AP Studio in Art: Drawing Followed by Art Portfolio

AP Studio in Art: Drawing

Walt Whitman High School 2021-22

Mr.Rickmers drickmers@shufsd.org

Syllabus and Summer Assignments

Overview

This course is a college-level drawing course. It is intended for advanced art students who are interested in developing strong observational drawing and painting skills while also expressing their unique artistic voice and human experience. This course requires students to create a portfolio with 2 parts. They are: Selected Works(5pieces) and Sustained Investigation(15 pieces). Please review this year’s exact requirements in the link below.

This course is a rigorous exploration of varied approaches to drawing. Students will be expected to demonstrate strong fundamentals in drawing but also encouraged to consider the nature of mark-making itself and how they can manipulate those marks by choosing different tools, materials and surfaces. Formal principles and techniques will be emphasized such as understanding the relationship between light and form, capturing gesture, and incorporating prior knowledge of perspective and color theory in their observational drawings. Students are held to high expectations, not just for quality, but for quantity, working at least 30 minutes outside of class for every class period we have together. A commitment to hard work and time-management are crucial for completing all College-Board requirements for portfolio submission. Students will be expected to keep written reflections in their sketchbooks pertaining to assigned reading on the world of art, past and present as well as their thoughts on their own work and process. These reflections combined with museum visits and our collective experiences as a class will help inform students as they develop their own artistic values, style and philosophy. Regular group critiques as well as one-on-one critiques will occur throughout the year.

AP Drawing Portfolio Exam

This portfolio is designated for work that focuses on the use of mark-making, line, surface, space, light and shade, and composition. Students should consider marks that can be used to make drawings, the arrangement of marks, the materials and processes used to make marks, and relationships of marks and ideas. Students can work with any materials, processes, and ideas. Drawing (analog and digital), painting, printmaking, and mixed media work are among the possibilities for submission. Still images from videos or film are accepted. Composite images may be submitted.

AP DRAWING PORTFOLIO EXAM REQUIREMENTS AND PROMPTS

Section 1- Selected Works Section

For the Selected Works section of the AP Drawing Portfolio Exam, students must submit five works that demonstrate:

Drawing skills, Synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas

For each work, students must state the following in writing:

Idea(s) visually evident (100 characters maximum, including spaces) Materials used (100 characters maximum, including spaces) Processes used (100 characters maximum, including spaces)

Section 2- Sustained Investigation Section

For the Sustained Investigation section of the AP Drawing Portfolio Exam, students must submit 15 digital images that demonstrate:

Sustained investigation through practice, experimentation, and revision. Sustained investigation of materials, processes, and ideas. Synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas. Drawing skills

Students must state the following in writing:

• Identify the questions that guided your sustained investigation.

• Describe how your sustained investigation shows evidence of practice, experimentation, and revision guided by your questions (1200 characters maximum, including spaces, for response to both prompts)

• Identify the following for each image:

• Materials used (100 characters maximum, including spaces)

• Processes used (100 characters maximum, including spaces)

• Size (height × width × depth, in inches)

• For images that document process or show detail, students should enter “N/A” for size (see

• For digital and virtual work, students should enter the size of the intended visual display. Samples of student work for the AP Drawing portfolio can be found on AP Central at apcentral.collegeboard .org/courses/ap-drawing.

Summer Requirements

Carefully read through this document as well as the official College Board Course Description and Portfolio Requirements. This will be forwarded to you through email but here is the web address:

https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-drawing

1.Prepare an initial ‘Selected Works’ portfolio of 5 drawings and/or paintings (flat, 2-D work). This may include work you have already created in previous art classes or outside of school. This section is your general portfolio. It does not need to be unified by any particular theme. It is meant to demonstrate a broad range of abilities and experiences in drawing and painting. These portfolios will be presented to the class at the beginning of the year. This will be your first grade of the year. Please include at least three life drawings among your five pieces. A life drawing is a drawing created from direct observation of real forms in space. An example would be a still-life, where you arrange objects like bottles or shoes and compose a drawing of those objects from direct observation. Drawing a friend or family member who poses for you or drawing an animal at a farm (Hurry. They move!) are good examples of life drawing. A DRAWING FROM A PHOTO, COMIC, OR YOUR IMAGINATION IS NOT A LIFE DRAWING. It is up to you how many original pieces you create this summer and how many existing pieces you include but be advised that, not only will you be graded on these 5 pieces, but the stronger they are as a group, the less time you will need to devote to your ‘Selected Works’ section during the year and the more time you will have to devote to your ‘Sustained Investigation’ section.

