AP Studio Art Overview
Below is a link to the class syllabus, which has been approaved by the College Board. A brief overview follows.
National Visual Arts Content Standards
Computer Graphics 2 (AP 2D-Design)
CONTENT: Computer Graphics 2 (AP 2D-Design) is a design-based course that emphasizes the elements and principles of art. Students are expected to arrive having a working knowledge of the elements and principles, and be able to pursue independent work as they work toward fulfilling the requirements for submitting the AP 2D Design Portfolio. Project and process rely heavily on the National Standards for the Visual Arts, with performance objectives appropriate to an advanced level of art.
Evidence of mastery will be demonstrated by various means, including:
1. Digital Portfolio: Students will submit completed assignments in a digital portfolio that serves as a cumulative evaluation tool;
2. Participating in group and individual critiques;
3. Being able to articulate (verbally and in writing) about the process, and the resulting artworks;
4. Development of critical thinking skills;
5. Student will develop and keep a personal journal that chronicles their thinking, development and experimentation with ideas;
6. Finally, successfully completing and submitting the 2D Design Portfolio to the College Board.
EVALUATION:
For grading purposes, specific evaluations, both formal and informal, will be aligned to the categories prescribed by the Prince George's County Board of Education Grading Policy, specifically Classwork (50%), Homework (30%) and Assessments (20%).
Evidence of mastery will be demonstrated by submitting completed assignments in a digital portfolio that serves as a cumulative evaluation tool. In general, the AP Scoring Rubric is used as baseline criteria for evaluation of work. (link) In addition, students will participate in group critiques and individual critiques on a regular basis. Students are expected to develop a working vocabulary based upon the elements and principles of design (and supplemented with a list of descriptive words) used for analyzing and describing art works) in both written and verbal scenarios. Evaluation by the teacher on a one-to-one basis will be ongoing throughout the year.
Evaluation tools include:
1. Digital Portfolio
2. Group critique
3. Individual Critique
4. Students learn how to “read” a work of art
5. Ability to describe, analyze, interpret and judge a work of art (see attached Standards for Evaluating Art)
I. The Elements of Art: Line, color, shape, form, space, texture, value
LINE
1. expressive line
2. contour line/outline
3. weighted lines
4. paths
COLOR
1. primary/secondary/tertiary
2. complementary, monochromatic, analogous, split comp, triads
3.additive & subtractive color theories
4. RGB/CMYK
5. warm & cool colors
6. color psychology: emotional/psychological/cultural
7. hue, color names
8. saturation & intensity
SHAPE
1. organic/amorphous
2. geometric
3. transformation/morphic shape
FORM
Height, width, depth: 3D
contour
SPACE
1. positive space
2. negative space
3. symmetrical/asymmetrical;
TEXTURE
1. The visual "feel" of things...implied and actual
VALUE
1. tonality
2. tint/tone/shade
3. key color
4. intensity
5. saturation
II. The Principles of Art & Design: Unity/Variety, Balance, Emphasis, Contrast, Rhythm, Repetition, Proportion/Scale, Composition
UNITY / VARIETY
coherence; how parts work as a whole
BALANCE
symmetrical/assymetrical, formal, informal, radial
EMPHASIS
Color emphasis/compositional emphasis/focal point/dominance
CONTRAST
Pos/neg space, color contrast using complements, etc.
RHYTHM
movement; repetition; pattern
REPETITION (PATTERN)
Repeat, repetition of elements,
patterns in nature (spirals, radials), fractals; Fabonaci numbers
Patterns: simple, alternating, random
PROPORTION / SCALE
Relationship of parts to whole; relative size
COMPOSITION
a. center of attention
b. background, middleground, foreground
c. methods of composition/ golden triangle/ rule of thirds
III. Computer Skills & Techniques
1. Drawing applications
2. Painting applications
3. Multimedia applications
4. Presentation applications
IV. Color Psychology & Philosophy of Color
A. Color phenomena
B. Historical color usage
C. Emotions and color
D. Color and Culture
E. Color in advertising & design
V. Art History
A. The Canon: 100 works of art every well educated student should know!
B. Impressionism-Modern
VI: Aesthetics and Art Criticism
A. Evaluation techniques
B. Group Critique
C. "Reading" a work of art
VII: Art & Careers Pathways