Sustained Investigation

This page has a series of tasks for you to complete. All notes, sketches, writing and responses should be completed in a sketchbook dedicated to developing your AP portfolio ideas.

Task 1: Watch a Video

This video was created by AP to explain what a Sustained investigation is specifically to students.

Task 2- PART 1

Watch this video .

Task 2: PART 2 Brainstorming

In your sketchbook brainstorm ideas for sustained investigations. You need a MINIMUM of 25 ideas.


Use lists, mindmaps, or any other strategy to help you develop ideas.

Task 3: Narrow it down

Choose your top three ideas and create a mind map for each one. The mindmap should have the idea in the center, 4 sub ideas branching off and 3 specific piece ideas for each sub idea.

Finally reflect on each idea and write 4-5 sentences about how it is personal to you or an important message your want to create a visual language about.

Task 4: Developed Sketches

  1. Choose the topic and sub topic you are most interested in creating art around.

  2. Do 3 thumbnail sketches to work out composition for each of the three ideas. That is 3 each! 9 total thumbnail sketches.

  3. Choose the best composition considering the Elements and Principles of Art (see definitions here).

  4. Create a full page sketch of each.

Emily Allbritton, class of 2022