THE STUDIO ART PORTFOLIO AND YOU What the heck have I gotten myself into?!

Overview Here's the thing about the AP Studio Art test: it is absolutely, one hundred percent different from all of the other AP tests in that there is no written exam. To "take" the AP Studio Art "test," you will submit a portfolio of your best artworks to the AP board. Its members then evaluate your work based on multiple factors and assign it a score of 1 to 5.

The Portfolios The studio art portfolio is broken into three categories: 2-D design (includes Photography) Drawing 3-D design

2D Design Portfolio This class addresses 2-D Design issues in many areas of interest. These include, but are not limited to: graphic design, typography, fashion design, collage, fabric design, weaving, illustration, printmaking, photography, and computer generated art. Students are expected to show mastery of technical and conceptual 2-D Design skills using a variety of media and methods. A body of work will be developed that investigates an idea of personal interest to the student. The creation of a minimum of 24 original works is required. The 2D design portfolio concerns itself mostly with the principles of design. Make sure you have a foreground, middle ground, and background to each piece.

Drawing Portfolio This class is designed to address a wide range of drawing activities and media. Mark making through drawing, painting, printmaking and mixed media will be included. Works will include direct observation, drawings from imagination, and abstractions. Students are expected to show mastery of technical and conceptual skills in a variety of drawing processes. A body of work will be developed that investigates an idea of personal interest to the student. The creation of a minimum of 24 original works is required. The Drawing portfolio is more concerned with the Elements of art.

3D Design Portfolio This class is intended to address a broad interpretation of sculptural issues concerning depth and space. Works completed throughout the year may include traditional sculpture, paper, architectural models, fashion and apparel, ceramics, 3-D fiber arts, metal works, and found objects. Students will show mastery of a variety of 3-D issues including additive and subtractive forms, casting, fabrication, and installation. A body of work will be developed that investigates an idea of personal interest to the student. The creation of a minimum of 20 original works is required.

Three Part Test The AP Studio Art Portfolio Review is broken down into three sections: Breadth (12 pieces) Concentration (12 pieces) Quality (5 pieces)

The Breadth! This section is meant to show your range and technical skill as an artist. Line, contrast, pattern, proportion—all these things and more will be critiqued. You might be a superstar at painting landscapes, but the board also wants to see that you can do other stuff, too. You will be showing them 12 different examples of what you can do, so make the most of the opportunity to show off your skills in more than one area or medium.

The Concentration! In the simplest terms, this is theme. The AP board wants to see if you can examine and develop an idea through multiple works. They want to see that you were thinking about what you did while you were doing it, that you kept thinking about it, and that you grew with it, whatever 'it’ is for you. Doesn’t matter if your 'it' is the inherent delights of kittens with mohawks or your thoughts on the failures of the American electoral system; you only need to have one, so focus on it with laser-like intensity.

The Quality! This refers to the overall quality of your work, or both technical skill and artistic vision. Quality works should show that not only are you talented, but that you also paid attention in class and worked to develop your skills as an artist. They want to see that you grew as an artist this year.

Submission Method Step 3: Step 1: (LABEL EVERY PIECE WITH TITLE, SIZE, and MEDIUM! Take photos of everything you finish in this class as you finish it and save it on your H:/ drive. - Should have an art folder -> concentration, breadth - Name the piece by portfolio piece and size - Ex: Breadth 1 – 8x10.jpg Step 2: As soon as it is available (usually February), you will begin uploading your works to the AP portfolio website. Step 3: Quality will be submitted physically on May 5th.

Portfolio DOs DO feel free to explore some seriously crazy or outrageous ideas. No topic is off limits. DO go through your checklist multiple times so you know your portfolio meets all the different requirements. Portfolios that go rogue might not be graded at all DO go above and beyond what Mr. McMillan asks DO start early. Summer is not too early. Put down the remote and pick up the brush/chisel/mouse now. DO play like a champion. Expect to put in long, long hours for a 5 portfolio. You can't fake out the AP board. The results will be worth all the work, I promise. DO protect the pieces you send in for the Quality section of 2-D Design and Drawing. Ship them carefully and make sure pieces that could smudge or otherwise be damaged have a (preferably removable) protective covering. If your pieces are smaller than 8" × 10", have them mounted on something 8" × 10", as long as that something isn’t glass or human skin. That's dangerous! Also, gross. DO be the ‘I’ in TEAM. There is no teamwork here. It's just you, yourself, and you.

Portfolio DON’Ts DON'T wait until April to start your portfolio. DON'T sign your works. Identifying information should be left off. If it's already there and you could seriously damage your piece by removing it, though, leave it there. You won't be penalized. DON'T try to fit an iron sculpture into the 18" × 24" envelope. If you are working on a 3-D portfolio, you will not physically mail in anything. DON'T wait until April to start your portfolio. DON'T photograph your works and then edit them in Photoshop to make you look like you did a better or different job than you did. That’s cheating. It’s like only putting the good pictures from the weekend on Facebook so everyone thinks you had an amazing time when you only had about five minutes of amazing time. DON'T be a kiss-up and send in extra works. They won't be graded and you'll look like you can't count. DON'T wait until April to start your portfolio. (This is an important one.)

Common Mistakes I’m doing it this weekend/ I’ll do it tomorrow/ Mr. McMillan I just need a break today! Limiting yourself to one style. This can be a good and bad thing. It's a good thing to focus on something that interests you and to become extremely talented at it. It is not so good, however, if it prevents you from submitting a range of works in your Breadth section. Concentrate on your strengths, but always make sure you are branching out and trying new ideas and media. Choosing works hastily. Choosy students choose wisely, and not only when it comes to JIF. This goes along with starting early enough to leave time for deliberation. Be sure to take the time to reflect on your work so you won't choose poorly like the guy who thought it was a good idea to cast Jared Leto as the Joker in Suicide Squad Not following the submission requirements. Often, in art, there can be a lot of room for debate. The AP Studio Art exam does not happen to be one of those times. For this portfolio, you will need to be sure that you played by all the rules or the whole thing may be disqualified. Luckily, we have handy-dandy checklists you can use to prevent this kind of tragedy.

Questions?