AP STUDIO ART 2D DESIGN & DRAWING

As part of the AP Studio Art 2D/Drawing course you will be expected to maintain a

detailed sketchbook throughout the school year. Portions of the sketchbook will be

submitted as part of the AP exam. To help you prepare for this part of the AP exam you

will be expected to begin using a sketchbook this summer. Get in the habit of taking it

places with you. Sketch ideas, interesting things you see around you, or simply take

notes of things that inspire you. Once the school year begins you will be given guided

instruction on how to maintain your sketchbook along with weekly sketch prompts.

Practice using a sketchbook over the summer and it will become second nature for you

to sketch and write down your thoughts once the school year begins.

SUMMER HOMEWORK SKETCHBOOK PROMPTS (+75 points)

Over summer break you will be expected to purchase a sketchbook whose shape, size, and paper type you like best. You will be spending a lot of time with this sketchbook during the next school year so pick one that has a lot of pages and that will fit comfortably in your book bag.

If you already have a sketchbook started that you love, and that has at least 40 blank pages in it, then you may continue to use this sketchbook. Make sure however that you

start with the first blank page and continue straight from there. Do not bounce around from page to page as you will need an orderly sketchbook for the AP exam.

Next, you will need to complete the 3 sketch prompts listed below prior to the start of school on August 1st. You want to take these drawing prompts seriously and do your

best on them because you will be including photos from your sketchbook in your AP Studio portfolio as part of your exam score.

Prompt 1- Using an altered surface; tags, wrappers, old packaging, old used envelopes, receipts, and/or shipping tags, CREATE an image that includes a human

face. Glue or tape your completed drawing in your sketchbook. If you drew on a 3D object, open it up and flatten it to place inside your sketchbook or take a quality photo of the completed drawing and place the photo in your sketchbook. Prompt 2- Make a free association chart or graphic organizer from the word Night.

From all of the ideas originating from this word, choose one to develop in your

sketchbook. Make sure your sketch includes images, ideas, reflections and any

inspiration for a possible detailed artwork to be created in the future during the school

year.

Prompt 3- Food, you are what you eat! Draw, paint, or illustrate an image of what

you’re eating. Make sure your composition, color, lighting, and textures are strong. If

you use a reference photo, make sure YOU took the photo and include a copy of it in

your sketchbook. Alternately, if you literally make a drawing with your food, simply

provide a photo of the completed “drawing” and also a sketch of the creation in your

sketchbook.

Annotation- Beside each completed sketch, provide a brief critique of pros and cons in

regards to your completed drawing. What did you excel at and what could you work on

for next time?

You may complete the prompts using whatever drawing or painting materials are

available to you. If you cannot afford a sketchbook, see Mrs. Woodcock before May 31st

and she will provide one for you.

COLLEGE LEVEL SKETCHBOOK

Details regarding how to maintain a college level sketchbook are included below. We

will discuss these concepts in detail once the school year begins however you may elect

to familiarize yourself with the concepts now as you begin creating a sketchbook this

summer.

WHAT IS A SKETCHBOOK? Sketchbook- A sketchbook is a creative document that contains both written and visual

material. It may include teacher-guided sketchbook assignments or self-directed investigation. A sketchbook provides a place to think through the making process: researching, brainstorming, experimenting, testing, analyzing and refining compositions.

It offers a place to document the journey towards a final solution, providing a depth and backstory to the accompanying work. The sketchbook is an important part of many visual art courses.

Sketchbook format - For convenience, most students select a sketchbook that fits

within schoolbags and is less likely to be lost or damaged during transit. Sketchbooks should contain quality artist paper, suitable for both wet and dry mediums. Different

paper types may be glued to pages as required. Work primarily in portrait or landscape orientation, rather than alternating from page-to-page to create consistency and aid in

viewing the work.

WHAT SHOULD A SKETCHBOOK CONTAIN?

First-hand engagement with the subject matter- You should include evidence of a clear personal connection to the theme/s explored, such as original photographs; observational drawings; documented visits to design sites, historic places or museums;

and explanations of the personal context surrounding the work. A project based solely upon secondary sources (such as images from the internet, books or magazines) may lead to a lack of personal engagement, plagiarism issues, and superficial, surface-deep

work (relying upon second-hand imagery is one of the top mistakes made by art students. Exploration of composition, visual elements, and design principles- An important role of the sketchbook is to aid the planning and refining of larger artworks. This might

involve: composition studies, thumbnail sketches or layout drawings; design ideas; photographs; analysis of accompanying portfolio work; and many other forms of visual thinking.

