duplication. This will remain a constant topic of discussion throughout the
course.
Supply List
1. Students will be required to keep a PORTFOLIO, approximately 22” x 28” in size.
2. A SKETCHBOOK, approximately 8 ½” x 11”, spiral bound with pockets.
3. #2 Pencils
4. Eraser
5. A plastic cup for painting
Semester Schedule: Semester I (Fall)
AP Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio
Focus: Creating Breadth
18 Weeks/5 days a week/1.5 hours per day
Week
Weeks 1 & 2
Topics/Concepts
Course Requirements
AP Exam Requirements & Portfolio
Components
Artistic Ingetrity: Students will review both the
AP poster and the Course Description during a class
discussion on artistic integrity, plagiarism, original
work, and moving beyond duplication.
Review of Prerequisite Work
Contour Line Drawing
Positive and Negative Space
Drawing negative space
Expression with Line
Gestural Line Qualities
Assessment
Evaluation of Prerequisite Work
Sketchbook
(due every Tuesday)
Week 1- None
-Individual Critique
-Written Reflection
Evidence of exploration due by end of
first week, showing contour line
practice and line styles.
-Individual Critiques
A finished piece, using line as the main
element, due by the end of week 2
(Breadth).
Week 2- Draw the interior
of your bedroom. Fill the
entire page. On a separate
page, think about how it
represents you, even
though you are no in the
drawing. Write a reflection
based upon that idea. (due
Tuesday of second week)
-Individual and Group Critique
Expressive Line Drawing/Still Life
AND Negative Space Drawing
(Charcoal) due by end of second week
(Breadth)
-Individual and Group Critiques
Weeks 3 & 4
Tonal Value Changes in Drawing
Composition & Design
Concentration Topics
“Kitchen Utensils” Project due by end
of fourth week (Breadth)
-Individual and Group Critiques
Bicycle Drawing, in tonal values, due
by the end of the fourth week(Breadth)
-Individual and Group Critiques
List of 10 concentration topics due by
end of fourth week
-Individual and Group Discussion
Week 5
Hatching and Crosshatching
Composition and Design
Pen/Brush and Ink
Pen & Ink due by the end of the fifth
week. (breadth)
Week 3- Open entry of
your choice, showing
value.
Week 4-. Cover at least
four pages with charcoal.
Make a variety of marks;
smudge the charcoal,
experiment with erasure.
Draw a favorite object
from your house. Do not
place it in the middle of
the picture plane!
Week 5- Draw a still life of
geometric forms. Include
at least one sphere, cube,
cone, and pyramid. Add
value by using crosshatching. This should be
done in pen. Remember to
activate the picture plan,
so don’t draw it too small
Weeks 6 & 7
Viewpoint and Composition
Linear Perspective
Foreshortening
Architectural Rendering due by the end
of the seventh week.
-Individual and Group Critiques
Foreshortening/Exaggerated
Viewpoint project due by the end of
the seventh week.
-Individual and Group Critiques
Week 6- Find an object
you use everyday. Create a
composition in your
sketchbook that makes it
seem interesting. Draw it
in graphite, and shade
according to what you see.
Be sure to do something
with the negative space!
Week 7- Draw the
contents of your purse,
book bag, or pocket.
Arrange the items in an
interesting fashion. Draw
them, filling the entire
page. Experiment with line
and value.
Week 8
Color Theory in Drawing
Color Interaction
Soft Pastels & Oil Pastels
Concentration Topics
Color Still Life in pastels due by the
end of the eighth week(breadth)
-Individual and Group Critiques
Second list of concentration topics due
by end of eighth week.
-Individual and Group Discussion
Weeks 9 & 10
Color Schemes
Monochromatic
“Who Ate My Lunch” Still Life
Project/Cropped Viewpoint due by the
end of the tenth week (breadth)
Warm & Cool
-Individual and Group Critiques
Acrylics & Oils
Warm and Cool Colors Project due by
end of tenth week (breadth)
Mark Making in Painting
-Individual and Group Critiques
Week 8- Draw your foot
at least five times using
sharpie marker.
Experiment with different
widths and take advantage
of the strength and rich
textures these pens permit.
Overlap to create an
interesting, full
composition!
Week 9- Select a work by a
famous artist. Paste a copy
into your sketchbook.
Make three studies of the
work. Make a drawing
using only line. Make one
showing only the values
(no line). Make another
showing only the colors
(crayon, colored pencil,
and marker).
Week 10- Draw the view
out a window in your
home. Do this in a
monochromatic color
scheme.
Weeks 11& 12
Scale
Surrealism
Scale Change project due by end of
twelfth week (breadth)
-Individual and Group Critiques
Week 11- Design a room
interior based on a specific
color scheme. Fill the
entire page.
