6 Questions about AP Studio Art

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What is the AP Studio Art Exam?

When you hear the word exam, you likely think of sitting down and filling in a scantron sheet or responding to essay questions, that isn’t the case for the Advanced Placement Studio Art exam. The AP Studio Art (2D design, Drawing, and 3D design), exams are portfolio-based.

How many pieces of art do you need to include in your AP Portfolio?

You’ll need to submit 15 digital images. There are no set amount of finished works of art required for the AP portfolio. The 15 digital images that you submit can be a combination of finished pieces, sketchbook work, and any other documentation that demonstrates your process.

What does it mean to create a sustained investigation?

Your portfolio will be driven by a sustained investigation of your choice. To understand what a sustained investigation is, let’s start by exploring the term, investigate.

Investigate means to research, study, and explore a subject to uncover facts and information.

Sustained means to do something over a long period of time.

Over the course of 6-9 months (sustained) ( varies depending on the length of your course), you’ll select a topic that you’re interested in exploring, and you (investigate) research, study, and explore, and demonstrate that through the works of art that you create.

Do I have to use the same medium for all of my work?

What materials you choose to use to create your work is up to you. The main thing to keep in mind is that your materials should connect to your sustained investigation. For example, if I was investigating global warming, I might include recycled materials in all of my pieces.

Is there any type of work that isn’t allowed in the AP portfolio?

As long as the work is created by you, aka, no copyright or appropriation issues, there are no limits.

If I take AP Drawing, can I only use pen and pencil?

In the drawing course, you can use any materials that you wish. Drawing isn’t about the materials, it’s about how you use the materials to address the drawing issues.