5 min read•october 27, 2020
Sherry Ross
Sherry Ross
Simply put, your "test" for AP Art and Design is the creation of a body of work. This work is called a portfolio. Artists use portfolios to show what they are capable of doing artistically. Your portfolio is what you will be scored on for your AP Art and Design "test". Unlike other tests, where you learn and are evaluated on what you remember on that day..... the AP Art and Design test is scored on the work you create over the extended period of time you are in the class.
There are two parts to the AP Art and Design portfolio, the Sustained Investigation and the Selected Works. Together, these two parts create your AP submission. You need to complete both parts. What you create for these parts depends on which portfolio (2D, 3D, or Draw) you are submitting. No matter what. you idea or your media, there are certain principles of design that are used to create cohesion in your work. These are used throughout Art and you will need to demonstrate them.
According to the updated AP Art and Design Rubric published by the College Board, these are the elements and principles of design that you need to demonstrate in any of these portfolios:
The elements of design are color, line, point, shape, texture, space, form, and unity/harmony. The College Board is also using plane and layer as elements since they are additional components dealing with the space of the elements. These elements are arranged in different and increasingly complex ways to create the principles of design.
The principles of design revolve around HOW the elements of design are used within a piece of art to visually represent these ideas. Because of dimension, the principles of design for AP3D are slightly different than the principles of design for AP2D and Draw. View their differences in the following study guides:
📝Read: AP Studio Art - Principles of Design for AP2D and Draw
📝Read: AP Studio Art - Principles of Design for AP3D
To give you a general idea of what this whole AP encompasses, here are the requirements:
Submit 15 images that demonstrate:
State the following in writing:
Questions that guide the sustained investigation are typically formulated at the beginning of the portfolio development. Students should formulate their inquiry or question(s) based on their own experiences and ideas. These guiding questions should be documented and further developed by students throughout the sustained investigation.
Identify the following for each image:
Submit five work that demonstrate:
For each work, state the following in writing:
2D Design Portfolio
: A portfolio that focuses on two-dimensional art forms such as drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, or digital art. It demonstrates the artist's ability to create visually engaging compositions using various media.3D Design Portfolio
: A portfolio that focuses on three-dimensional art forms such as sculpture, ceramics/pottery, installation art or any other form where depth and physicality are emphasized. It showcases the artist's ability to manipulate space and form in a tangible way.AP Art and Design
: The AP Art and Design course is an advanced level art program offered to high school students. It allows students to explore various artistic mediums, develop their skills, and create a portfolio of artwork that demonstrates their understanding of the principles and elements of art.AP Studio Art
: AP Studio Art is an advanced art course offered to high school students that allows them to create a portfolio of artwork for college credit. It focuses on practice, experimentation, and revision to develop artistic skills and concepts.Balance
: Balance refers to the distribution of visual weight within a composition. It creates stability, harmony, and equilibrium by arranging elements with equal visual weight on either side of an imaginary center line.College Board
: The College Board is an organization that administers standardized tests, including the AP Art & Design exams. They set the curriculum and guidelines for these exams.Connection
: Connection refers to how different elements or ideas are linked together visually or conceptually within an artwork.Contrast
: Contrast refers to the difference between lightness and darkness or between colors in an artwork. It creates visual interest, emphasizes focal points, and enhances readability.Drawing Portfolio
: A drawing portfolio is a collection of an artist's best drawings and artwork, showcasing their skills and creativity. It is often used as a tool for college admissions or to demonstrate artistic growth over time.Emphasis
: Emphasis refers to creating dominance or focus on specific areas or elements within an artwork. It guides viewers' attention and helps convey meaning by making certain aspects stand out.Figure/Ground Relationship
: Figure/ground relationship refers to how we perceive objects (figures) against their surrounding space (ground). The figure stands out from the ground due to contrasting characteristics.Guiding Question
: A guiding question is a thought-provoking query that helps artists explore their ideas and guide their creative process. It serves as a starting point for research or artistic inquiry.Hierarchy
: Hierarchy refers to the arrangement of elements in order of importance within an artwork. It involves creating a visual structure where certain elements stand out more prominently than others, guiding the viewer's attention and understanding.Juxtaposition
: Juxtaposition is the placement of two contrasting elements side by side to create a striking visual or conceptual effect. It involves comparing and contrasting different ideas, objects, or images to highlight their differences or similarities.Movement
: Movement in art refers to creating the illusion of action or physical motion within a static image. It can be achieved through various techniques such as diagonal lines, implied gestures, or blurring effects.Proportion
: Proportion refers to how different parts relate to each other within an artwork. It involves finding balance and harmony between sizes, shapes, colors, and other visual elements.Repetition
: Repetition involves using similar visual elements multiple times within a composition. It creates rhythm and unity by establishing patterns and consistency.Rhythm
: Rhythm refers to the visual flow and repetition of elements in a work of art. It creates a sense of movement and harmony, guiding the viewer's eye through the composition.Scale
: Scale refers to the size or proportion of an object or element in relation to other objects or elements within a composition. It can create a sense of depth, hierarchy, and impact.Selected Works
: A collection of artworks that have been chosen by an artist to represent their best and most significant pieces. These works are carefully curated to showcase the artist's skills, style, and artistic development.Synthesis
: Synthesis refers to combining different ideas, materials, or techniques into one cohesive whole. In art-making, it involves integrating various artistic elements or concepts into a unified composition.Unity
: Unity refers to the sense of oneness or cohesion in an artwork where all elements work together harmoniously. It creates a feeling that everything belongs together as part of a whole.Variety
: Variety refers to the use of different elements or techniques in an artwork to add interest and avoid monotony. It involves incorporating diversity and contrast within a composition.5 min read•october 27, 2020
Sherry Ross
Sherry Ross
Simply put, your "test" for AP Art and Design is the creation of a body of work. This work is called a portfolio. Artists use portfolios to show what they are capable of doing artistically. Your portfolio is what you will be scored on for your AP Art and Design "test". Unlike other tests, where you learn and are evaluated on what you remember on that day..... the AP Art and Design test is scored on the work you create over the extended period of time you are in the class.