Original drawings, paintings, prints, photographs, or designs- Fill the sketchbook with your own visual material – particularly that which is exploratory, incomplete and

experimental (as opposed to finished illustrations). Images should support the theme of the project and should not depict a random collection of unrelated subject matter.

A wide range of mediums and materials- The sketchbook should contain a range of mediums and materials, as appropriate for the project and area of specialty. A broad list of possibilities includes but is not limited to: various papers, plastic overlays or tracing paper; patterned paper and printed pages; matt and gloss photographic paper;

cardboard; masking tape; collaged surfaces; fabrics; graphite pencil; colored pencil; ballpoint pen; ink pen; marker pen; chalk; charcoal; pastel; crayon; drawing ink; printing ink; coffee stains and food dye; watercolor; acrylic paint; threads; woven plastic bags; elastic; sewing threads; string; brushes; sponges; scissors; paint rollers; palette knives;

traditional and digital cameras; photocopiers; scanners; paper trimmers; sewing needles, printing presses; software, such as Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Animate.

A wide range of art-making techniques, processes, and practices- The techniques,

processes, and practices explored within a sketchbook should be appropriate for the project and area of specialty. Both traditional and contemporary approaches are encouraged. These should be informed by the study of relevant artists and first-hand

practical experimentation.

Artist research- The sketchbook is an excellent place to document the study of artist

work. Critical analysis may include whole or partial copies of artwork from exhibitions,

websites, books, and magazines, as well as original exploration inspired by an artist. Reproductions must have a clear purpose. Accompany these with critical commentary

and practical experimentation, where appropriate. Annotation- Annotation is a note of explanation or comment added to a text or diagram

and is a great way to clarify ideas and intentions. Tips for incorporating annotations in your sketchbook are provided below. Generate personal responses- Aim to record personal reflections, evaluations, judgments, and responses, providing insight into your thinking and decision-making

processes. Communicate with clarity- A sketchbook should not contain endless pages of writing. Communicate in a succinct and clear manner. Thoughts may be recorded in any legible format: mind maps, scrawled questions, bulleted summaries or complete sentences and

paragraphs. Whichever format you choose, avoid ‘txt’ speak and spelling errors; these indicate sloppiness and suggest that the work belongs to lower caliber student. Demonstrate subject-specific knowledge- Aim to communicate informed and knowledgeable responses, using a range of art-related vocabulary and terminology.

Critically analyze artwork- Aim to analyze work by a range of historical and

contemporary artists, from a range of different cultures. Artist work should be relevant to

your project and offer valuable learning opportunities, whether in approach to subject-matter, composition, technique or medium. You should also analyze your own artwork

within the sketchbook, measuring success against original intentions and assessment objectives specified within the mark scheme. This allows you to gain helpful insights that inform and influence subsequent work. Communicate intentions- It is usually helpful to begin a sketchbook by discussing

intentions, starting points and design briefs, including any requirements and restrictions set for the project. Avoid using self-explanatory statements, such as “I drew this using pencil” or “this is a shoe” as these statements are unnecessary and communicate no new information to the examiner.

SKETCHBOOK PRESENTATION TIPS

Keep it simple- Write legibly and small (so that spelling or grammatical errors are not glaring) and in graphite pencil or black, white or grey pen. Your sketchbook should be a straightforward, ordered presentation of your work, research, and insights: Let your

images do the impressing. Use a consistent style of presentation- Some students favor hard-edged, cleaner

presentation methods; others prefer a messier, gestural style. Neither is better than the other: both can be executed well.

Vary page layouts to create visual interest- By the time you have finished your

sketchbook, some pages should have lots of illustrations; some a single artwork; others somewhere in between. Position items without fear of white space, considering the

interaction between image and text. Order work so that it shows the development of ideas- Structure the sketchbook in

a way that reflects the overall development of your project.

Craft the sketchbook with care- The sketchbook offers an opportunity to remind the examiner that you are a hard-working, dedicated student, who cares about the subject.

The sketchbook speaks of your effort, commitment, and passion. EXAMPLE SKETCHBOOK PAGES

Sketchbook pages by Rhea Maheshwari analyzing the work of artist Jim Dine.

Sketchbook page by Ruth Beeley using mixed media to explore ideas for a

finished drawing.

Still life observations from the

sketchbook of Rhea Maheshwari

including both drawn and digital

manipulated drawings.

Sketchbook by Ellis which explores portraiture through competent investigation

of emotion and facial expression.

Sketches by Joshua Brooks combining drawn and digital work to explore ideas

and document how various effects were achieved.

Photography sketchbook by Ellie Powell.

Graphic design sketchbook by Harriet James-Weed exploring her concept for a

poster about brushing your teeth.

Graphic design sketchbook by Jenny Ha documenting the design process for a child

safety poster.