Should I Undertake AP Studio Art On My Own?

<p>I'll be a high school senior this coming fall. I recently got an invitation to take AP Studio Art (Drawing course) for my senior year. Only problem? It is a double-period course, which means that would be the ONLY elective I could take. </p>

<p>Under normal circumstances, seniors in my school can take two electives. I was aiming to take two science electives, considering that I want to major in engineering in college. My guidance counselor says that classes are not required to take AP tests. In my case I would just need principal approval if I wanted to take AP Studio Art in addition to the two science electives.</p>

<p>Cutting to the chase, should I make a portfolio on my own time? It is my understanding that AP art pieces is a time consuming process (5+ hours per). There is about 30 or so required pieces for the portfolio, so I would need a new piece a week. Also, I plan to do yearbook in my senior year, which would probably eat up my time. I don't know, the whole thing seems like a death wish.</p>

<p>I need to give my answer by the end of the month, so I would really appreciate any response ASAP. Especially from anyone who was in a similar predicament or recently took AP Studio Art.</p>

<p>BUMP Someone Please Help Out BUMP</p>

<p>Okay, one last time, because this thread is already in the abyss.</p>

<p>Can someone PLEASE help out?</p>

<p>I’ve heard that it is a challenging class, and I would advise against it unless you are truly passionate about art and really want to do all of those pieces for your portfolio.</p>

<p>If you’d enjoy spending that much time on art every single week, then I reccomend doing it. If you might get bored, or tired of it or whatever, it’s a really rubbish way to spend that much time, as it won’t really be good for anything.</p>

<p>My daughter had to do AP Studio Art portfolio on her own because that double period conflicted with the double period BC Calculus. She was the only senior with that conflict and so there was not much the principal could do about it but the art department was really very helpful in working around her schedule. Because she did need an art class in her schedule she took a photography elective and it all worked perfectly fine.</p>

<p>AP art is a major committment. It took more of my D’s time than other AP just because you can’t just put 20 minutes here or there into a piece. They were expected to do at least 2 hours over weekends…often she didn’t have that much homework in other classes. Have you taken other honors or AP art before. My D did 2D jr year and drawing her senior. Some of the work she did as a junior was able to be used as breadth. In addition, they were all expected to do 3 or 4 breadth pieces during the summer. If you try it, but sure and figure out what your depth theme is going to be. My D got about 4 pieces into depth and decided she didn’t like where it was going and changed…ended up having to do 4 pieces over Christmas to catch up.</p>

<p>Just be sure you know the expectations. I think my D would have missed the comraderie of having an art class. It was a real mental break from her otherwise academic load. And inspiring to be able to see what others were doing.</p>

<p>I took AP Drawing last year as a junior and it is ALOT of work. You need 12 Concentration ideas (all relating to one idea), 12 Breadth artworks (Can be anything), and 6 Quality pieces that are selected and sent from your 24 works to the CollegeBoard graders. And as scmon12 mentioned, it’s nice to have a class opposed to working alone becuase you can get critiques from fellow students and the input of a teacher every day when you have a artwork in process.</p>

<p>Wow, all such detailed responses. </p>

<p>Thank you all who responded, I really appreciate it. It will really help out in my decision making process. </p>

<p>Again, thanks! :)</p>