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3.1 Creating a Portfolio

4 min readoctober 27, 2020

S

Sherry Ross

S

Sherry Ross

What IS a Portfolio?

Great question! A is a sample of your art. All artists have a showing their work. It's what you use to show off your style, your skill level, your previous work, any particular media you use, and any themes you tend to work in. It's your work sample. It's what you use to allow people to see your work. For Artists, it's a visual resume of what they are capable of doing. For , you submit your for grading. It is, in effect, your "test". Unlike other AP subjects, you are working on your "test" (the ) the minute you start the class. It will show the best work you create throughout the class.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-bmjSqbWmufTn.gif?alt=media&token=f25537c8-3755-44af-ae44-5474509cacca

How Are the Portfolios Similar?

In AP Art there are three portfolios: AP2D, AP3D, and . While all of the portfolios require a Sustained Investigation (SI) and Selected Works (SW), the method of approach can be very different.

The media used can be the same or similar across portfolios, and it might even be appropriate to have a 3D piece in a 2D . 🤯

All portfolios want you to document your ideas, processes, revisions, and materials. It's easier to do this as you go rather than trying to do it later while remembering all of the small decisions that you made along the way.

How Are the Portfolios Different?

The 2D and Draw portfolios consist of primarily works that are "flat". By the definition of the term, 2D work means it has height and width. When the primary body of the work involves depth, then it becomes 3D. Once the work becomes 3D, the way the piece interacts with the physical space within and around it becomes VERY important.

3D must activate the space. You need to think about how it will look photographed and how it extends outside of itself. 👍🏽 Pro tip: SHADOWS are important in documenting 3D work. Think about lighting the pieces and showing the shadows as a document about how the work is interacting with the environment it is placed within.

What Materials Can I Use?

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-wxMKWlVgW3rR.gif?alt=media&token=bae4a11b-e5a4-47e9-82d6-1c19a5fecdfb

College Board (CB) consistently states that there are no "favored" materials for any . They strive to encourage the creativity and talent of students regardless of the chosen media. They advise readers (the people that score the work) that they should not allow materials or subject bias to influence their scoring.

3D materials as diverse as styrofoam cups, toothpicks, , sticks, roofing materials, and more traditional materials, such as wood, clay, or metal have been used.

2D materials can include more traditional materials, as well as things like condiments, coffee, handmade paints or dyes, yarn, etc.

How Many Pieces Do I Need?

Your SI requires 15 pieces, which can include sketchbook pages or documentation. All of these parts are provided as evidence of your exploration of your topic of inquiry.

The SW is 5 works. You can use pieces from the SI or completely different work. I'd advise you NOT to use one of these valuable spaces for the "evidence" or documentation pieces that you used to support your work in your SI, but use your finished work. This work should represent the BEST work you've completed this year.

How Do I Submit My Work?

In November, the CB will open the digital submission website. As you complete your work, it's best to photograph it and upload it right away! 😉 That way, if anything happens to the work, you have it documented and uploaded. This is a game-changer. If you create better work later, it's very easy to remove and replace your work.

Crop out any extra information in your work. You want the focus to be on your work! 🙌🏽 Anything else is a possible distraction.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-ga0gwwphIBht.gif?alt=media&token=d486f677-f73f-4362-ac7b-629d46da7edf

Size your pieces to a and ensure they are under 5 MBs. 👍🏽

CHECK YOUR WORK! If it uploaded sideways, remove it, rename it, and upload it again.

Each time you upload anything, hit the SAVE button. Getting into this habit saves so much time in case the site goes down (and BOY DOES IT during peak times).

Selected Works will also be shipped to the CB to be evaluated in person. To follow those rules, see the SW Guide.

Key Terms to Review (9)

300 DPI resolution

: 300 DPI resolution refers to the number of dots per inch in a digital image. It indicates the level of detail and clarity in the image, with higher DPI values resulting in sharper and more detailed prints.

AP Art and Design

: The AP Art and Design course is an advanced level art program offered to high school students. It allows students to explore various artistic mediums, develop their skills, and create a portfolio of artwork that demonstrates their understanding of the principles and elements of art.

AP Draw

: AP Draw refers to the Advanced Placement Drawing course, which is part of the AP Art & Design program. It focuses on developing students' skills in drawing and exploring various techniques and concepts.

CAD designs

: CAD (Computer-Aided Design) designs refer to digital drawings or models created using specialized software. These designs can be 2D or 3D representations of objects or spaces.

College Board (CB)

: The College Board is an organization that administers standardized tests, including the AP Art & Design exam. They set the guidelines and scoring criteria for the exam.

Digital submission website

: A digital submission website is an online platform where students can upload their artwork or projects electronically instead of submitting physical copies. It allows for easy sharing and evaluation of work.

Portfolio

: A portfolio is a collection of an artist's best and most representative works that showcases their skills, creativity, and artistic growth. It is often used for college admissions, job applications, or to exhibit artwork.

Selected Works (SW)

: Selected Works refers to a curated collection of an artist's best pieces that are chosen to showcase their skills and creativity. It is a compilation of artworks that represent the artist's style, technique, and artistic vision.

Sustained Investigation (SI)

: Sustained Investigation refers to a focused and in-depth exploration of an artistic concept or theme over an extended period of time. It involves the development and refinement of ideas through experimentation, research, and reflection.