2.Using complete sentences and paragraphs, write a short letter to me defining your reasons for taking ‘AP Studio in Art: Drawing’ this coming year. What are your artistic goals? What are your strengths? Weaknesses? Do you intend to pursue art in college or career? Is there an artist or type of art you admire?

Conclude by sharing with me your initial ideas of what your ‘Sustained Investigation’ might be.

3.Look online at examples of student portfolios and their scores/justifications. Here is one address but search the web and you can find many more:

https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-studio-art-drawing/portfolio/2017-studio-art-drawing-complete-portfolio-sample

Issues of Integrity and Plagiarism

Students will be instructed not to copy or incorporate the reproduced images of other artist’s art works in their own work. The use of published photographs and duplication of other artist’s work constitutes plagiarism. Students will be informed of their responsibility to preserve their artistic integrity by using source material in an ethical way. Occasionally, famous works of art and photographs may be used but only if the original is changed and presented in such a way that the new piece could not be confused with the original. Students may, however, use art historical images for the purpose of research and technical study.

Student Responsibilities

• Students are expected to put the time in outside of class to complete assignments by their deadlines.

• All sketchbook assignments must be handed in on time.

• Students must try to identify which aspects of an objective they are struggling with and ask for help with that specific problem before a deadline is reached.

• Concentration: Students are responsible for writing and submitting their topic of concentration in a manner consistent with College Board requirements in a timely fashion.

• Any student enrolled in AP Studio Art: Drawing must submit a completed portfolio in order to receive the benefit of a weighted grade point average as well as the AP designation on their transcript. Failure to complete this objective will remove those designations from your transcript and the course will count only as a standard weight art class. This would also result in a final exam score of 0 to be averaged in to the final mark.

Supplies

Students are required to have a quality sketchbook, at least 8X10 with quality blank drawing paper inside

Suggested purchases: (not required but useful for drawing and painting at home)

• Art bin, small tackle box, designated bag or other preferred storage device for personal materials

• Heavy Body Acrylic Paints in colors: White(large), Primary or Cerulean Blue, Red, Yellow, Phthalo Green, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna

• Matte Acrylic medium

• Large flat brush, Medium Round brush with pointed tip, detail brush (square or round)

• Charcoal pencils, vine charcoal, chamois cloth

• Pink pearl erasers

Grading Rubric for AP

100%- Student artwork is truly exceptional in a way that is uncommon for high school. All work is highly finished, well considered and impactful. Impeccable effort and attention to class expectations for writing, sketchbook assignments and time management. No place for deductions.

95-99- Student artwork demonstrates fluency with materials and techniques. All artwork is highly finished. Student is responsible and punctual and completes all sketchbook/home assignments. Some minor deductions for merit and/or participation.

90-95- Student artwork is generally strong but there have been some meaningful deductions that could relate to merit or participation (see deductions)

80-90- Student artwork demonstrates some strong skills but there is an important deficiency that is generating deductions in the areas of merit and/or participation. This could be missing or incomplete projects or cutting for example.

Below 80- Any grade below 80 in AP:Drawing is due to some basic non-compliance with class expectations. Perhaps a student has not been completing their work and/or has been cutting classes.

Deductions

Artistic Merit deductions- some examples would be problems with proportions, understanding light and shadow, linear perspective, color, composition, etc. Students in this class typically have strong foundational skills and these deductions are minimal assuming the work is highly finished. However, work can usually be stronger so some deduction is typical.

Participation deductions- some examples of participation deductions include poor use of class time, inconsistent effort, incomplete or missing projects/sketchbook assignments

Cutting and Lateness- I will deduct half a letter grade for every 3 cuts (not excused). Lateness will be considered poor participation and will generate deductions based on frequency.

Please return this to me the first day of class. Have a wonderful summer and be excited! Making art shouldn’t feel like work. Make it because you want to! I look forward to seeing you in September with all of the wonderful work you have created.

Until then, be well.

