I will be taking studio art next year as a junior, which the art teacher in my school explained be just really just AP art. She insists that, in order to take AP art as a senior, you have to take studio art as a junior, because one year will not be enough time to prepare a portfolio for the AP test.
I don’t know much about the AP Studio Art test, but that doesn’t seem right to me. 1 year won’t be enough to prepare a portfolio for the test? Have previous AP art-takers started their portfolios years before they submit it for testing? But my teacher says that previous students who have attempted to prepare a portfolio in one year failed, and none of them submitted one.
Does it really take more than one year to prepare a good portfolio for the AP test?
Another question: if it is possible to prepare a portfolio in one year, would it be a good idea to take 2 of the AP studio art exams? Right now, if what my teacher says about needing 2 years to prepare one portfolio is correct, I don’t know whether to do it for drawing or 2d design. Would it be possible to do both?
Do you have any art background prior to junior year? If your junior year course is your first studio art course, then I would agree with your teacher. While the works you create the first year may not end up in the portfolio, it provides a strong foundation.
Yes, you can take 2 (or all 3) studio art AP exams if you so desire.
skieurope - I’ve been taking art lessons outside of school since 2nd grade, and I’m taking a college color class that’s taught by this teacher right now.
What do you want to do with your art? Are you planning on majoring in an art-related field? What field?
Need portfolio for art college?
First off, if you go to an ART college they will not usually take any AP art credit that you may receive. After all they are ART colleges. That’s their “thing”. It may translate into an elective credit somewhere however. You would have to check that out.
So if you just enjoy “art” without actually needing a portfolio for college admission, why worry? You can take AP art happily and go major in economics. Still fun and worthwhile. Forget the test.
“In one year failed”–failed to get a decent portfolio? Or failed the class (hope she’s nice!) ?
“None submitted one”–they weren’t that great or didn’t care or she shamed them into not submitting?
I know lots of students who have taken AP Art without having taken previous art classes at the school and receive credit. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t involved in art on a daily basis. They take outside classes, draw daily, learn from many sources, take summer programs in art. All of those are portfolio opportunities. They LOVE art. They breathe it. If you are not of that ilk it’ll probably take a couple years if you’re just working in school.
Yes. You can prepare a portfolio in one year. In fact, colleges want to see your most recent work (over 1-2 years).
Your portfolio may need to be tailored to what you want to major in for college admissions. For example: computer animation doesn’t want to see oil paintings no matter how great they are.