AP Studio Art Syllabus M. Pendleton Drawing Portfolio Course Description AP Studio Art portfolio is a course developed for students who have a serious interest in developing skills in the areas of composition, problem solving, and artistic execution. This course is recommended for students who have been evaluated as independent workers and structured students with a high quality work ethic. The course is rigorous and requires students to demonstrate their commitment. During the first week of school, the course is outlined to the students. The individual sections of each portfolio — quality, concentration, and breadth — are discussed in detail. I show extensive examples from both the AP Studio Art website and past students’ work that correspond to each section of the portfolio. Additionally, the students review the images and instructions on the AP Studio Art: Drawing Poster and development packet. Students are expected to produce quality work that develops mastery in concept, composition, and execution of ideas.
Course Goals ● Mastery in concept, composition, and execution (Quality) ● Develop a strong body of work investigating a strong visual idea (Concentration) ● Study a variety of concepts and approaches, demonstrate a range of abilities in techniques, problem-solving, and ideation (Breadth) ● Making art is an on-going process (re-working and upgrading opportunities) ● Group and individual critiques ● Adherence to the concept artistic integrity ● Comprehension of the dangers of plagiarism
Artistic Integrity An in-depth, on-going discussion centering on this topic includes a PowerPoint Presentation asking the essential question, “What makes an artwork original?”. Students will work to define appropriation and plagiarism while specifically examining the work of artist Damien Hirst. Reflection upon the concept of originality and personal intention will continue throughout the school year with reminders and class discussions on the subject.
Resources ● School ensures student has access to art materials and resources necessary to meet the standards for the portfolio they choose to submit ● PPT and shared Google doc slides (digital images) ● Reproductions ● Digital studio (camera, tripod, Photoshop, internet access ● Art texts ○ Stewart, Mary. Launching the Imagination . 4th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012. Print. ○ Gardner, Helen, Richard G. Tansey, and Fred S. Kleiner. Gardner's Art through the Ages . 14th ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2013. Print. ○ Gardner, Helen, Richard G. Tansey, and Fred S. Kleiner. Gardner's Art through the Ages . 14th ed. Bost on: Wadsworth, 2013. Print. ○ Jong, Cees De., Alston W. Purvis, and Le Coultre Martijn F. The Poster: 1,000 Posters from Toulouse-Lautrec to Sagmeister . New York: Abrams, 2010. Print. ○ Garrels, Gary. Jasper Johns: Seeing With the Mind's Eye . New Haven: Yale UP, 2012. Print. 1
○ Williams, Donald, and Barbara Vance. Wilson. Caves to Canvas . 3rd ed. Macquarie Park, N.S.W.: McGraw-Hill, 2007. Print. ○ Eldon, Dan, and Kathy Eldon. The Journey Is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon . San Francisco: Chronicle, 1997. Print. ○ Adams, Laurie S. Art Across Time . 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. Print. ○ Simblet, Sarah. Sketchbook for the Artist . New York, NY: DK, 2009. Print.
Expectations ● ● ● ● ●
Students will work hard and participate both in and outside of class. Homework assignments will be completed on time. No late work will be accepted. Students will come to class prepared with sketchbook and supplies. Students will learn to properly care for and respect their art materials and studio. Best effort will be put forth at all times, as an artist and individual.
Summer Assignments Drawing Assignment #1: Street Scene of Seoul Medium(s): Pencil, pen, or charcoal Instructions: This drawing should contain at least 8-10 buildings in a receding perspective. The illusion of receding into space is the goal of this assignment. Use one or two point perspective variables as guidelines to realistically align the buildings on the page. This drawing must be done on site. Drawing Assignment #2: Portrait Medium(s): Pencil, pen, or charcoal Instructions: Drawings must use a 10 point value scale with a wide range of strong dark and light values. Strong contrast can be used to achieve this dramatic effect. Draw from unusual angles, so that significant changes in form take place due to foreshortening. Thematic Exploration Instructions: In a sketchbook (A4 size or larger), fill ten sketchbook pages with ideas for the Concentration portion of your AP Portfolio (6-8 works focused around a single theme). Thematic examples include: mental disorders, villains in the news, the 7 deadly sins, etc. For advice and insight on thematic topics, visit: http://www.studentartguide.com/articles/a-level-art-ideas. You must present at least three unique themes on the first day of class. Pinterest Board Instructions: Create a Pinterest board to assist in choosing your portfolio theme. You must pin 10+ pins before August 19. Follow the directions below. 1. Go to www.pinterest.com 2. Log-in with username and password 3. Find the board with your name 4. Begin searching for “pins” in the upper left hand corner 5. Search for the following: a. Artists you admire b. Mediums you intend to use (i.e. photography, pen and ink) c. Project/theme ideas 6. Once you find something of interest, click “Pin It” and use the drop down menu to select your board
2
Homework The AP Studio Art course requires great effort both in and out of the classroom. Homework assignments will be completed on time as assigned by the teacher. No late homework will be accepted. These expectations will be validated by a contract signed by student, teacher, and parent.
