AP Art - 2-D Design • Course Overview

Class Expectations

From the SDUHSD Course Descriptions catalog:

Prerequisite: The ability and academic background to complete Grade Level: 10-12 college-level work.
Grade Level: 10 - 12
Fulfills the UC/CSU Visual & Performing Art Requirement with a C- grade or better

"This portfolio is intended to address a very broad interpretation of two-dimensional design issues. This type of design involves purposeful decision-making about how to use the elements and principles of art in an integrative way. The elements of design (line, shape, illusion of space, illusion of motion, pattern and texture, and value and color) are like a palette of possibilities that artists use to express themselves. The principles of design help guide artists in making decisions about how to organize the elements on a picture plane in order to communicate content. These principles include unity/variety, balance/emphasis/rhythm, and proportion/scale. (Graphic Design) See www.collegeboard.com for further explanation."

The AP Studio Art portfolios are designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. AP Studio Art is not based on a written exam; instead, students submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the school year. Each portfolio must reflect a student’s ability to utilze the elements and principles of design, use a variety of medium, and express a sophisticated level of creativity. Students will independently investigate an area of concentration in their artwork which will be composed of research, exploration, practice and development of an idea. Students will not only create the required work, but they must also strive to make their art as interesting, creative and unique as possible. Although creative expression and experimentation are important aspects of what is accomplished in this course, the quality of each work should be as high as possible.

Each assignment will focus on one or more of the CALIFORNIA STATE STANDARDS IN VISUAL ART :

1.0 ARTISTIC PERCEPTION
Students perceive and respond to works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment. They also use the vocabulary of the visual arts to express their observations.

2.0 CREATIVE EXPRESSION
Students apply artistic processes and skills, using a variety of media to communicate meaning and intent in original works of art.

3.0 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT
Students analyze the role and development of the visual arts in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to the visual arts and artists.

4.0 AESTHETIC VALUING
Students analyze, assess, and derive meaning from works of art, including their own, according to the elements of art, the principles of design, and aesthetic qualities.

5.0 CONNECTIONS, RELATIONSHIPS, APPLICATIONS
Students apply what they learned in the visual arts across subject areas. They develop competencies and creative skills in problem solving, communication, and management of time and resources that contribute to lifelong learning and career skills. They also learn about careers in and related to the visual arts.

Class Expectations

GENERAL RULES/EXPECTATIONS

2. Be Prepared. Be mentally prepared, alert and have materials that are needed in class everyday. Sketchbooks, CD's, research for projects, artwork etc. are useless if they are at home... or in your car... so make sure you bring them to class.

3. Be Responsible. Art supplies are very expensive so please take care of them! Clean up your materials, supplies and workspace every day before you leave. Be a citizen!

4. Please exercise “respect” in the classroom. This means respect of other students (and their artwork), the teacher and the equipment/classroom. If you do, others will treat you with the same courtesy. Any behavior which prevents teaching or disrupts the class will not be tolerated. Consequences for lack of respect/being disruptive will be detention and additional assignments, lowering of studio performance grade or a referral.

5. Cell Phone and iPod/Walkman Policy. Cellphones are to remain off/silent during class. If you are seen talking on the phone or text messaging, you will be given one warning. After that, the cell phone will be taken away until the end of the class. On the second offense, the cell phone will be given to your Assistant Principal and you can retrieve it there. Further use of phones during classs will receive referrals as well as a significant lowering of your studio performance grade. You may bring iPods etc. to class. They will need to remain off during lecture and critique -- basically off at any time other than individual work time. You are welcome to listen during your studio time as long as it is not too loud (if I can hear it across the room - it's too loud). The above cell phone policy will apply if you use it during lecture or critique.

6. HAVE FUN! Most importantly, art is a wonderful, inspirational subject...enjoy yourself! :-)

ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY
Tardy Policy: Tardies 1 through 3, you will be marked tardy. On your fourth tardy, you will be assigned to Saturday School. If tardies are excessive, I will discuss additional class make-up time on an individual basis.