There are two parts to the AP Art and Design portfolio, the Sustained Investigation and the Selected Works. Together, these two parts create your AP submission. You need to complete both parts. What you create for these parts depends on which portfolio (2D, 3D, or Draw) you are submitting. No matter what. you idea or your media, there are certain principles of design that are used to create cohesion in your work. These are used throughout Art and you will need to demonstrate them.
According to the updated AP Art and Design Rubric published by the College Board, these are the elements and principles of design that you need to demonstrate in any of these portfolios:
The elements of design are color, line, point, shape, texture, space, form, and unity/harmony. The College Board is also using plane and layer as elements since they are additional components dealing with the space of the elements. These elements are arranged in different and increasingly complex ways to create the principles of design.
The principles of design revolve around HOW the elements of design are used within a piece of art to visually represent these ideas. Because of dimension, the principles of design for AP3D are slightly different than the principles of design for AP2D and Draw. View their differences in the following study guides:
📝Read: AP Studio Art - Principles of Design for AP2D and Draw
📝Read: AP Studio Art - Principles of Design for AP3D
To give you a general idea of what this whole AP encompasses, here are the requirements:
Submit 15 images that demonstrate:
State the following in writing:
Questions that guide the sustained investigation are typically formulated at the beginning of the portfolio development. Students should formulate their inquiry or question(s) based on their own experiences and ideas. These guiding questions should be documented and further developed by students throughout the sustained investigation.
Identify the following for each image:
Submit five work that demonstrate:
For each work, state the following in writing:
2D Design Portfolio
: A portfolio that focuses on two-dimensional art forms such as drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, graphic design, or digital art. It demonstrates the artist's ability to create visually engaging compositions using various media.3D Design Portfolio
: A portfolio that focuses on three-dimensional art forms such as sculpture, ceramics/pottery, installation art or any other form where depth and physicality are emphasized. It showcases the artist's ability to manipulate space and form in a tangible way.AP Art and Design
: The AP Art and Design course is an advanced level art program offered to high school students. It allows students to explore various artistic mediums, develop their skills, and create a portfolio of artwork that demonstrates their understanding of the principles and elements of art.AP Studio Art
: AP Studio Art is an advanced art course offered to high school students that allows them to create a portfolio of artwork for college credit. It focuses on practice, experimentation, and revision to develop artistic skills and concepts.Balance
: Balance refers to the distribution of visual weight within a composition. It creates stability, harmony, and equilibrium by arranging elements with equal visual weight on either side of an imaginary center line.College Board
: The College Board is an organization that administers standardized tests, including the AP Art & Design exams. They set the curriculum and guidelines for these exams.Connection
: Connection refers to how different elements or ideas are linked together visually or conceptually within an artwork.Contrast
: Contrast refers to the difference between lightness and darkness or between colors in an artwork. It creates visual interest, emphasizes focal points, and enhances readability.Drawing Portfolio
: A drawing portfolio is a collection of an artist's best drawings and artwork, showcasing their skills and creativity. It is often used as a tool for college admissions or to demonstrate artistic growth over time.Emphasis
: Emphasis refers to creating dominance or focus on specific areas or elements within an artwork. It guides viewers' attention and helps convey meaning by making certain aspects stand out.Figure/Ground Relationship
: Figure/ground relationship refers to how we perceive objects (figures) against their surrounding space (ground). The figure stands out from the ground due to contrasting characteristics.Guiding Question
: A guiding question is a thought-provoking query that helps artists explore their ideas and guide their creative process. It serves as a starting point for research or artistic inquiry.Hierarchy
: Hierarchy refers to the arrangement of elements in order of importance within an artwork. It involves creating a visual structure where certain elements stand out more prominently than others, guiding the viewer's attention and understanding.Juxtaposition
: Juxtaposition is the placement of two contrasting elements side by side to create a striking visual or conceptual effect. It involves comparing and contrasting different ideas, objects, or images to highlight their differences or similarities.Movement
: Movement in art refers to creating the illusion of action or physical motion within a static image. It can be achieved through various techniques such as diagonal lines, implied gestures, or blurring effects.Proportion
: Proportion refers to how different parts relate to each other within an artwork. It involves finding balance and harmony between sizes, shapes, colors, and other visual elements.Repetition
: Repetition involves using similar visual elements multiple times within a composition. It creates rhythm and unity by establishing patterns and consistency.Rhythm
: Rhythm refers to the visual flow and repetition of elements in a work of art. It creates a sense of movement and harmony, guiding the viewer's eye through the composition.Scale
: Scale refers to the size or proportion of an object or element in relation to other objects or elements within a composition. It can create a sense of depth, hierarchy, and impact.Selected Works
: A collection of artworks that have been chosen by an artist to represent their best and most significant pieces. These works are carefully curated to showcase the artist's skills, style, and artistic development.Synthesis
: Synthesis refers to combining different ideas, materials, or techniques into one cohesive whole. In art-making, it involves integrating various artistic elements or concepts into a unified composition.Unity
: Unity refers to the sense of oneness or cohesion in an artwork where all elements work together harmoniously. It creates a feeling that everything belongs together as part of a whole.Variety
: Variety refers to the use of different elements or techniques in an artwork to add interest and avoid monotony. It involves incorporating diversity and contrast within a composition.© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
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