Sustained investigation question examples: https://apartanddesign.collegeboard.org/2022-ap-art-and-design-exhibit 

What Is an Inquiry?

An Inquiry is the work created through the process of developing, creating, revising, and exploring the idea of your guiding question.

What Is a Guiding Question?

Your guiding question is an idea that you are interested in EXPLORING, EXPANDING, and REVISING over a year long investigation (hence the name Sustained Investigation). While it does not have to be written as a question, that might help you to think of the resulting work as being a direct answer to a question being posed.

If you are trying to decide on a guiding question, start thinking about things you care about, that you have a strong opinion about, something you want to learn more about, or something that inspires you. Write down your ideas...... as you write them down, you might find ideas flow from each other, or you might find you get stuck. Keep going, it will probably take some time. Aim for 15 to 20 different ideas to start with and narrow it from there.

A common mistake in art is to go with your first idea. If it was the quickest one you could think of ..... lots of people will think of it. This is "low hanging fruit". It's the easiest to pick so anyone can get it. You want to find a topic that you will find interesting enough to keep working on and broad enough that you will be able to explore it.

Is There Anything I Shouldn't Do?

Keep in mind, things that are "interior" or self-based cannot be easily visually communicated to an exterior audience. By that, you might want to pick a guiding question like: "What do I think about when I listen to music?". Sure, that's great for you..... you KNOW what you are thinking, you also know the music you are listening to. The reader doesn't have that information.

At the AP Reading, readers can't google songs, even if you list them. Therefore, this is what is known in science as an "untestable hypothesis". The experiment cannot be duplicated to test validity. You are asking them to guess, not only what you are reacting to, but how you react to it, and then to validate that response with a score.

**Pro tip: Avoid topics that are so internalized that others cannot understand or relate to them. Pick something more accessible. **

This principle applies to all kinds of ideas. Guiding questions like "What does family mean to me?" are nearly impossible to show visually. Showing a stranger, through a completely visual media, the emotional meaning of something is a struggle for even the world's greatest artists.

A better way to deal with that idea would be to change the phrasing to something that can be shown visually. By changing a guiding question to "What special activities or traditions bring my family closer?" or "Special moments with my family have created a close family bond", you would be able to depict those ACTIVITIES that create the feelings rather than the FEELINGS created. 

Please note that the second example is NOT a question. You could write it as a question by just adding the word WHAT in front of it. That would be "WHAT special moments with my family have created a close family bond?". It is, however, an IMPLIED question that could be answered by the visual evidence you present. That is perfectly acceptable.

📝Read: AP Studio Art - Things to Avoid in your Portfolio

How Do I Know I Picked a Good Guiding Question?

A good guiding question will prompt the beginning of the work and provide enough depth for continued exploration. Do some basic research on your ideas. Sketch out some ideas, and think about how you can explore the idea and communicate it visually to your audience.

Don't be afraid to rewrite it, revise it, and let it change over time. Showing the evidence of your active thought processes through purposeful choices is exactly what readers wish to see.

Remember the analogy of the tree branch. Your guiding question is the main part of that branch, and there might be little offshoots that go nowhere. But, there will also be little branches that lead to their own little branches.

Don't be afraid to have a pivot point where you go off and explore a related idea. It might be amazing and grow, or it might just be the end of that little branch. Either is totally acceptable!

https://fiveable.me/ap-studio-art/unit-3/guiding-questions/study-guide/qsZmpWigwGWIOdkXqnY9 

A Sustained Investigation Inquiry Question in the context of AP 2D Art and Design is a fundamental question that guides your exploration and creation of artwork throughout the course. It helps you focus on a specific theme, concept, or idea that you want to explore deeply and develop a body of work around. 

Here's how you can write one:

• Identify Your Interests: Start by thinking about your interests, passions, or concerns in the realm of art and design. What themes or subjects are you drawn to? What concepts or ideas intrigue you? What issues or questions do you want to explore through your art?

• Broad to Specific: Begin with a broad topic or idea that you'd like to investigate. For example, if you're interested in nature, your broad topic might be "Nature and its Relationship with Humanity."