3.1 Creating a Portfolio

4 min readoctober 27, 2020

S

Sherry Ross

S

Sherry Ross

What IS a Portfolio?

Great question! A is a sample of your art. All artists have a showing their work. It's what you use to show off your style, your skill level, your previous work, any particular media you use, and any themes you tend to work in. It's your work sample. It's what you use to allow people to see your work. For Artists, it's a visual resume of what they are capable of doing. For , you submit your for grading. It is, in effect, your "test". Unlike other AP subjects, you are working on your "test" (the ) the minute you start the class. It will show the best work you create throughout the class.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-bmjSqbWmufTn.gif?alt=media&token=f25537c8-3755-44af-ae44-5474509cacca

How Are the Portfolios Similar?

In AP Art there are three portfolios: AP2D, AP3D, and . While all of the portfolios require a Sustained Investigation (SI) and Selected Works (SW), the method of approach can be very different.

The media used can be the same or similar across portfolios, and it might even be appropriate to have a 3D piece in a 2D . 🤯

All portfolios want you to document your ideas, processes, revisions, and materials. It's easier to do this as you go rather than trying to do it later while remembering all of the small decisions that you made along the way.

How Are the Portfolios Different?

The 2D and Draw portfolios consist of primarily works that are "flat". By the definition of the term, 2D work means it has height and width. When the primary body of the work involves depth, then it becomes 3D. Once the work becomes 3D, the way the piece interacts with the physical space within and around it becomes VERY important.

3D must activate the space. You need to think about how it will look photographed and how it extends outside of itself. 👍🏽 Pro tip: SHADOWS are important in documenting 3D work. Think about lighting the pieces and showing the shadows as a document about how the work is interacting with the environment it is placed within.

What Materials Can I Use?

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-wxMKWlVgW3rR.gif?alt=media&token=bae4a11b-e5a4-47e9-82d6-1c19a5fecdfb

College Board (CB) consistently states that there are no "favored" materials for any . They strive to encourage the creativity and talent of students regardless of the chosen media. They advise readers (the people that score the work) that they should not allow materials or subject bias to influence their scoring.

3D materials as diverse as styrofoam cups, toothpicks, , sticks, roofing materials, and more traditional materials, such as wood, clay, or metal have been used.

2D materials can include more traditional materials, as well as things like condiments, coffee, handmade paints or dyes, yarn, etc.

How Many Pieces Do I Need?

Your SI requires 15 pieces, which can include sketchbook pages or documentation. All of these parts are provided as evidence of your exploration of your topic of inquiry.

The SW is 5 works. You can use pieces from the SI or completely different work. I'd advise you NOT to use one of these valuable spaces for the "evidence" or documentation pieces that you used to support your work in your SI, but use your finished work. This work should represent the BEST work you've completed this year.

How Do I Submit My Work?

In November, the CB will open the digital submission website. As you complete your work, it's best to photograph it and upload it right away! 😉 That way, if anything happens to the work, you have it documented and uploaded. This is a game-changer. If you create better work later, it's very easy to remove and replace your work.

Crop out any extra information in your work. You want the focus to be on your work! 🙌🏽 Anything else is a possible distraction.

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-ga0gwwphIBht.gif?alt=media&token=d486f677-f73f-4362-ac7b-629d46da7edf

Size your pieces to a and ensure they are under 5 MBs. 👍🏽

CHECK YOUR WORK! If it uploaded sideways, remove it, rename it, and upload it again.

Each time you upload anything, hit the SAVE button. Getting into this habit saves so much time in case the site goes down (and BOY DOES IT during peak times).

Selected Works will also be shipped to the CB to be evaluated in person. To follow those rules, see the SW Guide.

Key Terms to Review (9)

300 DPI resolution

: 300 DPI resolution refers to the number of dots per inch in a digital image. It indicates the level of detail and clarity in the image, with higher DPI values resulting in sharper and more detailed prints.

AP Art and Design

: The AP Art and Design course is an advanced level art program offered to high school students. It allows students to explore various artistic mediums, develop their skills, and create a portfolio of artwork that demonstrates their understanding of the principles and elements of art.

AP Draw

: AP Draw refers to the Advanced Placement Drawing course, which is part of the AP Art & Design program. It focuses on developing students' skills in drawing and exploring various techniques and concepts.

CAD designs

: CAD (Computer-Aided Design) designs refer to digital drawings or models created using specialized software. These designs can be 2D or 3D representations of objects or spaces.

College Board (CB)

: The College Board is an organization that administers standardized tests, including the AP Art & Design exam. They set the guidelines and scoring criteria for the exam.

Digital submission website

: A digital submission website is an online platform where students can upload their artwork or projects electronically instead of submitting physical copies. It allows for easy sharing and evaluation of work.

Portfolio

: A portfolio is a collection of an artist's best and most representative works that showcases their skills, creativity, and artistic growth. It is often used for college admissions, job applications, or to exhibit artwork.

Selected Works (SW)

: Selected Works refers to a curated collection of an artist's best pieces that are chosen to showcase their skills and creativity. It is a compilation of artworks that represent the artist's style, technique, and artistic vision.

Sustained Investigation (SI)

: Sustained Investigation refers to a focused and in-depth exploration of an artistic concept or theme over an extended period of time. It involves the development and refinement of ideas through experimentation, research, and reflection.


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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.