| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| conversation | The exchange of ideas and dialogue that occurs during investigation to develop understanding. |
| curiosity | The desire to ask questions and explore materials, processes, and ideas in depth during investigation. |
| description | The act of articulating observations and findings about materials, processes, and ideas during investigation. |
| discovery | The process of finding new information, connections, and possibilities through investigation. |
| documentation | The process of recording and presenting experiences, processes, and investigations that can be shared with viewers or presented as part of a sustained artistic or design study. |
| examination | The careful study and inspection of materials, processes, and ideas as part of investigation. |
| imagination | The creative thinking and envisioning of possibilities that occurs during investigation in art and design. |
| inquiry | A systematic process of asking questions and seeking understanding to guide artistic and design investigation. |
| interpretation | The meaning or understanding that viewers derive from a work of art or design, which can vary based on individual experiences and perspectives. |
| investigation | A systematic process of inquiry used to explore questions, examine evidence, and develop understanding in art and design. |
| investigative processes | Methods and practices such as experimentation, revision, and practice used to explore and develop art and design work. |
| lines of inquiry | Specific directions or pathways of investigation pursued by artists and designers to explore questions and ideas. |
| materials | The physical substances and resources used by artists and designers to create works, such as paint, clay, metal, or digital media. |
| perception | Personal interpretations and understandings of an experience based on individual perspective. |
| processes | The methods, techniques, and procedures that artists and designers employ to create their work. |
| research | The act of discovering or verifying information as part of an investigation in art and design. |
| sustained investigation | An inquiry-based, in-depth study of materials, processes, and ideas conducted over time that expands artists' and designers' awareness of possibilities for making. |
| viewer interpretation | The meanings, understandings, and responses that audiences derive from viewing and experiencing art and design. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| components | Individual elements of a work of art or design, such as materials, processes, and ideas, that can be identified and discussed separately. |
| context | The circumstances surrounding the creation and viewing of a work of art or design, including when, where, how, why, and by whom it was made and viewed. |
| critique | A structured discussion and evaluation of a work of art or design, often involving feedback from a group, teacher, mentor, or client. |
| documentation | The process of recording and presenting experiences, processes, and investigations that can be shared with viewers or presented as part of a sustained artistic or design study. |
| evaluation | The process of using evidence to compare a work of art or design with specific criteria, such as the artist's or designer's goals. |
| ideas | Concepts, themes, and intellectual content that artists and designers choose to explore and communicate through their work. |
| interpretation | The meaning or understanding that viewers derive from a work of art or design, which can vary based on individual experiences and perspectives. |
| investigation | A systematic process of inquiry used to explore questions, examine evidence, and develop understanding in art and design. |
| materials | The physical substances and resources used by artists and designers to create works, such as paint, clay, metal, or digital media. |
| peer review | Formal feedback on a work of art or design provided by fellow artists, designers, or students. |
| processes | The methods, techniques, and procedures that artists and designers employ to create their work. |
| relationships | The visual connections and interactions between materials, processes, and ideas within a work of art or design. |
| synthesis | The integration or coalescence of materials, processes, and ideas within a work of art or design to create unified visual connections. |
| viewer responses | The reactions, interpretations, and emotional or intellectual reactions that viewers have when experiencing a work of art or design. |
| visual evidence | Observable elements within a work of art or design that demonstrate or support artistic decisions and relationships. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| constructive feedback | Feedback that is useful and helpful in advancing an artist's or designer's understanding of their work. |
| documentation | The process of recording and presenting experiences, processes, and investigations that can be shared with viewers or presented as part of a sustained artistic or design study. |
| inquiry-based | An approach to learning and making that is driven by questions and exploration rather than predetermined answers. |
| open-ended queries | Questions that begin with prompts like 'what if,' 'how,' or 'why' that allow for multiple possible directions of investigation. |
| refinement | The process of improving and perfecting materials, processes, and ideas through practice and experimentation. |
| sustained investigation | An inquiry-based, in-depth study of materials, processes, and ideas conducted over time that expands artists' and designers' awareness of possibilities for making. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 2-D skills | Artistic and design techniques demonstrated in two-dimensional works, such as the skillful use of color, composition, and visual elements on a flat surface. |
| 3-D skills | Artistic and design techniques demonstrated in three-dimensional works, involving spatial awareness, form, volume, and the manipulation of materials in space. |
| balance | A principle of design that distributes visual weight evenly or intentionally in a composition. |
| color | The visual perception of light wavelengths, including hue, saturation, and value. |
| composition | The arrangement and organization of elements within a work of art or design. |
| connection | A principle of design that links or relates elements within a composition. |
| contrast | A principle of design that uses differences between elements to create visual interest. |