Attendance and Missed Work: You will be creating over 20 artworks this year in class... so it is extremely important for you to be in class. If you miss class (excused or unexcused), it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to take care of missed work/studio time. All assignments and the weekly schedules will be up on this website. Being absent may mean that you'll have to come in after school or during lunch to make up missed studio time and meet project deadlines. Come see me about open studio hours if needed. Unexcused absences will also have a negative effect on your studio performance grade. See late work for more information about missing assignments.

GRADING POLICY
In general, my grading policy is as follows: an “A” is outstanding work and exceeds expectations; a “C” meets and fulfills requirements; and an “F” does not meet the requirements. We will talk more specifically about this in class as you receive assignments.

If caught cheating -- using or "borrowing" someone else's work or imagery (whether it is another student's work or something from the web) -- you will receive a "0" on that assignment in addition to disciplinary action.

Evaluation of student work is based on the following criteria:

• design quality - understanding and use of elements of art and principles of design
• concepts/ideas - creativity
• craftsmanship and use of materials
• effort and participation (Studio Performance)
• artistic process

Your grade will comprise of approximately the following:

• 1 - Studio Performance - see below
• 2 - Sketchbook: Use of sketchbook as a forum for sketching/planning ideas, visual research, sketching, journaling of ideas, sketching... you get the idea!
• 3 - Artwork: Obviously, this class is about creating a body of work that is college-level. You will be graded on your artistic process, use of materials, craftsmanship, creativity and artistic "voice"

LATE WORK
Turn in your work on time! Grades for late work will be lowered 10% for each day it's late (for example from an 90% to 80% after one day, to an 70% after two and so on...) At the end of the grading period, all work will be due. After that point, it will not be accepted.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to come see me about make-up work. If you are absent one day, work that was due the day you missed will be due the day you return. If you are absent two or more days, you will have two days to turn in your work. Please come see me if you know you will be absent to avoid confusion and discuss making up the work/studio time you will be missing. If the absence is unexcused, the work will be automatically counted as late (10% off).

STUDIO PERFORMANCE
Daily participation during class (includes staying on task, abiding by classroom rules, keeping up with work, participating in class discussions and critiques...etc.) will be evaluated as STUDIO PERFORMANCE. This will account for 20% of your semester grade! Unexcused absences and tardies will be detrimental to this grade.

HOMEWORK
Homework will consist of the following:

• Sketchbook/Journal: you will be required to keep a sketchbook so that you have a better understanding of thought processes involved in art, the value of putting ideas on paper and to use as an informal venue to create artwork.You will also be asked to do in-class activities, drawings, writings and take notes in your sketchbook. It will be checked periodically. The sketchbook should be brought to school everyday. You may purchase one (with unlined paper only) or you can make one out of the supplies in the classroom. You will also want a folder to keep class handouts etc.
• Research for major projects: Many of the projects in this class will require some research, gathering of background information and sketching activities that will happen outside of class.
• Other: At various times throughout the semester, you may be asked to review an article about an artist, reflect upon artwork you have seen, or write a short art historical paper. You will also be asked to visit a museum each semester and complete a museum review.

FIGURE AND FILM STUDIES
Often during the course sequence of all the visual art courses, the student will be working with visual materials such as famous art works, films of famous artists, charts and diagrams, slides, VHS tapes/video disks, the World Wide Web, and computer programs. This material may contain complete anatomical references, nude model poses and views of artists working from the nude in their studios, as well as scenes from modern films. The material may also mention and discuss the alternative lifestyles sometimes lived by famous artists, and may be expressed in language that might be considered offensive to some people. Current issues, as they relate to art and free expression, are also discussed in the art classes. If you have questions, or do not wish to participate in classes in which we may be discussing or viewing figure and film studies, please discuss with me or e-mail me.