AP Art = Process + Product

Last week the Class of 2024 AP Art students had the opportunity to showcase their talents and celebrate their hard work at the annual Senior Art Show.  Eleven seniors completed the demanding AP course putting in hundreds of hours of work and dedication.

Throughout the yearlong course taught by Mrs. Ginny Crittendon, students create independent projects in various media as well as develop an area of concentration chosen by the student. They develop this concentration and complete a portfolio of college-level work which is submitted digitally to the College Board for scoring (instead of taking a year-end paper-and-pencil AP Exam). A qualifying portfolio score can earn students college credit, advanced course placement, or both.

Mrs. Crittendon collaborates with her students throughout the entire process, beginning in a student’s junior year. “The students are recommended for AP Art based on their performance in Art 3; effort, creativity, passion, independent problem-solving skills, and time management are required,” said Mrs. Crittendon. “The annual altered book project in Art 3 is a great tool for both me and the student to see if they can handle the rigor of creating a painting every two weeks like in AP Art.

“I meet with the students at the beginning of the AP course year to discuss their interests and strengths and help guide them to which portfolio will be the best fit for them. They have three portfolio areas to choose from AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing- corresponding to college and university foundations courses. Students may choose to submit any or all the AP Portfolio Exams.”

Mrs. Crittendon is passionate about what she does, and she is committed to supporting each girl in their pursuits. It is often a learning process for her as well! A perfect example is that of Abby Pyrdom, from the Class of 2023, who was the first student at SAA to complete a 3-D Art and Design portfolio with fabric as her chosen medium. Abby and Mrs. Crittendon learned together- and the results of this commitment inspired Cailtin Flynn, Class of 2024, who is our second 3-D portfolio submission, using crocheted yarn.

At the end of the course student portfolios are scored in two sections: Sustained Investigation and Selected Works. Sustained Investigation (60% of the total score) should show a body of related works that demonstrate an inquiry-based investigation of materials, processes, and ideas. The Selected Works section (40% of the total score) features five artworks that best demonstrate skillful synthesis of materials, processes, and ideas.

The amount of work her AP students put into their portfolios is something that Mrs. Crittendon respects and acknowledges. “I would estimate that each of these young ladies puts about 300 hours of work into their portfolios, beginning the summer before senior year,” she said. “I am very proud of each one of these students for their creativity, innovation, perseverance, and dedication. Having to come up with their own ideas for compositions, meeting deadlines, revising works, and meeting the College Board's requirements was very stressful at times.

“In addition to the hundreds of hours of art making, they also worked together as a class to encourage and inspire each other throughout the year.  Each student has grown tremendously in her confidence, creativity, critical thinking, and artistic skill.”

As the head to college, this dedicated group of students plans to major in a variety of disciplines-art, architecture, film studies, journalism, and engineering. Regardless of whether they will pursue art at the collegiate level, participation in AP Art represents an incredible journey-of learning, accountability and perseverance-that will benefit these students in all future pursuits.