SYLLABUS

AP® 2D Design Portfolio    

2016-2017
Classical Arts Academy

Ronald Reagan/Doral Senior High                                              

Ms. Begoña Seijas

bseijas@dadeschools.net                                                      

www.reaganaperture.blogspot.com  

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

24 quality photographic works will be required for submitting a portfolio for 2-D design.  This class is designed for experienced, highly motivated, dedicated photography students. Students will be required to take the AP Studio Art 2-D exam. The exam is broken down into three sections: Quality, Breadth, and Concentration. The following pages will describe what is required in these three sections as well as the assignments and requirements that will guide students through the school year.

Photography/digital media class consists of further investigation of various forms of expression and techniques using the principles and elements of design. You will develop mastery in concept, composition, and execution. You will be introduced to new photographers, digital artists, artists, and more sophisticated techniques as points of departure to create work that reflects your spirit and your vision. By exploring photographic and digital media with the camera and the computer, you will be able to develop a body of work that reflects a range of problem solving and ideation, and develops versatility with techniques to demonstrate your abilities.

You may even decide to focus on one of the studies presented for the Concentration section of your portfolio. We will research, keep art journals/sketchbooks, have class critiques (at the onset of a project and at the completion of a project), individual critiques (as you are working), and artistic dialogues that hopefully will inspire you as you create. 

There are project requirements, but the projects are open-ended enough for you to develop your own style and mode of expression. The development of the portfolio is an ongoing process that uses informed and critical decision making to assemble a body of work.  Work is expected to be of high quality in thought, process, and product. You are expected to use artistic integrity. Work based on another artist’s work or photos must move beyond mere duplication and become an expression of your own personal voice and vision. Through discussions and selected readings, students will be made aware of what plagiarism is and what it encompasses in regard to the making of art.

SUBMITTING A PORTFOLIO FOR 2-D DESIGN:

AP PHOTOGRAPHY/DIGITAL

Portfolio Requirements: 3 Sections - 24 Required Works

Quality:

In the Quality section, you will submit five examples of your best work from the Breadth or Concentration sections. You do not need to show a variety of techniques or approaches, just your best work in either black and white or digital photography. In this section you do not need to show a variety of techniques or approaches, just your best work. Your best work will be chosen from the student critiques, student/teacher critiques, and your own personal vision. These pieces can be chosen from class assignments as well as personal projects that you will work on throughout the year. They do not have to have a theme or be connected in any way.

In the Quality section, works at this level should be:

·                     consistently of high quality, although not all pieces will necessarily be at the same level of                          expertise

·                     an imaginative, inventive, and confident articulation of the principles of design

·                     an accomplished use of the elements of design guided by the principles

·                     a well-informed sense of composition

·                     an obvious evidence of thinking, of confidence and of verve

·                     fairly complex visual and or conceptual ideas

·                     using materials effectively

·                     technique should be excellent

·                     successful engagement with experimentation and or risk taking

·                     notable for sensitivity and/or subtlety

·                     demonstrating informed decision-making

Breadth:

In the Breadth section, you must document your experience with a variety of experiences utilizing the principles and elements of design in the formal, technical, and expressive means available to an artist. You must document your experience with a variety of concepts and approaches that demonstrate your abilities and versatility with techniques, problem solving, and ideation. You will need to submit 12 quality works that demonstrate these principles. The concentration should be on demonstrating an understanding of the principles of design. This range of principles should be explored:

·                     Unity/Variety

·                     Balance/Emphasis/Contrast

·                     Rhythm/Repetition

·                     Proportion/Scale

·                     Figure/Ground Relationship

·                     Emphasis

·                     Space (positive & negative)

Concentration:

The Concentration section is a planned investigation of an idea of personal interest to you. In this section you will develop a body of work that grows from this investigation. You must submit 12 pieces of work in this section which will be scored on four major areas of concern:

·                     Coherence and/or development: is the work presented actually a concentration?

·                     Quality of concept/idea represented: is there evidence of thinking and of focus?

·                     Degree of development and investigation that is evident in the work- including the amount of                     work or number of pieces represented.

·                     Quality of the work in both concept and technique.

                                                            

This is the section that will take the most time to complete. You will choose a theme to explore and work on that theme throughout the school year. This will be your chance to study and investigate what interests you most in photography. A theme can be as simple as “Portraits” or as complex as the continuous study of a singular subject. It is most important that this be a theme that is chosen early and investigated for a long period of time in order to best meet the concerns of the Concentration portion of the exam.

Resources:

Digital Software:

Adobe Photoshop CS6

Photomatix

Assessment:

At the end of each quarter, all students will review their own portfolio and submit a selection of works in each category – breadth, concentration and quality – that will be assessed for the purposes of summative assessment.

At the end of every other week you will be required to present assignments/journals/works-in-progress and discuss these with the class.  With every completed assignment, you are also required to submit a self-evaluation statement in your journal. You will be provided with a handout to follow.

The remaining assessment will be based on assessment of project work submitted and the work created for the AP Portfolio.  At any time during the year, but no later than the first grading period, Monday. October 23, 2014, you will declare your area of interest for your Concentration and turn in your concentration statement. 