| drawing skills | Techniques and abilities demonstrated through the creation of drawings, including line work, shading, perspective, and mark-making. |
| emphasis | A principle of design that draws attention to a focal point or dominant element. |
| figure/ground relationship | The visual relationship between a primary subject and the background or surrounding space. |
| form | A three-dimensional element with volume and mass. |
| hierarchy | A principle of design that organizes elements in order of importance or visual dominance. |
| juxtaposition | A principle of design that places contrasting elements side by side for effect. |
| layer | Overlapping elements or materials placed one on top of another. |
| light and shade | The use of light and dark values to create dimension and form in drawing. |
| line | A mark or stroke that extends in one direction, used as a fundamental element in art and design. |
| mark-making | The application of marks or strokes to create visual effects and demonstrate drawing technique. |
| mass | The visual weight or bulk of a three-dimensional form. |
| movement | A principle of design that guides the viewer's eye through a composition. |
| occupied/unoccupied space | The relationship between solid forms and the empty space surrounding or within them. |
| opacity | The quality of being opaque or not transparent. |
| plane | A flat surface with length and width. |
| point | A basic visual element representing a location or mark in space. |
| proportion | A principle of design concerning the relative size and scale of elements in relation to each other. |
| repetition | A principle of design that repeats elements to create unity and rhythm. |
| rhythm | A principle of design that creates a pattern of repetition and variation. |
| scale | A principle of design relating to the size of elements relative to the whole composition or viewer. |
| shape | A two-dimensional area defined by edges or boundaries. |
| space | The area around, between, and within objects in a composition. |
| surface | The outer layer or plane of a work that can be manipulated through various techniques. |
| texture | The surface quality of a work that can be actual or implied through visual representation. |
| time | An element in art and design that can suggest movement, sequence, or duration. |
| transparency | The quality of allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be seen. |
| unity | A principle of design that creates a sense of wholeness through consistency and coherence. |
| value | The relative lightness or darkness of a color or tone. |
| variety | A principle of design that introduces diversity and visual interest through different elements. |
| visual evidence | Observable elements within a work of art or design that demonstrate or support artistic decisions and relationships. |
| volume | The amount of three-dimensional space occupied by a form or mass. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 2-D skills | Artistic and design techniques demonstrated in two-dimensional works, such as the skillful use of color, composition, and visual elements on a flat surface. |
| 3-D skills | Artistic and design techniques demonstrated in three-dimensional works, involving spatial awareness, form, volume, and the manipulation of materials in space. |
| documentation | The process of recording and presenting experiences, processes, and investigations that can be shared with viewers or presented as part of a sustained artistic or design study. |
| drawing skills | Techniques and abilities demonstrated through the creation of drawings, including line work, shading, perspective, and mark-making. |
| ideas | Concepts, themes, and intellectual content that artists and designers choose to explore and communicate through their work. |
| materials | The physical substances and resources used by artists and designers to create works, such as paint, clay, metal, or digital media. |
| observational drawing | A process of creating a drawing by carefully observing and depicting the subject being drawn. |
| processes | The methods, techniques, and procedures that artists and designers employ to create their work. |
| synthesis | The integration or coalescence of materials, processes, and ideas within a work of art or design to create unified visual connections. |
| visual evidence | Observable elements within a work of art or design that demonstrate or support artistic decisions and relationships. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| clarity | The overall legibility and distinctness of digital images submitted for portfolio evaluation. |
| digital submission specifications | The technical requirements and file format standards for submitting images to the AP Art and Design Digital Portfolio. |
| documentation | The process of recording and presenting experiences, processes, and investigations that can be shared with viewers or presented as part of a sustained artistic or design study. |
| focus | The sharpness and clarity of detail in a photograph of artwork or process documentation. |
| formal presentation | An official way of showing a collection of completed works publicly to multiple viewers. |
| high-resolution image | A digital image file with high pixel density that captures maximum detail and quality for editing and archival purposes. |
| ideas | Concepts, themes, and intellectual content that artists and designers choose to explore and communicate through their work. |
| image quality | The clarity, focus, lighting, contrast, and overall legibility of digital photographs of artwork and process documentation. |
| informal presentation | A casual way of showing work, such as displaying work in progress and asking for feedback on specific components. |
| lighting | The illumination used when photographing works of art and design to ensure clear visibility and accurate representation. |
| materials | The physical substances and resources used by artists and designers to create works, such as paint, clay, metal, or digital media. |
| presentation | The act of displaying or showing works of art and design to viewers in a way that influences how the work is interpreted and perceived. |
| process documentation | The recording of images and information showing the steps, techniques, and development of creating a work of art or design. |
| processes | The methods, techniques, and procedures that artists and designers employ to create their work. |
| viewer interpretation | The meanings, understandings, and responses that audiences derive from viewing and experiencing art and design. |
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