AP Art: Summer Assignments 2014

The 2014-2015 AP Art class will have a short meeting today Wednesday June 11 at 2:05pm in room 161 to discuss the schedule and summer assignments which are posted below. If you cannot attend for any reason make sure you see Mr.Needles and complete the 26 assignments by the first week of class because they are a large part of the first quarter grade and the AP test itself.

As an example of what a finished work should look like in terms of the art/design principals above is an example of the first assignment (listed below) by Shelby and below are examples of Clay's concentration pieces and some of the finalists for the Shanti Peace Posters by Lisa and others from the AP Art class a from earlier this year. If you have any questions about the assignments feel free to email me or come speak with me, other than that remember to enjoy the work and don't stress out because it usually means death to creativity!

Summer Assignments:

All assignments can be done in any medium, technique and style you desire but should be 2-Dimensional work (flat) not 3-Dimensional (sculpture) work in any media that is 18”x24” or smaller and should be entirely original (do not use other people’s pictures, characters, or content in any way).

Part I: Breadth Assignments:

(these 5 assignments should be sent to me via instagram- #needlesclass/timneedles or mail tneedles@smithtown.k12.ny.us by August 1 for feedback. These works will also count towards your 1st Quarter grade and will be critiqued during the first week of classes.)

Assignment #1: Inspiration- Take a look at this list of 100 Artists from Art 21, choose any artist and create a piece responding to (not copying or in their style) their work. The list includes everyone from artist who use traditional media such as: Cindy Sherman and Richard Serra to artist like: Ai Weiwei, Marina Abramović, and Laurie Anderson who do performance pieces. Video clips are available for each artist on the website so do a bit of research, find something in one of the artists that you connect to and create a piece on it.

Assignment #2: Darkness/Fear- Create a work that has a theme of noir, darkness, and/or fear in some way. Incorporate a style which incorporates deep shadows and a grim urban setting, photographed in somber tones and/or a feeling of disillusionment, pessimism, and despair. This can be real or imagined, personal or social.

Assignment #3: A mixed-media portrait- Create a portrait using various media in monochrome or in color. Feel free to use any medium you desire (ink, collage, newspaper, paint, & other mixed media) and as many media as you like. The style may be handled in any way you wish: realistic, abstract, expressive, impressionistic or cubistic, etc. This portrait should reveal something significant about the model. Hands, torso and face are important features and should be included in the work. Try an unusual surface. The portrait may be done on any flat smooth unbreakable surface such as cardboard, mural paper, plywood, masonite, plexiglass, homasote board, etc.

Assignment #4: Man vs. Nature- Create a work showing the contrast between man and nature. This too can be personal or social (environmentally, philosophically, ect) and literal or figurative. Try to stay away from the cliché imagery and find a unique take on a very ancient theme.

Assignment #5: A Day In Your Life- Choose a moment from your everyday life and express it visually using any media. This can be a moment that’s memorable or very average, reoccurring or just a moment you remember. Try to use media that helps illustrate the moment and think about your perspective vs. others when creating the imagery.

Part II: Process Assignments:

Create new 20 pages in your sketchbook/photographs/works on paper in themes of your choice in any media that you want to work with for the AP test (pencil, photography, mixed media, ect.). Experiment with creating multiple pieces with the same theme or if you aren't sure what theme to work with create pieces then go back and identify what the themes you tend to work in are.  Try to work with concepts that you might consider for the concentration portion of the AP test (Examples from the past include "A Day In The Life", "A Reinterpretation of the Past through Steam technology", and "Perspectives of the Brooklyn Bridge" so it's really wide open but if you want to run your idea past me before you begin I'd love to hear it). Here's a link to the College Board website which has information about the test with examples of Concentration pieces that have scored well in the past: AP: Studio Art

Part III: Shanti Peace Poster

 

Create a 8"x10' poster for the Shanti Peace Poster Contest, the theme is peace and you are free to use quotes from Gandhi and/or Martin Luther King if you wish. Here's a link to the some winning Smithtown designs from past year's: 2011 Peace Poster