AP STUDIO ART

THE PARISH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

 

Dear Parents and Students:

 

Congratulations on your acceptance into AP Studio Art at Parish for the 2007-2008 school year. Students should be fully aware that AP Studio Art is an advanced, college-level class, and will require serious work and dedication as an artist.  Those who are highly motivated and willing to make that commitment will be given a chance to compare their work with other high school students throughout the nation and an opportunity to prepare an excellent portfolio for study at the college level.

 

1.  Class content has three parts:

  1. Study of contemporary artists and trends.  Students will be expected to visit galleries and the local art museums on their own-- The Dallas Museum of Art, the Kimbell Museum and Museum of Modern Art in Ft. Worth, among others, as well as some of the many private galleries in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
  2. A sketchbook is required.  It is to be composed of visual ideas, notes, photos, doodles, plans, short assignments, quick drawings, and practice of various techniques.  Many art schools like to see a student’s sketchbook to see how their minds and creativity work.
  3. Students may submit either a Drawing or a 2-D Design portfolio.  The AP Drawing and AP 2-D Design portfolios have three parts:

 

Quality (Original works) –

Five matted works for Drawing

or

Five matted works for 2-D Design

These should be the student’s BEST work, selected for excellence, and cannot be larger than 18”x 24.”

 

Concentration  --

            This section includes 12 slides exploring a single visual concern in depth.  It is

            somewhat like a visual term paper, and is an important part of the class.  When a                                       

subject has been chosen; the student should spend considerable time developing it.  It should show investigation, growth, and discovery involved with a compelling visual concept.  The Concentration is usually completed in the second half of the year.  (In this section, up to three slides could be close-ups to show details.)

 

 

 

            Breadth –

            This is a set of works showing mastery of a variety of media, techniques, and 

            subject matter.

            12 slides of 12 different works for the Drawing portfolio

            or

            12 slides of 12 different works for the 2-D Design portfolio

 

Because a portfolio submission of 24-30 slides of artwork is needed, each student will need to complete roughly one to two works per week.  Students should work steadily so that they have the sufficient number of slides before the May portfolio submission date.

A written commentary about their work is also required.

 

 2.  Homework:

Two hours per week or more is necessary to keep up.  Some students will spend considerably more time on this.  Very few students are able to complete their work entirely in class.  Students are also encouraged if they wish to take classes at other institutions, museums, or private lessons.

 

3.  Grades:

Because work is so individual and experimental, grading is difficult.  However, there are standards of quality in student work, expectations based on the range of accomplishments of other AP art classes, and the evidence of thought, care, and effort demonstrated in the work.  All of these elements are discussed with students, individually and in class critiques.  All students in the class have talent and should be capable of making an A if work is turned in on time.  A grade of B indicates deadlines are not being met or the student is not putting forth enough effort in the artwork.  A grade of C on the first progress report indicates the student may not be ready for a college-level class.

 

All work must be original.  If students use someone else’s work or an image as a basis for their own pieces, there must be significant alteration to the piece for it to be considered original!

 

Representatives from art schools and colleges who come and make presentations during the year are usually very generous with their comments and suggestions, so students should have their slides and portfolios available.

 

Thank you for your encouragement and support of these future artists and for giving us the opportunity to work with your students.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mrs. Schulz

Mr. Azevedo

Visual Arts

 

 

 

 

I have read the above parent/student letter for AP Studio Art and understand and agree to the criteria and conditions.  I understand that students will be reading college-level materials and dealing with issues and visual materials that may be controversial.  I understand that these may include working from copies of paintings and drawings of classic/master nude figure studies that students will then interpret originally.  I agree to help my child be successful in the AP course.  I will communicate to the art teacher/teachers any concerns I have about the course. I will help organize study time and encourage my child when the pressures of the course begin to build.

As an AP Studio Art student, I will make use of extended studio time.  I will be proactive in meeting with Mrs. Schulz and Mr. Azevedo, who will be available for individual help as well as workshops in additional media and techniques.

 

 

Parent Signature ___________________________________Date_______________

 

 

Student Signature___________________________________Date_______________