Possible Breadth Project Topics 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
Create a portrait of a friend using Lucien Freud’s impasto technique Choose a song that represents your current state of mind and respond in a work created in a medium of your choice Brainstorm “broken” aspects of your life and illustrate them, avoiding cliches Choose a contemporary artist and a historical artist and marry together their techniques and subject matter into a work of your own Juxtapose two distinctly different aspects of modern life and create an inspired work Represent your own personal journey: past, present, and future in a series of 3 works Do a color painting of a still-life arrangement consisting of your family member’s shoes – try to convey some “sense” of each of your individual family member’s distinct personalities in your piece. Do a drawing of the demons hiding underneath your bed in layered color pencil. Do a drawing of a futuristic cityscape – New York in the year 2050. Create a portrait of a classmate in color. Be imaginative. Use chalk or oil pastel on watercolor paper. Do an architectural drawing of any building in Seoul. Do a drawing that is your interpretation of a song. Any color media. Do a landscape drawing of trees and surrounding vegetation. Do a color composition of an imaginary world. Any media. Draw a still life contour composition of kitchen utensil in detail. Pencil on black, white, or gray paper.
16. A marker line drawing of a cluttered area of your room or garage. Possible Concentration Topics 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
Do a series of paintings based on the history of any culture Works showing risks in our lives Combine painting and drawing in a series of narrative works Do a series of different printmaking techniques combining personal prose Do a super realism series using your childhood toys Draw with color in a childlike fashion based on Paul Klee Do a series of reflection works using colored glass or colored water in glass forms like Janet Fish Do an artist’s journal depicting your growth as an artist Experiment with collage and drawing Select two objects, one organic and one inorganic, and do a series of drawings Explore the relationship between science and art Depict your own existence through the eyes of a child Design and paint the covers for one year of any magazine Write and illustrate a comic book Write and illustrate a children’s book in woodcut Do a series of works based on the lonely figures in our society (ala Hopper) Do a series of works depicting social injustice Do a series of works depicting the lifestyle of the homeless Do a series of expressive drawings incorporating layered images of words
Critiques 3
Critiques will be approached after each project is completed. Each critique will be a learning experiences for all involved. Expectations on behalf of both teacher and student include respect for the artistic process, our fellow artists, and their efforts. Prior to the critique, students will brainstorm to answer the following two questions: 1. How will I present my intentions in this work in a clear and concise manner? 2. What questions will I ask my audience to help me grow as an artist?
Fall Course Schedule ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Elements & Principles Presentations, trading card swap Outline group critique structure, concept: vocab (elements and principles), list of prompts Plagiarism discussion, on-going talks on artistic integrity Composition discussion: rule of 3rds, Golden Ratio, focal point Possible Breadth Projects: designed to expand creativity and artistic confidence ○ For a list, see above. Approaches Introduction: Pinterest, thumbnail sketches, collage, word webs, writing prompts, concept boards Concept of elevating work: rework, reuse, upgrade Medium Exploration Presentations Digital Portfolio Instruction: shooting and editing work (Breadth section) Final: Critique based on AP Studio Art rubric, blind evaluation of classmates Breadth portfolio (scale of 1-6)
Spring Course Schedule ● Artistic integrity discussion ● Possible Concentration Topics (see above) via brainstorming inspiring artists + mediums + social issues ○ Artists: Frank Stella, Banksy, Andy Warhol, Frank Gehry, Frank Lloyd Wright, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cy Twombly, Basquiat, Da Vinc ○ Mediums: charcoal, pen, pencil, spray paint, conte crayon, styrofoam, watercolor, embroidery, ink, clay, glass ○ Social issues: LGBT, feminism, sexism, bullying, teenage pregnancy, religious freedoms, disease, environmental pollution, war, famine, drugs, obesity, smoking, sexual trafficking, gambling ● Accordion Book Project: Mini-concentration exercise, concept cards ● Concentration Projects (9 works in total) ● Digital Portfolio Instruction: shooting and editing work (Concentration section, Breadth upgraded work) ● Selection of Quality portion of the portfolio (5 works to ship)
Grading ●
●
Quarterly grades will consist of: ○ Formative assessments (homework, conferencing, etc.) ○ Summative assessments (critiques and projects) Semester grades will consist of: ○ Q1: 42% ○ Q2: 42% ○ Final: 16% (Critique + portfolio)
20% 80%
Dear Students and Parents: Congratulations on your acceptance into AP Studio Art for this school year. This is an advanced, college-level course and will require serious work and dedication as an artist. Students who are unwilling to make this commitment should rethink their program. In May, students will be required to submit a portfolio of 24 original 4
