AP Studio Art

Summer Assignments 2020_____________________________ Welcome to AP Studio Art! I am extremely pleased and proud of you for accepting the challenge of such a rigorous course. In August we’ll talk more about the AP requirements, goals and expectations and look at example portfolios. Over the summer break I want you to prepare for this course by first relaxing and enjoying your summer. Take time to hang out with friends, travel, volunteer, read, go swimming and experience life. Whatever you do I want you to do it with a heightened sense of awareness. I want you to always keep a camera and sketchbook with you. Incessantly take photos of everything and every place! Think of different angles, up close images and interesting compositions. These photos will be a wonderful resource later. Artists have always been great observers of the environment and societies in which they live. Really observe things and look for what others never see. Upload your images to a google folder for easy access. You will be sharing this folder with me the first week of class.

ASSIGNMENTS: Purpose of the assignment: Summer assignments help get your thought process and works started so you can have a smooth and successful portfolio for the year. There are 3 assignment categories: Documentation, Sustained Investigation, and finished pieces. The assignments will be due the first week of school and will be your first AP grades. Completing more than is required will put you that much further ahead when school starts.

How assignments will be assessed: Each piece will be assessed using the AP Art Rubrics. Each

project/finished piece is worth 100 points, the sustained investigation exploration is worth 20 points and

the photography/documentation is worth 20 points.

Resources Required: sketchbook, drawing paper, other art supplies as needed

Helpful Hints:

1. Draw directly from life instead of using reference photos, whenever possible. If you must use a

photo, take your own or borrow from someone that gives you permission to use theirs. Attach

any reference photos to the back of the work.

2. Use quality materials for your art. Good materials make it easier to create good work. Use at

least 80 lb. white drawing paper and canvases for painting.

3. Use standard sizes. Stay within the 9” x 2 to 18” x 24” size, so that these pieces could be used

for the quality section of your portfolio. (That is the part that we physically send to the College

Board to be read/graded)

4. Use a sketchbook to plan your artwork. Make several thumbnails, jot down notes, glue in

reference images, and do color studies when needed. This will lead your sustained

investigation.

5. Use a variety of media, even combining them for mixed-media.

6. DO NOT SIGN YOUR NAME TO THE FRONT OF YOUR WORK or place any identifying marks on

the front as per AP guidelines. Be sure to write you name on the back in pencil on all paper

projects.

7. Visit the AP Central website often for the portfolio you are submitting to see sample portfolios

and to become familiar with requirements. http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/studiodrawing

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/studio2d

8. Look at good art! Visit local art centers, galleries, art museums, and art festivals. Take your

sketchbook with you, and render the work as well as your response to it. It is a good thing to jot

down your thinking process in your sketchbook as well as draw in it.

9. Reading/ Research Projects – Try to visit galleries museums and art festivals. Read art

magazines, artists biographies, search the internet for artists who create in styles that appeal to

you. Study their work, philosophy, life and influences. Research at least 3 artists that interest

you. Describe the issues they explore in their art. Describe their subject matter, style, etc. of

their work. Check out books about different artists in the library. Study the images.

10. Get out there! Try to visit galleries museums and art festivals. Keep a list of galleries or

places you visited

Part One: Photography – (20) points Fill a folder of photographs from your summer (50 at least)

I want you to always keep a camera with you. Incessantly take photos of everything and every place!

Think of different angles, up close images and interesting compositions. These photos will be a

wonderful resource later. Artists have always been great observers of the environment and societies in

which they live. Really observe things and look for what others never see. Upload your images to a

google folder for easy access. You will be sharing this folder with me the first week of class.

Part Two: Sketchbook – (50) points In addition to using your sketchbook to plan your projects, you must complete 10 sketches and spend

approximately 30 minutes per idea/prompt. Sketchbooks should display forethought, good

composition, exceptional craftsmanship, have mature subject matter (avoid trite, overused symbols).

These sketchbook assignments should be finished drawings. Sometimes breadth pieces come from

sketchbooks. Use just the front pages for these drawings and include the drawing prompt on the back

of the page along with the date it was completed. Start with this list for ideas or create your own ideas

for your sketches. Feel free to do more!

Design a space in 1 point perspective Drapery study Create a texture surface and draw on it

Paper bag study Fabric with a pattern Yourself in 15 years

Look up words you do not know and illustrate them

Insects Opposites

Draw on top of an old drawing Man vs Nature Layer it on

Close up of an object making it abstract 5 drawings on top of each other Morphs

Transformation Jim Dine: tools Fill a clear plastic bag with objects and draw

Negative space only Only objects I found at this location_____ Autumn forest floor

Non objective Oops, wrong color Sink with dishes in it and soapy water

Contradiction Outside vs. Inside Abstract drawing of a building

Plugged in Extreme light source Illustrate a scripture passage

Refuge Extreme Perspective Conflict of interest

A tiny image repeated several times Café Anatomy

Crushed Soda Cans The senses Metallic objects

Park View from a car mirror Threads

What was for dinner Laundry day Coiled Rope

Glass bottles Shoes Keys

Part 3: Projects – (100 points each)

Complete at least 3 projects from the assignments listed below. Pieces should be no smaller than 9x12 inches and no larger than 18x24 inches. The assignments are about quality not quantity. You may use any media or mixed media of your choice. CHOOSE FROM TWO FROM LIFE DRAWING AND ONE FROM DESIGN!