-Mr. Rickmers

Art Portfolio Course Description

Mr. Rickmers- drickmers@shufsd.org

This is an honors course that offers advanced art students an opportunity to pursue a whole range of personal objectives while continuing to develop their fundamental skills in art. Many Art Portfolio students have already completed the AP: Drawing course and will spend much of the year refining college portfolios, painting murals around the school or developing an independent study in an area of personal interest like ceramics or printmaking. Other students take Art Portfolio as a junior in preparation for the AP to be taken during their senior year in what could be called a 2-year strategy for the exam. This is an ideal strategy for high scores but is not always practical for every student.

This section runs concurrently with AP:Drawing in a shared-class environment. While these classes have many differences in requirements, they share the expectation of high standards of quality, effort and production. Art portfolio students will be required to write regularly about their objectives and the development of their work just as the AP students will. Our critiques will involve both sections and many of the assignments/projects will be mandatory for both sections. In more ways than not, we are one class. The student make-up has always been the thing that makes this class so great. This is a group of young people who all love art and want to see how good they can be. So be excited! This is fun!

Requirements- Students must:

• Complete all class projects to the best of their ability

• Develop their own projects and manage time effectively

• Participate in all class critiques and discussions

• Submit weekly written reflections

• Follow classroom protocols and procedures including cleanup

Grading Policy-

This is an Honors-level class and high grades are not automatic. However, I want students to have a way to keep track of their standing and allow them as much control as possible to keep those marks high. Below, I have created a general rubric to help identify the qualities of students and their work in different grade ranges. First, let me say this...

Many are quick to point out that judging art is subjective. It is true to an extent and I will make some personal judgments on the merit of a student’s use of perspective, composition, color theory etc. However, the best strategy for students to achieve high marks is to excel in what is not subjective. Time spent on artwork in and out of class is the big one. You may be able to write a sharp essay in a hurry but you cannot fake the time you spent on a painting. It always shows. But writing is important too. Be thoughtful in your written reflections and consult regularly with your teacher to make sure you are staying on course and maintaining a high standard.

Grading Rubric for Crafts

Weighted Calculation for Hybrid Model:

20% Attendance/Participation

20% Alternate Day Assignments

60% Project Grades

Grading Rubric for Advanced Art Students

100%- Student demonstrates an uncommon commitment to their artwork paired with stunning and highly finished projects. They contribute to class discussions and have perfect attendance.(Very rare in AP)(Not common in Portfolio)

96-99- Student demonstrates impressive commitment to their work paired with Stunning and highly-finished projects. They contribute to class discussions and have near-perfect attendance. Many high-achieving students fall in this range with some room to grow in the area of merit and/or participation. *Must Demonstrate Exceptional Artistic Merit

90-95- Student demonstrates a good work ethic and is making progress improving on their fundamentals in drawing. They are in good standing with room to improve. There is some combination of artistic merit and/or classroom deductions keeping them out of the next bracket. All students in this class are capable of being in this bracket but should aim higher. (90-95 in an AP or Honors class is a very good grade)

80-89- Student has received meaningful deductions based on some combination of artistic merit and/or classroom conduct but is technically still in good standing. (Aim higher)

Below 80- Any student with a grade below 80 is not complying with the basic expectations of an advanced art class. Parents will be contacted.

Deductions

Artistic Merit- All of us can improve and it is important to identify the skills and concepts that need to be worked on. When scoring a project, I will assess your command of skills like drawing in proportion/ perspective/ shading as well as concepts like perspective/ color theory and composition

Participation- some examples of participation deductions include poor use of class time such as talking rather than working, working without purpose or direction, disruptive behavior, incomplete or missing projects or failing to clean up and organize properly.

Cell Phone- I encourage students to use their personal devices often for researching reference images or even listening to music during studio time. However, any student using their device without permission is in violation of classroom protocol and will receive a deduction. No texting. No gaming . No sharing videos. No sharing headphones* (personal music is allowed at times in order to facilitate independent focus on the artwork. Sharing music/air-pods becomes a social dynamic that defeats this purpose.)

Cutting and Lateness- Cutting is the #1 reason students fail art. Students must be here. I will deduct half a letter grade for every 3 cuts. Lateness will be considered poor participation and will generate deductions based on frequency.

It is the students responsibility along with their parents or guardians to resolve their attendance record. If there is a valid excuse such as illness that prevents the student from attending class, the student’s parent or guardian must either send a written note of explanation to the attendance office or call the attendance office to resolve the attendance issue. Students can always access their attendance record on infinite campus.

2021-22 portfolio requirements