The final two weeks before the AP deadline, will be used to prepare submissions for the AP Portfolio 2D Design exam.  All work must be submitted in digital format. You must photograph your work and follow the appropriate guidelines accepted.

**ALL WORK MUST BE READY FOR SUBMISSION, IN DIGITAL FORMAT, BY FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018. AP 2D DESIGN PORTFOLIO EXAM DAY IS FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2018.**

Journals:

Throughout this class you will be expected to keep a journal of your notes and imagery. You will also be required to add written critiques into the journal, both self-critiques and critiques of your fellow student's work. You will also be expected to keep detailed notes on each project including lighting, f-stops, darkroom techniques, and computer processes. Work in your journal is an ongoing process that will help you make informed and critical decisions about the progress of your work. Your sketchbook is the perfect place to try a variety of concepts and techniques as you develop your own voice and style.  Students are required to bring their sketchbook to class every time, failure to do so will result in a lower grade. Assignments for the sketchbook will be assigned in class. Sketchbook will be graded periodically throughout the grading period. 

·                    Put the date on every page you finish.

·                    Be careful. The use of published photographs or the work of other artists for duplication is                            plagiarism.

·                    No cute, pretty, precious, adorable or trite images. This is a college level art class, not a                                recreation program to make pretty pictures to hang in your house. Expect your ideas about                            what makes good art to be challenged.

·                    Don’t be boring with your work.

·                   Avoid showing your work to others unless you know they are going to understand what you    are trying              to do in your journal. You don’t need negative feedback when you are trying out new ideas or                            experimenting. This is a place for risk taking. Don’t invite criticism unless you are confident that it                    won’t derail your free spirit.

GRADES:                  

                                 A:      90 – 100 

                                    B:      80 – 89  

                                    C:      70 – 79

                                    D:      60 – 69

                                    F:       59 – 0

                            

EVALUATION:        

                    

                        Projects/Assignments                            :         75%

                          Critiques/Self Evaluations/Journals      :         20%

                          Quarterly Exam                                     :           5%

NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED!

SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS:

Students are responsible for their own supplies, equipment and materials. Listed below are required supplies.

• 35mm camera with manual controls. (Pentax, Canon, Minolta, Nikon, etc.)
• Digital SLR Camera 
• 35mm B&W film. 36 exposures. - 9 rolls required
• ILFORD HP-5 PLUS – 400 ASA or DELTA 400 ASA
• KODAK TRI-X or KODAK TMAX – 400 ASA
• Box of 100 – 8x10 B&W photographic paper. You can also buy paper in packs of 25.
• ILFORD, RC (resin coated), Multigrade IV, (glossy, pearl or matte)
• 3-ring binder. (1 ½” or 2”)
• Sheet protectors
• 5x7 or 8x10 Sketchbook (you may use previous sketchbook)
• Portable eternal drive to store your digital images (mandatory)

LAB FEE: 

There is a $60.00 lab fee. The lab fee will cover chemicals, photographic supplies, computer paper, ink, mat boards, and darkroom and specialty accessories. This fee must be paid in the beginning of the school year.

CLASS RULES:

·                     Come to class and get here on time. Attendance is very important.

·                     Come to class prepared.

·                    Allow others to learn by refraining from talking and calling out. Raise your hand to speak.

·                     Listen carefully and follow instructions.

·                     Use safety in the classroom and darkroom.

·                     No cell phones or electronic devices allowed in class or                in the darkroom.

·                     Respect materials and equipment. Use equipment properly.

·                     Follow the Code of Student Conduct.

HOUSEKEEPING THE DARKROOM:

Never leave the area before you go back and see what you left behind. We share a facility. Good negatives and prints can't be made in a messy lab. In consideration of classmates you must leave the lab areas free of litter and chemical spills. Pick up all your stuff. Deposit trash in the waste can. All equipment must be placed back in its place. Always allow a few minutes to do this before you leave. Remind each other. Grades are reduced if messes are left. Others see leaving a mess as disrespect and hostility. It makes them angry and saps creative energy from their work. ALL ENLARGERS ARE TO BE SIGNED OUT EVERY TIME. REPORT MALFUNCTIONING OR MISSING EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES TO THE INSTRUCTOR IMMEDIATELY.

DARKROOM RULES:

·                     Each student is responsible for maintaining the darkroom and cleaning up after themselves.                          Failure to do so will result in loss of darkroom use.

·                     No wet prints or hands on or near enlarger stations.

·                     Observe the order of the chemicals in both film and print processing.

·                  You will use a tray when bringing a test strip or print into the classroom for evaluation or to                          the print dryer.

·                     Replace all lab materials to their original spot after use.

·                     Be careful with chemicals. Protect your eyes. Avoid excessive contact with chemicals. Some                       chemicals give some people skin rash, use tongs or gloves if necessary. Chemicals might stain                     jewelry and will stain your clothing, wear an apron.

·                     If you are UNSURE about how to proceed in the darkroom, ASK for help.

·                     If you misuse or abuse equipment you will be responsible for it.

TEACHER AND STUDENT/PARENT COMMUNICATION:

Parents and students who have any questions or need to contact me can reach me at (305) 805-1900 or email me at bseijas@dadeschools.net. You can also access my website to view assignments, due dates and critique dates.

www.reaganaperture.blogspot.com

“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.”  –  Matt Hardy