AP classes are known for being challenging and time-consuming. This equates to hours of reading and study groups before college-level exams. AP Studio Art classes, however, offer students a different kind of challenge. Instead of essays, art students work on photography, painting, drawing, pottery and sculpting with a variety of media.
“All the other AP classes have an exam but for this, you turn in your portfolio and have it graded by College Board,” junior AP Studio Art student Chase Cannon said. “If it shows you worked to the best of your ability, you’ll do fine. It’s still on a one to five scale, but if you try, it’s not a big deal.”
AP Studio Art offers students creative freedom. They are able to choose concentrations and projects with minimal guidelines from their teacher Angela Fritz. In this way, students can focus on art forms they are most interested in.
“The class is really competitive with everyone trying to produce as much as they can and seeing if Fritz will put your latest work in the hall,” Cannon said. “It’s supportive but also really competitive.”
Because everyone in the class has different concentrations, interests and choice of media, it can be difficult to compare work directly.
“I do photography, mostly,” junior and AP Studio Art student Evan Booth said. “AP is my photography class. Around 2011 or 2012, I started taking pictures around the house. It’s a cliche story, but I just got more and more into it. I haven’t taken a class—I learn from experience and people around me. My portfolio was just photos, but I also do painting and drawing with the AP concentration. I try to combine both, like painting on photos.”
Recently, Booth and Cannon earned Gold Keys in the National Scholastic Art and Writing Competition. In the competition, students submitted pieces, which were judged by each state. Gold Key winners from each state were then judged nationally. Booth submitted both a portfolio and several individual photos, one of which won a Gold Key in the state and the nation. Cannon won four Gold Keys for Indiana for painting and drawing, and one national Gold Key for her watercolor painting.
