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ADVANCED PLACEMENT STUDIO ART: 2D DESIGN
Digital Photography, Digital Imaging and/or Design Based Drawing
AP Studio Art 2D Design engages students in professional art-making practices while preparing a portfolio for the AP Portfolio review in May. Each student will work towards creating a portfolio including three sections: Quality, Concentration, and Breadth. The course focuses on photography, digital photography, drawing, and the elements & principles of graphic design. All artworks created must be completely original. Students will use artistic integrity and move beyond mere duplication of others’ work or ideas to refine their voice and vision as an artist.
In the first term, students will focus on the Breadth section of their portfolio by exploring various media, methods, and concepts for creating artwork. Students will demonstrate an understanding of a variety of concepts and compositional techniques. Lessons and projects will encourage students to explore and execute different ideas while working on technical objectives. The term begins with students to examples of past AP Portfolios as a source of originality and inspiration. Lessons will start by focusing on composing photographs, emphasizing the Rule of Thirds, cropping/framing, and the Elements and Principles of Design.
Subsequent projects will include:
Exploring subject matter.
Color theory.
Using vivid color in artworks.
Further utilizing the Principles of Design to create compelling compositions.
Lessons will continue to stress aesthetic techniques as a source of generating areas of emphasis and aiding in the overall concept of the artwork. Projects will allow students to begin to explore a variety of media and skills, including alternative processing and printing, mixed media, and digital imaging using Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Adobe Illustrator CS6 to create and manipulate images.
Throughout projects, students will be encouraged to develop their style and explore open-ended topics as a starting point for the Concentration section of their portfolio. I will provide instruction with class demonstrations and differentiated teaching for groups of students that wish to explore particular concepts further. To ensure that student portfolios are unique and original, students will participate in various projects with infinite possible solutions. The overall goal for the first term is to allow students many opportunities to demonstrate their abilities and versatility in composing a compelling image, problem-solving, and imagination. The first term will ultimately build a solid foundation that students can use as a stepping stone for creating the Concentration portion of the portfolio.
AP Photography: Projects
Students will receive homework and shooting assignments that they must complete outside of class. Each student will be required to keep a sketchbook/journal, which will be reviewed by the instructor every week. Throughout projects, students will participate in both verbal and written peer critiques. Students will learn to talk about each other’s artwork, aid each other in the art-making process, and reflect on their artwork before completing each piece. At the culmination of each project, students will discuss and analyze finished pieces during a class critique. Participation in class critiques is a required part of the AP Studio Art course.
The second term of AP Studio Art will focus on the Concentration section of the portfolio. Students will choose and develop a theme or topic to explore in-depth throughout the remainder of the course. Each student will create a body of work that is a well-planned, in-depth investigation of a topic of personal interest to the student. Students will meet weekly deadlines for completing assignments to participate in verbal and written reflections of their art-making process. Multiple discussions, critiques, and research opportunities throughout the term will help inform and refine each student’s concentration.
The class will then discuss and select five Quality examples of mastery from these finished works to be mounted for the portfolio. Students will participate in the process of choosing, editing, and refining the portfolio to demonstrate that art-making practices are ongoing and involve making critical decisions. They will select five artworks mounted on 16” x 20” or 18” x 24” neutral colored mattes to unify the final portfolio presentation.
Students will develop verbal and written literacy about their artwork. Each student will become familiar with the AP scoring rubric for both individual and group evaluations. Students are encouraged to become reflexive artists who examine their artwork and discuss moving a piece towards a higher level. At least one AP-quality works will be due each week. The instructor will shoot digital images of each student’s best work continuously, starting at the beginning of the course. At the end of the year, each student will receive a grade for completing the entire portfolio – any missing pieces will result in a lower overall grade. The works in this course are for the AP portfolio, but I encourage students to include any work they have created outside of this class.
To help inform the student’s art-making practices, we will examine the work of many professional artists and participate in a field trip to local galleries and an art museum. Students will stay on-task by completing check-in sheets and meeting deadlines. At the end of the course, students will orally present their slide portfolio to the entire class.
AP Photography: Projects
PORTFOLIO / COURSE CONTENT
This course has two main components:
Students will study contemporary artists and trends in the arts while visiting local galleries and art
museums.
Students will maintain an online blog. This blog will be used to compose visual ideas, photos, notes, doodles, plans and research, assignments, written reflections, and quick design sketches. This journal is an essential part to recording the students’ creative thought process and tracking personal growth as an artist.
Each student will develop and submit the AP Studio Art 2D Design portfolio, including the following 3 sections:
Breadth
- This section of the AP portfolio will include 3MB JPG of 12 different artworks. This section will display the student’s mastery of various media, techniques, and subject matter. This will be the focus of the first portion of the AP Studio Art course.
Concentration
This section of the AP portfolio will include 12 digital Images (some details, 10 – 12 actual works) that explore a single theme or topic chosen by each individual student. The portion can be likened to a “visual” essay and is an essential aspect of this course. Each student will spend considerable time developing his/her concentration topic, as it is an ongoing investigation that should reflect growth and discovery involved with a visually compelling concept. This portion of the portfolio will be completed during the second term.
Quality
Each student will submit five original artworks that are mounted on neutral colored matte board. These artworks should be the student’s best work, chosen for mastery of concept, composition, and execution. The artwork for this portion cannot be larger than 18” x 24”.
AP Photography: Text
The finished portfolio must include 24 original artworks; therefore, each student will need to complete 1-2 finished works each week or about 12 works each term. Students will have to work steadily to ensure that they have the required amount of artwork for the portfolio. The instructor will demand more than the mere minimum portfolio requirements, expecting students to complete approximately 30 – 40 pieces throughout the course. All portfolio work must be completed by Friday, April 11th to allow sufficient time for mounting, selecting, and editing the final submissions. Students who finish early may do extra projects or a service-learning activity. Submission of the AP portfolio is mandatory to receive AP credit.
AP Photography: Text
STUDENT BREADTH WORK
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AP Photography: Portfolio
STUDENT CONCENTRATION WORK
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AP Photography: Portfolio
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