AP Studio Art 2023

Nathalia Trak | Drawing

Throughout my teenage years, I've grown and developed as an individual, yet with change comes self-questioning. My series explores the idea of the "three faces of self". I was guided by this question, How can our sense of self connect to the ways in which we choose to share ourselves with others? A deeper look at my subject reveals that we have three faces: our public persona, the face we only show to our close acquaintances, and the face we only show when we are fully alone. I used myself as the subject to dig deeper into myself, and to make my series more personal.

Valeria Vasquez | 3D Design

My sustained investigation delves into the intersection of my childhood memories and the tactile art of ceramics. My artistic vision is to represent fragments from my past that evoke a sense of nostalgia and resonate with viewers on a deep emotional level. My personal connection to this topic stems from my fear of time passing by too quickly. As such, my ceramic pieces serve as a means of preserving my fondest childhood memories, capturing the fleeting moments that are easily forgotten. My inquiry led me to elaborate pieces that are infused with a sense of sentimentality and complexity.

Giselle Hawa | Drawing

My series explores the psychological importance of feeling loved in your own home, and the relationship between family members. I wanted to see how I could depict nostalgia and the presence of a loving family in a house through the use of exposure, and saturation, as well as the objects and setting. This idea intrigues me because after hours of research for my AP Capstone project, I found that mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem are rooted in bad relationships that started at home. I drew from my childhood experiences to create visually safe environments. 

Natalia Sierra | 3D Design

My sustained investigation explores the different textures, patterns and shapes that can be found in nature. By exploring organic forms and textures, I strive to capture the raw beauty of nature to inspire a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Each piece is a reflection of the endless beauty that can be found in our surroundings, encouraging the viewers to connect with the world that surrounds us. Additionally, as someone who is passionate about both art and our environment, I believe this series can raise awareness about the importance of preserving the world for future generations. 

Loren Cortez | Drawing

My series explores familial love through my lens as a Mexican daughter, granddaughter, sister and woman/self.  Through my artworks, I am reflecting on the love that I have seen and felt expressed through the hands of past and present generations. My work explores dear personal memories such as making tamales with fresh corn with my grandmother or seeing my parents hold hands as they walked. My pieces show hands marked with time, and experience, providing love and support within my family. 

Pilar Gonzalez | 3D Design

My sustained investigation explores how humans are inherently dependent on nature for their survival and well-being. From the air we breathe to the food we eat, nature provides us with essential resources that sustain our lives.  This series is a visual reminder of that important  interconnection. The anatomy components show the human factor, while the flowers represent how nature connects to the individual, providing for their well being in some way. Using real flowers solidifies the idea. As the pieces are displayed, the viewer interacts with nature, which has mood enhancing benefits.  

Andrea Ramos | Drawing

My series explores the female figure and how to show it in its most relaxed and natural state using different media, poses, and gestures. I was interested in advancing my skills in figure drawing and wanted to dedicate my time in AP Drawing to do this. A big part of my exploration involved short gesture sketches and longer poses to develop my skills with proportion. Today most women are continuously concerned about their bodies and how they look. In my series, I aim to portray the ideal scenario: women feeling comfortable and free of judgment in their own bodies. 

Paulina Padilla | 3D Design

My series explores some of the emotions that people can transmit with their body. I have experimented with creating different positions and postures, complete bodies, or individual parts that can be representative of strong emotions. I started to research this topic when, due to the pandemic and the facemasks, we couldn’t use our facial expressions to express ourselves, so I had to learn how to use my body language more effectively. That is why I try to keep the face minimalistic in my artworks. Each of my pieces portrays different emotions such as: anger, depression, and freedom. 

Sofia Aceves | 2D Design

My series explores the symbolism of the evil eye superstition in different cultures, depicting how the belief has developed over time. I was guided by the question: “How can history & culture be represented with color & pattern in a way that appeals to kids?” The drawings are done in a children's book style, inspired by my passion for teaching kids & making history a fun subject. They come in pairs, showing the first appearance & current adaptation of the evil eye belief in each culture.

Ana Sofia Valles | 3D Design

In this series, I express the effects of anxiety on my body and mind. Each piece represents how anxiety feels in my body and how I see it inside my mind. I use features of nature to portray an exaggerated depiction of these feelings and thoughts, such as the representation of a tree trunk symbolizing my core falling apart when I feel anxious or the vines entertaining my mind as my body becomes absent. In addition, each piece explores a different sensation in another part of my body, such as my hands, stomach, and head.

Paulina Ochoa | Drawing

My series explores the emptiness and sbsence that a person can feel after a relative passes away. I used the places where I have memories with my grandfather as my subject matter to show how a place where a memory was created can be filled with absence. I believe that focusing my series on this can help with grieving since I am accepting these places will never be the same again and that the whole context of them has changed for me. Each piece explores a memory or anecdote and some show the spirit of my grandfather appearing just as he still appears at different moments in my life.

Katia Sahagun  | 3D Design

The artworks in my series explore the relationship between mental and physical health and the natural environment. How is mental and physical health impacted by our connection to nature? I chose this idea because it offers a unique perspective on the relationship between mental health and nature, using the metaphor of flowers and human anatomy to explore the complex interconnectivity between our well-being and the environment around us.

Cecilia Fernandez| Drawing

My series allows me to explore and understand my fears by exploring them through artworks.I wanted to see how I could visually express my phobias and how I could allow others to feel the fears I've had to endure. My childhood traumas and the inner feelings of having to confront my fears in an isolated environment led me to an artistic journey regarding phobias. My series explores the following question: How can I show my phobias in my own perspective to those who don't experience them? Each piece explores a different phobia I've had to tackle and overcome.

Costantina Cufre | Drawing

I was guided by the question: “How would phobias & philias interact with one another in hypothetical situations?”. In each piece I investigated a specific phobia, & then I researched the same topic but on the opposite side of the spectrum, that is the philiac side. I was interested in exploring the contrast created from the juxtaposition of two opposing extremes. For example,  the contrast of scopophobia, the phobia of being watched when you are in a private setting, with scopophilia, the philia of enjoying watching others go on about their daily lives without them noticing. 

Fernando Gonzalez | 3D Design

My sustained investigation explores the teenage search for identity when coming of age. I was curious to see how I could represent teenage experiences like substance abuse, the college admission process, being vulnerable to group decision-making, and acne. I wanted to visually explore feelings like burnout, isolation, being overwhelmed, and the pressure to define oneself. I became interested in this topic because I wanted to represent my own experiences as a teenager and by doing so acknowledge and bring them to life in hopes of analyzing the complexities and absurdity of teenagehood.