Artists Grow Through AP Portfolio

St. Johns’ student-artists thrive in the AP Portfolio course, which challenges them to investigate materials, processes, and ideas. Students create art by practicing and trying new things. They undergo critique panels, where their art is reviewed and discussed. Then they rethink and revise.

“AP Portfolio students must think, act, write about, and interpret the world as artists,” said Visual Arts Department Chair Anna Reynolds. “This course is an opportunity for them to work outside of the constraints of teacher-guided classroom assignments.”

Senior Lulu Nowicki has always loved art and creating, she says, “but it wasn’t until I got into my high school art classes that I really decided I want to do art as a job.”

“Lulu’s work has really evolved over the years,” said Upper School Art Teacher Pam Ayres. “The creative community of the AP courses is a great collaborative intellectual environment for the students.”

Preparation for AP submissions includes constant critique and discussion as students prepare individual work and artist statements. This process helps students identify what they need to work on and how their work is viewed by an audience. ”AP Studio Portfolio is an advanced placement college course, said Ayres “Portfolios are scored by college professors and professionals, and they must meet the freshman level standard.”