A Concentration is a series of "sequential or thematic visual images" --

images growing from images -- to help explore in greater depth a

particular visual concern as a thematic series.

Through research and analysis of masterworks as well as critiques, students

are expected develop their own personal visual expression. Students will

produce an extensive body of work, which will constitute their portfolio.

Because the range of possible concentrations is so wide, the number of

works the student creates should be dictated by the focus of the

investigation.

A. What is the central idea of your concentration going to be?

B. How will you demonstrate an exploration of this idea visually?

COMPLETE 4 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING SCULPTURES. The aim in creating

these sculptures is to build up your 3D portfolio and adding to the breadth

portion of the AP 3D studio portfolio. There are multiple options employing

found materials as well as those that may be purchase on your own.

Get familiar with the AP CollegeBoard website for AP Studio:

https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/apcourse/ap-studio-art-2-d-design/about-the-portfolios

MULTIPLES:

Students will use more than 300 pieces of one type of common

household object (ex: screws, paper clips, toothpicks, etc.) to create a

sculpture that emphasizes pattern and rhythm. Before starting, the

objects may be painted if preferred. You can make a freestanding

animal, human, object, etc.

STRAWS R US:

Create a sculpture out of straws where the sculpture no longer

looks like straws. Get ideas from google images but do not

directly copy them. The dollar tree sells straws in bulk for $1 and

has a variety of colors that you can purchase. You can cut up the

straws and use them in a dynamic way as well.

DUCT TAPE:

Using duct tape, create an ornate fashion accessory or sculpture

(animal, brooch, purse, wallet, furniture, etc)

AP Studio Art: 3D

WIRE ME UP:

Using wire create a sculpture of your choosing.

NEGATIVE SPACE:

Carve an abstract organic form that has a negative space from a

bar of soap or a block of floral foam (white or green).

MODERN STYLE:

Using only brown cardboard, create a piece of furniture (see

Bauhaus & IKEA for design inspiration). This can be from a kitchen,

bedroom setting, a chandelier, etc.)

SOFT SCULPTURE SELF-PORTRAIT:

Make a self-portrait of yourself. Select a theme to portray. Gather

materials you’ll need: Tule, fabric, yarn, Nylon hosiery, Fiberfill, flesh-

tone thread, needle, scissors, scrap materials, and special

accessories to finish the character. Pinch, gather, and sew the

surface to create anatomical features: eyes, nose, ears, mouth,

etc. Use same technique to create wrinkles, puckered faces, and

finer anatomical details. Sew or glue on buttons, beads, add

accessories such as eyeglasses, hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, hat,

etc.

2D/3D PAINTING:

Take your favorite 2D painting that you’ve done and transform it into a 3d piece. Any

materials can be used to build up the depth within the piece, but it still must look fairly

flat when viewing the piece head on.

ENVIRONMENTAL INSTALLATION:

Make a temporary environmental installation addressing any of the

following: time, viewpoint, pathways, celestial events, social issues.

Document in photographs and drawings. Look up Earthwork Artist Robert

Smithson.

Artists to research for inspiration:

• Constantin Brancusi

• Alexander Calder

• Christo

• Joseph Cornell

• Donatello

• Aristide Maillol

• Henry Moore

• Louise Nevelson

• Claes Oldenburg

• Pablo Picasso

• Auguste Rodin

• David Smith

SKETCHBOOK

Think about ideas that you may want to pursue as a CONCENTRATION, creating a list of 20 potential ideas inside

your sketchbook to be discussed with the class during the third week of school.

All students must submit a visual journal/sketchbook when they return to classes in September during the third

week of class. Students must collect 25 pages of information in the visual journal during the summer and it is

expected that students submit 25 pages each (2 – 3 pages a week)of the quarter of the school year; but not

the 4th quarter, so it is important to date the entries and number the pages. Don’t worry if you miss a day or two,

but this should be something that happens over time, so don’t wait until the last week of your summer to get

started.

ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE ASSIGNMENT:

A drawing entry takes about 20 minutes to an hour for each page, so it is a good idea to get the visual journal

to have as a “storehouse” for images, writings or photos to use for some of the 25 required pages:

1. At least 5 pages of OBSERVATIONAL DRAWINGS where you draw what you see

2. At least 5 pages from FOUND OBJECTS/items/evidence related to your area of Concentration.

3. At least 5 pages of PHOTO-COLLAGE: overlapping, pasted down, glued, painted/drawings over images

that you have taken with your phone, camera, photobooth, etc.

4. At least 5 pages of REFLECTION randomly throughout your sketchbook that discuss your thoughts (have

a conversation with yourself, write poetry, talk about your own artmaking processes you wish to explore,

talk about master artists you would like to use or inspiration, etc.)

5. At least 5 pages planning what a BIG ARTWORK for your area of concentration might look like, propose

ideas for future works or future titles of works for your concentration

Visual Journal Assessment Rubric:

Exceeds Expectations

Meets expectations

Needs Improvement

Incomplete Quality/Effort

Evidence of Research

Your journal has

evidence of

research from a

variety of sources

successfully

Your journal

demonstrates

an independent

approach (attempt)

to research

Your journal

Demonstrates some

research

Your journal does

not contain related

research

Quality and Sources of Research

Your journal shows

time on trying to

find a variety of

images/text

sources (journal

contains multiple

images/text)

Your journal

shows variety

in your sources

(images/text

from different

books, magazines,

pictures, etc.)

Your journal has

some images that

are just from the

internet and does

relies on “easy-to-

find” sources

Your journal

does not have a

collection of

images/text

Reflection There are all the

reflections that

are

required in the

journal (5)

There are

more

reflections in

your journal

(3-4)

There are

some

reflections in

your journal

(1 or 2)

There are no

reflections in

the journal

Indication of Course Involvement

Evidence of note

taking from books

and sources for

each of your

drawings in your

journal

Evidence of

note taking

from class

assignments,

online

research, the

ART 21 book,

or other

sources

There is some

evidence of

note taking

from online

research, the

ART 21 book,

or other

sources

You did not

relate your

journal to the

class and

what your

learned in

the class

Implications for Practice

You include at

least one page of

how you will use

art in your future

and how you will

inspire others

You include a

Paragraph on

how your will use

art in your future

You include

Some sentences

on how you will

use art in your

future

You did not

have a reflection

that talks about

how you will

practice art in the

future

Helpful hints:

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

your own or use a photo from the public domain. Attach the photo in your sketchbook.

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

Paper Mache, sculpty and air dry clay instead of traditional clay. Research ideas for corrugated

cardboard, wire sculptures, found objects and book assemblage to see examples of how these materials

can be used.

3. Use standard sizes. Stay within the 18” x 24” size, so that these pieces could be used for the quality section

of your portfolio.

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

and do color studies when needed. The best sketchbook is the black hardbound 8.5” x 11”Basic Canson

book with acid free paper, which can be purchased from Barnes and Nobles, as well as art vendors. Use a

variety of media, even combining them for mixed media.

5. 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 your name on the back or bottom.

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

become familiar with requirements.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/studiodrawing

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/studio2d

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/studio3d

7. Look at good art! Visit the local art centers, galleries, art museums, and art festivals. Take your sketch book

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 sketch book as well as draw in it.

8. Read about art! Read art magazines, such as The Artist’s Magazine and International Artist. You will find

these in local libraries. Check out books about famous artists in the library while you are there. Study the

images in them.

9. Search the Internet for artists dealing with the same subject as you. Study their work, life history, and

influences.