Creating an Superior Placement (AP) artwork portfolio generally is a difficult process for highschool college students. But it surely’s additionally an thrilling alternative to point out off their skills. It requires creativity, planning, and a radical understanding of the necessities set by the Faculty Board. AP artwork college students are sometimes obsessed with artwork and design, however they’re additionally usually overwhelmed by the portfolio’s complexity. Learn on to be taught extra in regards to the Faculty Board’s present portfolio necessities and scoring standards, in addition to to get ideas for creating portfolios, examples of high-scoring AP artwork portfolios, and insights from the scholars who created them.
AP Artwork and Design Portfolio Necessities
The present model of the Superior Placement (AP) Artwork and Design Portfolio consists of two sections: Sustained Investigation (60% of whole rating) and Chosen Works (40% of whole rating). Whereas the earlier model required 24 artworks, the present one requires simply 15. Till just lately, there was a breadth part that demonstrated scholar vary and offered a possibility for working with completely different mediums. The intent with Sustained Investigation is to reveal follow, experimentation, and revision by quite a few pictures that search to reply an inquiry chosen by the artist. Whereas college students can submit solely completed artworks, they will additionally embrace revision and course of pictures as seen with many AP artwork portfolio examples. The Chosen Works portion consists of 5 high-quality artworks.
There’s additionally a writing requirement, which incorporates an artist assertion of 1,200 phrases break up into two 600-word sections. Moreover, artists have 100 characters to clarify the method behind every work and 100 characters to clarify the supplies used.
Whereas there have been modifications to the AP artwork portfolio necessities in recent times, older, profitable portfolios nonetheless present precious insights.
AP Artwork and Design Portfolio Scoring
The portfolio, which could be 2D, 3D, or drawing, is submitted digitally and scored from 5 (extraordinarily nicely certified) to 1 (no advice). A rating of 4 is taken into account nicely certified, a rating of three is certified, and a rating of two is probably certified. Earlier variations of the AP portfolio scoring had completely different ranges and went as much as a excessive rating of 6. A portfolio gives college students the chance to earn faculty credit score whereas exhibiting off their expertise. The gathering of completed artworks and pictures ought to reveal college students’ grasp of design and artwork ideas whereas additionally exhibiting the complete vary of their talents. A scholar’s portfolio ought to undoubtedly present relationships between supplies, processes, and concepts. It should additionally embrace written proof of this stuff. Take a look at our ideas and AP artwork portfolio examples earlier than getting began.
Prime Ideas for Creating an AP Artwork Portfolio
- Don’t be afraid to revisit artworks.
- Pay cautious consideration to composition.
- Don’t be afraid to desert an paintings if it isn’t working.
- Check with apstudents.collegeboard.org/art-designprogram for essentially the most up-to-date data.
- Present your improvement as an artist.
- Develop your sustained investigation and theme.
- Take some dangers.
Examples From Profitable Portfolios
1. A Good 6
An ideal rating on the AP Artwork Portfolio may be very uncommon however not fully unattainable. Though troublesome, scholar Ratthamnoon Prakitpong earned each attainable level within the completely different sections of his drawing portfolio. Prakitpong offers a great deal of good recommendation whereas offering examples, together with before-and-after examples of various paintings. He additionally recommends drawing inspiration from sudden locations.
Be taught extra: AP Studio Artwork Drawing Portfolio: Ideas from a Pupil Who Gained 100%
2. A 3D Compilation
This video compilation reveals all kinds of completed 3D artworks but additionally contains images exhibiting Cyan D’Anjou’s course of. D’Anjou mentioned that many of the focus part of her portfolio was developed throughout her closing yr of highschool. In right now’s portfolio, this could be akin to the Sustained Investigation portion.
3. A Robust Theme
As soon as scholar Alina Rhoadarmer selected childhood reminiscences because the theme for her AP artwork portfolio, she was in a position to set out creating all kinds of artworks that match that matter. Rhoadarmer defined, “I used to be consistently growing and redeveloping my query and reinterpreting my matter to create new artwork items.”
Be taught extra: 2020-2021 AP Artwork Portfolio Showcase
4. Digital Portray Focus
That is an instance of a 2D AP artwork portfolio with extra of a business focus because it facilities round character creation and improvement. Though there are all kinds of platforms for digital portray, this explicit artist used Ibis paint, extremely, on her iPhone. The artist created many several types of characters and environments, together with variations on Thomas Edison. The portfolio expresses the story and idea of the characters whereas additionally demonstrating the artist’s vary and skill.
