AP 3D Art & Design

Course Overview

Teacher approval is required for admittance to this level. This class has been dramatically redesigned by the College Board in the past 3 years; this is the fourth year of the class under the new format. This class is designed for the student who is seriously interested in the practical experience of art. Students are expected to be independent workers who conceive of their projects independently. AP 3D Art and Design requires a student portfolio be submitted at the end of the year for a significant final grade, regardless of whether or not the student submits their portfolio to the College Board. The 3D Portfolio is inclusive of works in a wide and diversified range of techniques used in ceramics and sculpture. The AP Art and Design Portfolios, whether 3D, 2D, or Drawing, all share a basic structure, which ask the student to demonstrate a sustained and in-depth investigation and process of discovery through the Sustained Investigation section; students’ artwork should be inquiry based, and allow for research, material explorations, revision, and reflection, all of which is documented throughout its creation. The final section of the portfolio, Selected Works, asks the student to select 5 works that best exhibit a synthesis of materials, process, and ideas; works in this section can overlap with work that is also presented in the Sustained Investigation. Students will be required to put additional time into projects outside of the classroom. In conjunction with the portfolio work, students will develop works for exhibition and competition at regional, state, and national levels. Additionally, students will be expected to actively participate in large group peer critiques, wherein they will be required to speak about their own work as well as contribute meaningful feedback about their classmates’ work. And, like all students in my studio, they are expected to do their part to help maintain and clean and functional studio space.

Class Fee

All class materials are provided for the students, however there is a $50 class fee. This is payable through Skyward. Please contact Mrs. Rebecca Thomas by email if there are any questions or concerns.

Google Classroom

Westlake High School utilizes the Google Classroom platform to share classroom resources, many assignments, and assessment preparation materials to students. WHS students will receive a classroom code to access these materials, submit assignments, and track any missing work.

Additional Resources

Pinterest!

Idea boards for almost every project as well as for a host of related ideas can be found on the Westlake High School Art and Ceramics Pinterest page. Follow us and be inspired! (Ideas are posted for inspirational purposes only, not for plagiarism of any variety.)

Instagram!

Follow the success and mania of the ceramics and sculpture studio on our WHS Ceramics Instagram page! Find us @whs_ceramics_atx on Instagram. (Artwork and students likenesses are never posted without parent permission.)