Your Goal for the Course
You’ll create a portfolio of college-level work and submit it for evaluation (instead of taking a year-end paper-and-pencil AP Exam). A qualifying portfolio score can earn you college credit, advanced placement, or both.
AP 2-D Art and Design
In AP Studio Art, the exploration of 2-dimensional arts offers students a rich and diverse landscape for artistic expression. Through mediums such as drawing, painting, printmaking, and digital art, students engage with fundamental principles of visual composition, including line, shape, color, texture, and space.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand and apply the basic principles and techniques of 2-D art and design.
2. Develop a unique artistic style and creative skills.
3. Prepare and submit a portfolio for the AP 2-D Art and Design exam.
The topics:
1. Graphic Design: This course typically covers the fundamental principles of graphic design, the use of design software, typography, color theory, etc. Students may learn to use Adobe software suite (such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign) for design, as well as concepts like design history, branding, user interface design, etc.
2. Digital Imaging: This course focuses on creating, editing, and manipulating digital images. Students may learn techniques such as digital photo editing, image compositing, special effects, etc., and use software like Adobe Photoshop or other image editing software to practice these techniques.
3. Photography: Photography courses usually cover the basics of photography principles, camera operation, composition, lighting control, etc. Students may learn about the differences between black and white and color photography, techniques and styles of different types of photography, as well as the basics of digital photography and post-processing techniques.
4. Collage: Collage courses typically cover the history, techniques, and applications of collage art. Students may learn how to select and manipulate different materials such as photographs, papers, fabrics, etc., to create visually interesting and expressive artworks.
5. Fabric Design: This course focuses on designing and creating textiles. Students may learn about the structure and properties of textiles, color and pattern design, as well as different textile techniques and technologies such as weaving, printing, dyeing, etc.
6. Weaving: Weaving courses usually cover the basic principles, techniques, and designs of both hand weaving and machine weaving. Students may learn about different weaving structures, fiber properties, and the use of weaving machines.
7. Fashion Design: Fashion design courses cover the fundamentals of fashion design, fashion trends, garment construction, design techniques, material selection, etc. Students may learn techniques such as drawing, pattern making, fabric selection, garment construction, etc., and practice the design process through projects.
8. Illustration: Illustration courses typically cover both traditional and digital drawing techniques, storytelling, image design, etc. Students may learn techniques such as sketching, watercolor, oil painting, digital illustration, etc., and practice illustration applications such as book illustration, comics, advertising, etc.
9. Painting: Painting courses usually cover painting materials and techniques, color theory, composition, creative expression, etc. Students may learn techniques such as sketching, oil painting, watercolor, acrylic painting, etc., and develop their personal painting styles and skills through practice.
10. Printmaking: Printmaking courses cover different types of printmaking techniques such as woodcut, etching, screen printing, etc. Students may learn about the printmaking process, technical details, image design, printing techniques, etc., and create printmaking works through practice.
AP 3-D Art and Design
Course Overview:
The AP Studio Art course offers students the opportunity to delve into the realm of three-dimensional design, exploring concepts, materials, and spatial relationships in depth. Aligned with college-level standards, the course focuses on fostering students' mastery of design principles and techniques while encouraging creative exploration and conceptual development. Through a series of projects and assignments, students will engage in hands-on learning experiences that challenge them to think critically, problem-solve creatively, and communicate ideas effectively through their artwork.
Course Objectives:
Throughout the course, students will embark on a multifaceted journey aimed at honing their skills, expanding their artistic horizons, and developing a robust portfolio for submission to the AP exam.
Specifically, students will:
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Engage in a sustained investigation of three-dimensional design, demonstrating proficiency in concept, composition, and execution across a variety of mediums and techniques.
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Develop a cohesive body of work centered around a thematic or conceptual framework, showcasing growth and exploration within a chosen area of focus while demonstrating a deep understanding of design principles.
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Explore a diverse range of techniques and approaches in three-dimensional design, including additive, subtractive, and fabrication processes, while experimenting with different materials, textures, and spatial arrangements.
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Cultivate a reflective and critical approach to art-making, incorporating research, development, evaluation, and reflection into their creative process to deepen their understanding of their own work and that of their peers.