works. Twelve slides will be submitted the Breadth category, showing mastery of diverse media, and 12 slides will be an exploration of the Concentration area. Obviously, this is a large portfolio, and students must be willing to create at least one work per week. DRAWING CONTRACT The purpose of an AP course is to help students prepare for college. The AP Studio Art Drawing course will be taught at a faster pace than the normal high school art course, with higher-level skills, outside projects, readings, and gallery and exhibit visits expected. Because of the nature of the course, it is important that the teacher, student, and parents agree to commit the time and energy that are needed to complete it successfully. There are set criteria for this course that must be met in order to receive AP credit for the semester. RESPONSIBILITIES Teacher: I agree to help the students prepare for the AP Exam by making available new information and media, teaching the skills they will need for undertaking the portfolio, assisting them with the preparation of their portfolio, helping them to evaluate their own portfolio and the work of others, and providing them with individual tutoring. I will make parents aware of any learning or progress problems that may arise so that by working together we may solve them. Student: I am aware of the criteria for the AP Studio Art Drawing course, and I agree to accept the responsibility for the preparation needed to complete the course. This includes: ● completing portfolio works in a timely manner, roughly one work per week ● matting five original works for the portfolio by May 1 ● agreeing to the mandatory submission of a portfolio, or loss of AP credit ● agreeing to an honor code of original work Parent: I am aware of the criteria for the AP Studio Art course, and I agree to help my child, ● pay the AP Exam fee (roughly $120USD) ● work to be successful in the course. I will help organize study time and encourage my child when the pressures of the course begin to build. ● I will communicate with the teacher any concerns about the course or any learning problems that need to be addressed. ● I understand that students will be reading college-level materials and dealing with issues and visual materials that might be controversial. I understand that these might include working from copies of paintings and drawings of classic/master nude figure studies that students will then interpret originally. ● I am aware that while the school will provide many supplies, some may have to be purchased by the student. Equipment and Material Requirements While the school will provide much of the materials needed, there are some supplies that students should have for their own use both at school and home. Most, if not all, of these materials can be found at Alpha. ● A hardcover sketchbook ● A toolbox or artbox to carry materials ● A set of good color pencils (Prismacolor are suggested) ● Set of pencils (6H -> 8B) ● Plenty of erasers 5
â—? Sharpie markers- both thin and medium point HONOR CODE This course will be conducted under an honor code. All students are expected to do their own work. At times, students will be given projects that must be completed outside of class. Help from others, specifically academy teachers, is not permitted. Violating this code could give students an unfair academic advantage and will result in the student being removed from the course. AP COURSE CREDIT Submission of an AP Studio Art Portfolio is mandatory for AP course credit. This year the AP portfolio will be due on May 7. Thank you for the chance to work with your child!
Sincerely,
Ms. Megan Pendleton Secondary Visual Art Asia Pacific International School
6Â
AP DRAWING CONTRACT The purpose of an AP course is to help students prepare for college. The AP Studio Art Drawing course will be taught at a faster pace than the normal high school art course, with higher-level skills, outside projects, readings, and gallery and exhibit visits expected. Because of the nature of the course, it is important that the teacher, student, and parents agree to commit the time and energy that are needed to complete it successfully. HONOR CODE This course will be conducted under an honor code. All students are expected to do their own work. At times, students will be given projects that must be completed outside of class. Help from others, specifically academy teachers, is not permitted. Violating this code could give students an unfair academic advantage and will result in the student being removed from the course. AP COURSE CREDIT Submission of an AP Studio Art Portfolio is mandatory for AP course credit. The AP portfolio is due on May 7. RESPONSIBILITIES Teacher: I agree to help the students prepare for the AP Exam by making available new information and media, teaching the skills they will need for undertaking the portfolio, assisting them with the preparation of their portfolio, helping them to evaluate their own portfolio and the work of others, and providing them with individual tutoring. I will make parents aware of any learning or progress problems that may arise so that by working together we may solve them. Teacher Signature: _____________________________________
Date: _____________
Student: I am aware of the criteria for the AP Studio Art Drawing course, and I agree to accept the responsibility for the preparation needed to complete the course. This includes: ● completing portfolio works in a timely manner, roughly one work per week ● matting five original works for the portfolio by May 1 ● agreeing to the mandatory submission of a portfolio, or loss of AP credit ● agreeing to an honor code of original work Student Signature: _________________________________ ____
Date: _____________
Parent: I am aware of the criteria for the AP Studio Art course, and I agree to help my child, ● pay the AP Exam fee (roughly $120USD) ● work to be successful in the course. I will help organize study time and encourage my child when the pressures of the course begin to build. ● I will communicate with the teacher any concerns about the course that need to be addressed. ● I understand that students will be reading college-level materials and dealing with issues and visual materials that might be controversial. I understand that these might include working from copies of paintings and drawings of classic/master nude figure studies that students will then interpret originally. ● I am aware that the school will provide some supplies and some must be purchased by the student. Parent Signature: __________________________________ ____ 7
Date: _____________