• Narrow it Down: Narrow down your broad topic to make it more specific and focused. This is crucial for a sustained investigation. For example, you could narrow down "Nature and its Relationship with Humanity" to "The Impact of Human Activity on Local Ecosystems."

• Make it a Question: Turn your narrowed-down topic into a question that can be explored through your artwork. For example, "How does human activity affect the balance of local ecosystems?"

• Ensure Depth: Your question should be open-ended and complex, allowing for in-depth exploration and multiple perspectives. It should encourage you to create a body of work that goes beyond surface-level answers.

• Relevance to Art and Design: Make sure your question is directly relevant to the field of 2D art and design. Consider how you can visually explore and communicate your chosen topic or question through your artwork.

• Reflect on Personal Connection: Think about why this question matters to you personally. How does it relate to your own experiences, beliefs, or values? Your personal connection to the question can add depth and authenticity to your work.

• Seek Feedback: Once you've formulated your Sustained Investigation Inquiry Question, it can be helpful to seek feedback from your art teacher or mentor. They can provide guidance and make sure your question is suitable for the AP 2D Art and Design course.

Here's an example of a Sustained Investigation Inquiry Question: "How does human development impact the natural beauty and biodiversity of urban parks, and how can this be represented through 2D art and design?"

Remember that your Sustained Investigation Inquiry Question will guide your creative process throughout the course, so choose a question that genuinely interests you and inspires your artistic exploration.

Sustained Investigation Inquiry Question Examples and Ideas

1. Personal Identity & Growth:

> Cultural Heritage in Art: How do traditional patterns, symbols, and colors from my cultural background merge with modern art styles?

> High School Through Art: How can a series of 2D artworks capture the ups, downs, and pivotal moments of my high school journey?

2. Digital Era & Technology:

> Social Media's Influence: How can I use mixed media to represent the filtered reality of Instagram versus unfiltered life?

> Traditional Meets Digital: How can I merge hand-painted art with digital manipulation techniques to convey the harmony of old and new?

3. Environment & Urban Life:

> City vs. Nature: How can collage or layering techniques depict the contrast and intersection between bustling cities and serene nature?

> Fast Fashion Awareness: How can textile art or fabric manipulation techniques shed light on the environmental costs of the fashion industry?

4. Social Issues & Activism:

> Voices in Art: How can portraiture showcase the strength and diversity of underrepresented communities in my town/city?

> Artistic Activism: How can art mediums like printmaking or stencil art be used to create compelling visuals for social justice campaigns?

5. Memories & Nostalgia:

> Childhood Recalled: How can playful mediums like watercolor or colored pencils capture the innocence and whimsy of my early memories?

> Pre-Digital Nostalgia: How can I employ vintage photo techniques or styles to convey the feel of a world before smartphones?

6. Fantasy & Dreams:

> Dream Diary: How can I use surrealism-inspired techniques to paint a series based on my most vivid dreams? How do I make it relevant today?

> Fairy Tale Redux: How can digital art tools help reimagine classic fairy tales in a contemporary setting?

7. Relationships & Emotions:

> Evolving Bonds: How can dynamic compositions, colors, and brushwork capture the essence of evolving human relationships?

8. Cultural Trends & Fashion:

> Global Influences: How can I incorporate design elements from global cultural trends into modern wearable art?

> Viral Art: How can I create art pieces that are influenced by or respond to viral internet trends?

9. Everyday Objects & New Perspectives:

> Mundane Magic: How can I highlight the unnoticed beauty of everyday objects?

> Abstracting the Familiar: How can I provide a fresh lens to view common items in my household?

Can you come up with a sustained investigation question for AP 2D Art and Design about exploring the idea of ...

Example: Can you come up with a sustained investigation question for AP 2D Art and Design about exploring the idea of giving objects human features to comfort myself by surrounding myself with? 

Here's a sustained investigation question for AP 2D Art and Design that explores the concept of giving objects human features to provide comfort:

"How can the integration of human characteristics and emotions into inanimate objects through visual art create a sense of comfort and emotional connection, and how can this theme be expressed and developed within a series of 2D artworks?"

This question prompts you to explore the creative possibilities of infusing anthropomorphic qualities into objects to convey comfort and emotional resonance in your art. You can investigate various techniques, styles, and mediums to develop a series of artworks that explore this theme in depth.