AP Studio Art 2-d and Drawing

Our student-centered, college-level studio environment encourages students to innovate, grow, and discover their creative potential.

Students work in a studio setting that mirrors the experience of college art programs and professional artists, developing authentic artistic habits through creativity, experimentation, and critical thinking.

Throughout the year, AP Studio Art students build a personal body of work through exploration, experimentation, revision, and reflection. They learn to take creative risks, strengthen their artistic voice, and create meaningful artwork that communicates their unique ideas and vision.

Recent MVHS AP Studio Art students have consistently earned passing scores of 3 or higher on the College Board AP Studio Art Exam, with several students achieving the highest possible score of 5.

Image by Sonya Anderson, Junior

Image by Neil Gadkari, Junior

How Many Projects Do you need for an AP Portfolio?

Getting ready for your AP Art and Design portfolio can feel like a massive task. Breaking down the numbers makes it easier.

You must submit a total of 20 digital images across two different sections. Here is exactly what you need to create:

Sustained Investigation

(15 images)

This section is all about your creative journey. It is worth 60% of your total score.

The Goal: Show how your ideas grow over time.
What to Include: A mix of finished art, sketchbook pages, rough drafts, and close-up detail shots.

Plenty of Portfolio Examples will be shown during class.

Selected Works

(5 images of finished pieces)

This section showcases your absolute best work. It makes up 40% of your score.

The Goal: Show your technical skill and mastery of materials.
What to Include: Your 5 most successful, high-quality finished pieces. (Note: 3-D portfolios require 2 different photo angles for each piece).

Sustained Investigation Statement

(Artist's Statement)

The Sustained Investigation (S.I.) Statement is the written component of the AP Art portfolio. It requires students to answer two specific prompts (in 1,200 characters or fewer each) explaining the central inquiry guiding their work and how their art practice evolved

How to Photograph Your Art

Room 109 is a photography class and includes a scanner, camera stand and DSLR's for student use.

Here is a simple presentation showing best practices when taking photos of artwork.