What It’s Like to Be in AP Art

Hermit+Crabs+by+Chloe+Kline.+Done+in+acrylic.

“Hermit Crabs” by Chloe Kline. Done in acrylic.

Going through high school, you’re bound to know someone who has been in an AP class. You study and prep all year for one big test in May that you hope will score you some college credit. Every class seems to be nearly the same- except AP Studio Art.

AP Art works a lot differently then other AP classes. Instead of tests and the occasional project, your time is taken up by near-weekly art projects called breadths and concentrations. After school, you have to come in for critiques on your work. Yes, we still have to do an essay and presentation towards the end like any other class, but most of the time, all we do is draw, paint, and repeat.

In the end, a portfolio submission takes the place of the usual AP test, and it showcases your improvement throughout the year. Below you will find a few of the 30-some pieces I created this year.

This piece, titled “Hermit Crabs,” was the final breadth piece I did during the year. I wanted to create something personal involving my pets. After losing my hermit crab, Neptune, in March, I thought this would be a nice tribute to him.

 

This piece, titled “Swamp Lurker,” was a part of the concentration section of my portfolio. It was the only digital piece I did, featuring a swamp dragon based on a crocodile.

 

Another concentration, this was titled “Phoenix Rising.” It features my two lovebirds, Comet and Pickles. Pickles was made into a phoenix to tie into the “myth meets reality” theme of my concentrations.

 

This concentration, “Guardian,” was a more subtle reference to mythology. It shows a hellhound acting as a guard dog, and was my favorite pastel piece that I did.

 

Another breadth piece, “Entrance” features the space outside the auditorium in the high school. I’ve always struggled with perspective in drawing, so this piece really showcases how much I’ve improved with it throughout AP Art.

 

Lastly, this concentration piece, “A Lonely Farmer,” depicts a satyr farmer in a field with his goats. This piece was physically submitted as a part of the quality section of my AP portfolio. The strongest part of the whole drawing, in my opinion, is the tree.