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Participate actively in critiques and discussions to analyze and articulate their artistic decisions, receive feedback from peers and the instructor, and engage in meaningful dialogue about aesthetics, craftsmanship, and conceptualization.
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Embrace contemporary and postmodern concepts, taking creative risks and asserting their artistic voice while upholding principles of artistic integrity and avoiding plagiarism through original and innovative approaches to their work.
AP Drawing
The AP Studio Art: Drawing syllabus focuses on guiding highly motivated students to develop confidence and professionalism in producing high-quality artwork.
Course Overview:
Designed for motivated art students aiming for professional quality artwork.
Emphasizes mastery in concept, composition, and execution of ideas.
Students create a body of work influenced by contemporary and master artists, cultural examples, and peer discussions.
Portfolio showcases breadth of experiences, concentration on a specific theme, and quality execution, with each student providing a personal artist's statement.
Course Goals:
In AP Drawing, students will submit a drawing portfolio to the College Board, showcasing work that emphasizes mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade, and composition. Unlike traditional written exams, AP Drawing does not rely on written assessments. Instead, students compile a portfolio to be submitted in May, comprising five selected works that demonstrate their drawing skills and the synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas. Additionally, they include 15 sustained investigation images, which exhibit their drawing skills, practice, experimentation, and revision, as well as the synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas, all based on an investigation of the student’s choosing.
Students are encouraged to explore various aspects of drawing, including the types of marks used, the arrangement of marks, and the materials and processes employed to create them. They should also consider the relationships between marks and ideas. The portfolio submission allows for flexibility in materials, processes, and ideas. Students may work with painting, printmaking, and mixed media, among other possibilities.
Activities and Strategies:
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Varied instruction methods including direct teaching, demonstrations, discussions, reading, research, critiques, and individual conferences.
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Units of study cover breadth and quality requirements, encouraging experimentation with media and techniques.
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Ongoing critiques, both group and individual, facilitate learning and portfolio development.
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Homework assignments promote individual interpretation and creative problem-solving.
Assessments:
Formative and summative assessments include self, peer, and teacher evaluations. Final portfolio submissions based on criteria aligned with AP Studio Art Portfolio scoring guidelines.
Copyright Issues:
Emphasis on originality; significant alteration required for using others' work as a basis.
Discussions on plagiarism and artistic integrity throughout the course.
AP Art History
Course Summary:
The AP Art History course offers a comprehensive exploration of art within the rich tapestry of human history and cultural evolution. With a focus on understanding art in its myriad contexts, both historical and cultural, students delve into the visual and conceptual dimensions of artistic expression. Through the analysis of 250 diverse artworks spanning from prehistoric times to the contemporary era, students embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of art, probing questions about its creation, purpose, and transformative power over time.
Course Objectives:
In this course, students will cultivate a nuanced understanding of art by achieving the following objectives:
- Discerning the motivations and intentions behind artists' creations.
- Unpacking the significance and cultural resonance of individual artworks.
- Deconstructing the techniques and methodologies employed in the production of art.
- Contextualizing artworks within broader cultural, historical, and social frameworks.
- Establishing meaningful connections between disparate works of art, illuminating thematic and stylistic continuities across diverse artistic traditions.
Curriculum Highlights:
The course curriculum is anchored in overarching themes and essential knowledge statements, designed to scaffold students' engagement with art history. Key focal points include:
- Developing proficiency in identifying artworks through an interdisciplinary lens, encompassing considerations of context, content, form, and function.
- Cultivating a nuanced understanding of the interplay between different artistic expressions, tracing threads of influence and innovation across time and space.
- Acquiring fluency in discerning the materials, techniques, and aesthetic principles underpinning artworks, fostering a deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship and creative processes involved.
- Engaging with cultural artifacts as windows into the socio-political, religious, and philosophical currents shaping human civilization, thereby fostering critical inquiry and cross-cultural empathy.
- Nurturing a holistic appreciation for the multifaceted dimensions of art, encompassing not only aesthetic beauty but also its capacity to reflect and refract the complexities of the human experience.