Week 12: Do a drawing
based on exaggerating
proportion. Fill the entire
page.
Week 13
Mixed Media/Deconstruction Collage
Social and Political Issues in Art
Week 14
Facial/Figure Proportion
Concentration Topics
Mixed Media/Deconstruction Collage
due by end of 13th week (breadth)
-Individual and Group Critiques
Self-Portrait due by the end of the
fourteenth week
-Individual and Group Critiques
Week 13: Using the letters
of your name, create a
design, filling the entire
page.
Week 14- Do a
composition based upon a
social or political issue. Fill
the entire page.
“Story Board” or Plan of
Concentration Development
Weeks 15 & 16
Figure Drawing
Gesture Drawing
Figure/Ground Relationship
Portraiture
Figurative Composition due by end of
fifteenth week
-Individual and Group Critique
Composition w/ Faces due by end of
sixteenth week
Week 15- Do ten drawings
of your hands. Fill at least
two whole pages.
Week 16- Draw a receding
checkerboard or chess set
using perspective drawing.
-Individual and Group Critique
Week 17
Open week for completing all work
and preparing portfolio for review.
Individual and Group Discussion
Week 17- Do a selfportrait in India ink,
focusing on expressive
lines. Use a brush. Fill the
entire page.
Week 18
Breadth Portfolio due as a PowerPoint
presentation
Breadth Portfolio due by end of
eighteenth week
Concentration topic due by end of
eighteenth week
Group Critique
Week 18- Rework a
sketchbook entry that you
did not do well on.
Written Reflection
Concentration topic due by end of
eighteenth week.
Semester Schedule: Semester II (Spring)
AP Studio Art: Drawing Portfolio
Focus: Exploring Concentration
Week
18 Weeks/5 days a week/1.5 hours per day
Topics/Concepts
Assessment
Week 1: 1/6/11
(2 days)
Discussion of concentration topics
and review of initial ideas.
Week 2: 1/10/11
Plan of Action development for
concentrations
Week 3: 1/16/11
(4 days)
Week 4: 1/24/11
Week 5: 1/31/11
Two works due by end of third week
Sketchbook
(due every Tuesday)
Independent Entry #1
-Individual and Group Critique
Individual development of
concentrations emphasizing process
and materials.
Individual development of
concentrations emphasizing process
and materials.
Two works due by end of 5th week
Independent Entry #2
-Individual and Group Critique
-Written Reflection
Week 6: 2/7/11
Week 7: 2/14/11
Week 8: 2/22/11
(4 days)
Week 9: 2/28/11
Week 10: 3/7/11
(Fashion Show)
Week 11: 3/17
(PTC, St. Patty’s,
2 days)
Week 12: 3/21
Individual development of
concentrations emphasizing process
and materials.
Two works due by end of 7th week
Individual development of
concentrations emphasizing process
and materials.
Two works due by end of 9th week
Independent Entry #3
-Individual and Group Critique
Independent Entry #4
-Individual and Group Critique
-Written reflection
Individual development of
concentrations emphasizing process
and materials.
Two works due by end of twelfth week
-Individual and Group Critique
Concentration Portfolio due by the end
of the 12th week.
Independent Entry #5
Week 13: 3/28
(GHSGT)
Finalization of portfolio, focusing on
revision
Week 14: 4/4
Written commentary first draft due
by end of week 13.
Two works due by end of fourteenth
week
Independent Entry #7
-Individual and Group Critique
Written commentary first draft due by
end of week 13.
-Individual and Group Discussion
Week 15: 4/11
Week 16: 4/18
(4 days)
Spring Break
Finalization of portfolio, focusing on
revision
Quality Portfolio pieces chosen and
submitted for matting by the end of
week 15
Two works due by end of 16th week
Independent Entry #8
-Individual and Group Critique
Final written commentary due by end
of week 15.
-Written Reflection
Final written commentary due by end
of week 15
-Group Discussion
Quality Portfolio chosen for matting by
end of 15th week.
-Individual and Group Discussion
Week 17: 5/2
AP DEADLINE
WEEK!
AP Portfolio materials assembled and
delivered.
AP Breakfast for Parents, Faculty,
and Staff
Week 18: 5/19
Sketchbooks due for a grade
Week 19: 5/16
(LEOCT)
Presentations of Portfolios
Week 20: 5/23
(Senior Week, 3
days)
All photos and portfolio
components done
Independent Entry #9
MAY 6 – PORTFOLIOS
SUBMITTED BY THE
END OF CLASS!
PowerPoint presentations of
complete portfolio with statements
submitted on CD for final grade
Teacher References/Resources
AP Central
apcentral.collegeboard.com
AP Studio Art Poster. New York: The College Board, 2008
AP Studio Art Teachers Guide. New York: The College Board, 2008
Sketchbook due with
written reflection