LIFE DRAWING - 2 projects from this list - (100 points each)

Complete at least TWO of the following observational drawings. The AP Readers/Judges, as well as art

schools love to see drawings made from life. For one of them please use charcoal or pencil (HB, 2B and

4B) and the other is your choice. Spend the time needed to complete the work. Don’t just draw a

contour. Use a full range of values, with deep shadows and bright highlights to create form and depth.

Use the entire page, placing your focal points in sweet spots (not in the center or close to the edges),

and running off the edges with your composition, Fill the paper up, using more positive than empty

space.

1. Create a portrait or self-portrait that expresses a specific mood/emotion: anger/rage,

melancholy/loneliness, happiness/joy, etc. Work with lighting, values, color to enhance the

psychological atmosphere. Consider the environment/setting. Research portrait artists for

inspiration. Check out Van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Rembrandt for starters.

2. Still life that consists of 3 or more reflective objects. Set up the objects on a table, covered with

cloth, and place a lamp near it to create dramatic lighting. Something should be reflected in

the objects.Your goal is to convey a convincing representation. Render as accurately as you can.

Research Still life.

3. A drawing of an unusual interior - for example, looking inside a closet, cabinet, refrigerator,

inside a car, under the car’s hood, etc. Include as many details as you can. This is where a

camera comes in handy

4. A still life of your family members’ shoes. You should include at least three shoes- go for

interesting shapes, design, texture, color. Place them in different positions.

5. A close-up drawing of a bicycle/tricycle from an unusual angle. Don’t just draw the bicycle from

the side! MUST include shadow

6. Expressive landscape: locate a landscape near your home or use multiple sketches of different

landscapes to create a unique one. It is best to work from an actual subject, so draw outdoors

while looking at the actual landscape. Use expressive color to draw. Check out Fauvists or the

Der Blaue Reiter to see expressive use of color at work.

7. Buildings in a landscape. Draw on location or take a variety of photos to draw from later. Old barns, churches and historical buildings are great for this. Make sure perspective is correct.

8. Contrast of textures. Place 3 eggs on a towel, cloth or crumbled paper (preferably patterned) to create an interesting composition. Draw in pencil OR colored pencil. Pay attention to the smoothness of the eggs against the rough quality of the towel. Imply a light source and use a variety of values.

9. Get outside! Take your camera or sketchbook and do a series of nature close up sketches. Select one and render in pencil. Concentrate on values and textures.

10. Hands drawing. Create a drawing of your hands (or photograph someone’s for reference)

arranged in a variety of poses.

11. Draped Figure. Drape a person in clothing with lots of folds. A sheet works well. The point is to show the correct proportions of the figure and to carefully render the intricate folds. Including the subject will make this drawing even better. Consider adding a patterned background.

Design Project (100 points)

Choose at least one of the projects to create. You may choose any media or combination of media,

Start your project by developing each idea in your sketchbook. Plan your composition with big shapes,

value/color contrasts, scale relationships, point of view, and lighting. Make use of the elements or art

and principles of design with intentions. Plan it out! Solutions need to be fresh and unique instead of

obvious, predictable and trite.

1. Combine text with art. Collage other elements.

2. Extreme close-up of food, almost to the point of abstraction. Very detailed. Cut up fruits and

veggies and look closely at the insides for interesting abstract qualities. Use color.

3. Create a series of three artworks around a theme of your choosing. Consider this a mini

concentration. Look at artists that have worked in series, such as James Ensor, Andy Warhol,

Stella, Mondrian, matisse, and Picasso.

4. Create a comic strip about a social issue. All characters must be original. Include test and color.

5. Research and create a POP-inspired work incorporating personal symbols or words. Research

the art of Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana and Ed Ruscha,as well as their photography.

6. Abstraction. Research abstraction and the works of Tom C. Fedro. Create an abstract work similar to his designs. Faces, animals, objects, etc.

7. Create an offbeat portrait of a family member/friend using thick bold outlines and arbitrary

colors, using paint and or oil pastels. Research Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Georges Rouault.

8. Create a new, artsy label for a can of food. Use a social issue as a theme. Visit the website

http://artandsocialissues.cmaohio.org/ to see how other artists dealt with social issues.

Part Four: Sustained Investigation (20 points)

Develop a list of at least 20 different ideas for concentration. Look through the AP site for ideas from

previous AP art students. Also, look at artists that work in series. Look at how they are able to carry an

idea throughout multiple pieces. Record this in your sketchbook.

I am looking forward to a great AP ART year!!!