5. Three Portfolios, One Artist
Whereas a video compilation of an AP artwork portfolio is useful, a video together with three is even higher! First, we see artworks from a 2D portfolio submitted in 2015 throughout their junior yr. Subsequent, we see a portfolio for drawing from the artist’s senior yr. Lastly, we see their 2D portfolio from their senior yr. Though troublesome to do, all three of those portfolios scored a 5 (sturdy).
6. Artworks With Explanations
Artist/scholar Conan Grey does a pleasant job exhibiting his paintings whereas offering his rationale for every picture. Since a still-life can fall flat, Grey recommends incorporating which means and shares an instance of his personal still-life that succeeds at that.
7. 2D Pictures Instance
These pictures are from an ideal rating AP 2D Artwork and Design portfolio. This artist explores the animal world by images. As with every good AP artwork portfolio examples, there’s a clear mastery of the chosen medium in addition to consistency in theme all through the works.
Be taught extra: AP Artwork Portfolio (rating 5)
8. A Good Rating on a Drawing Portfolio
The artist on this video gives useful ideas and examples for acquiring an ideal rating on the drawing portfolio whereas additionally being hilarious. This artist used 11 accomplished works in her Sustained Investigation portion and 4 extra revision and course of pictures to spherical out the required 15 pictures. She gives useful ideas like utilizing your finest works towards the start and finish and placing your least favourite works within the center.
Examples of Sustained Investigation
9. Theme: Femininity and Masculinity By way of the twentieth Century
This Sustained Investigation is especially efficient because it not solely explores gender however the expression of gender all through completely different moments within the twentieth century.
Be taught extra: AP Artwork Studio
10. Theme: Unfavourable and Optimistic Results of Social Media on Self-Esteem
This artist explored the unfavorable and optimistic penalties of social media on shallowness. They used shade to specific optimistic results whereas a scarcity of shade clearly signifies the unfavorable penalties.
Be taught extra: AP Artwork Studio
11. Theme: Feeling Comfy vs. Uncomfortable
Taking a look at artworks on a given theme is useful, however having the artist clarify their processes and concepts is even higher. Artist Karina Singh does a beautiful job of explaining her use of composition and supplies to discover her matter of being comfy versus being uncomfortable. Her work reveals a radical exploration of a theme with concepts starting from feminine sexuality, COVID, and household to environmental waste.
12. Theme: Nonverbal Communication
Artist/scholar Sophie Miller selected nonverbal communication for her Sustained Investigation so she may draw “with elevated distinction.” In accordance with the artist, at the very least half of her drawing time was finished throughout a free interval or at house. Her theme is made undeniably clear by her drawings of individuals with intense facial expressions and hand gestures.
Be taught extra: AP Artwork College students Full Their Portfolios
13. Theme: Phobias
This artist selected a subject that definitely allowed for limitless potentialities of subject material. He confirmed his vary by creating pictures that represented completely different phobias whereas using completely different supplies and mediums.
Be taught extra: AP Studio Artwork Focus Portfolio (Phobias)
Different Concepts for Sustained Investigation
- Abandonment of individuals and locations
- Evolution of sickness
- Human affect on the atmosphere
- Results of social media
- Reflections on varied surfaces
- Despair
- Shut-ups (meals, physique components, and so on.)
- Impact of company promoting on human psyche
- Portray pals in numerous historic eras
- Voyeurism
- Modernization of well-known fairy tales
- Woodcuts based mostly on Japanese printmaking
- Discovered-object sculptures
- Exploration of clothes throughout cultures
- Highway journeys
Examples of Low-Scoring Portfolios
Seeing examples of high-scoring and well-flushed-out portfolios is useful, however it will also be helpful to see examples of what to not do. The AP Faculty Board posts examples of low-scoring portfolios whereas together with the rationale behind the scores. See under for some examples of portfolios that solely scored a 1.
- 2D Portfolio Instance 1/AP Central/Faculty Board
- 2D Design Portfolio Instance 2/AP Central/Faculty Board
- AP Central/Faculty Board/Sustained Investigation
It’s also possible to discover examples of full portfolios that scored excessive on the 2022 portfolio examination in addition to extra scoring commentaries on the AP Central Faculty Board web site.
