INJI ISSAC: Welcome and congratulations for making it into AP art. There are a couple things that you should keep in mind as you make the transition into the class. Note that the workload is not meant to make you suffer. And it is really not as bad as it seems, a piece a week is a little scary, but once you get the hang of it you’ll do great. The work your do is only meant to prepare you for the AP portfolio that you have to submit towards the end of the year. My only suggestion regarding the portfolio is to develop a concentration as early on in the year as possible. Your concentration consists of 12 pieces all with a persisting idea or theme. Waiting till last minute is a habit you really can’t afford to have in this class. But there are a couple of tools to keep you from falling behind, like the calendar, reality checks, and weekly critiques. Don’t worry if you get stressed out or hit a wall, what always helped me is to things through in a sketchbook. After a month in, you’ll find your own pace as you settle into the class. You learn so much about how artists are used in industry; representatives from collages come and give presentations. And we get art demos and supplies from our patron artist J.B. And you find that it really a wonderful class, we’re exactly like the stereotypical “art kids” and eventually find that we end up like a family. Good Luck!
CLAIRE STRINGER: I remember being absolutely terrified by the idea of AP Art class. I would practically develop stomach ulcers just knowing that I had the class next period. Critiques were the scariest – I thought that the people would be harsh and hate all of my work, and for some reason, I was really concerned with impressing them. (But sometimes that can be a good concern to have.) It took me almost two months to settle down and feel somewhat comfortable in the class, which is absurd. I don’t even know how I managed to do that. After two years, I think that I spent about 70% of my time socializing.If I could do anything differently, I would have liked to be significantly more productive. I almost wish that I had never felt comfortable, that I had isolated myself and actually met deadlines and pumped out a piece each week. But I also think that this class environment is one of a kind: the friends that you make in art class are completely different from any others. It’s the kind of connection that no one else can fully understand, which I think is kind of neat. It’s like our own little world. There are some days where people scream wildly inappropriate, nonsensical rants in the middle of the room or hold paper airplane competitions outside, but everything get brushed off as another typical day in art class. It’s fun and definitely a refreshing hour between your calculus and chemistry classes.
There’s no way that you won’t end up enjoying yourself – I just strongly suggest that you buckle down and work fairly often. I had a hard time focusing on art during class, so last year I made a friend with a similar style and we would make collaborative drawings that always turned out really wacky and disgusting. But it was a creative, productive way to spend our time. You will inevitably run into creative ruts, but you’ll also manage to get out of them somehow – just get inspired, there are plenty of things to look at in that room or on the Internet. AP Art is a fun class, so just enjoy it and try new things! Good luck!
BRANDEN MARCUS: Congratulations on getting into AP Art! AP Art helped me develop my work so much—being in a community of fellow artists, with critiques and class time, is so invaluable. You learn how to improve your work, and talk respectfully about other’s pieces. This class is always fun, and although you may not enjoy some of the assignments (Gallery Reports, Artist Reports) going out and seeing art is so necessary, and in the long run will really benefit you.
There is so much to be inspired by, and you just have to remember to always be on the lookout. Yes, you have to produce a piece a week, to discuss at the critique, but if you take the time, it isn’t bad. Don’t waste class time, if you finished your piece for the week, sketch, flip through art books, even if you just doodle, who knows if it can turn into something amazing.
Take full advantage of this opportunity, I have had so many good times in AP Art, and I hope you do too.
CLAIRE SIM: This class is going to be one of the best things you experience in your High School career! It’s amazing! Understandably, you’re probably nervous out of your wits. But trust me, don’t worry TOO much because this class is not the typical bloodthirsty AP class.Ap Art is about discovering not only what medium and idea fits you, but it’s also about discovering yourself. Throughout the months, Ap Art will teach you more about yourself than you expected! You will learn about the limits in your abilities and about the unending possibilities you posses, all at the same time. In AP Art, you will grow as an artist and person; you will make exceptional friends, and meet an exceptional teacher. You will laugh, and maybe cry as some of us have but in the end, this class will leave you wanting more.
I am going to be a senior next year, and I am taking AP Art for the third time. Why? Because I found the last two years of experience so rewarding and fulfilling that I knew I had to take as much as Ap Art I could get before I graduated. This class for me is a time to breathe, inspire, create and grow.
Ap Art is a free, unstructured class. Unstructured sounds pretty close to chaotic and boring right? WRONG. Unstructured in THIS class means that you are free to develop yourself and grow in a way that you want to. It means you are independent. But just because the class is unstructured doesn’t mean there is no guidance. In fact, Mrs. Bouse offers the most personal and effective guidance I have ever seen. Because she is very liberal-minded and personal, she is the perfect teacher you can ask for help.
Anyway, before you start your year, here’s some advice, just in case:
1. Try not to procrastinate. You will suffer daunting consequences.
2. Just because this is a free class doesn’t mean you can spend it idly. Work on your pieces and do the work Mrs. Bouse assigns you. Or else you will see a shocking drop in your grade. Trust me, it’s not that hard to fail this class.
3. If you are having an artist’s block. Talk to other artists, your comrades. Also there is a hefty magazine corner in Mrs. Bouse's room. Pick up some magazines and you WILL get inspired.
4. Explore different mediums as much as you can.
5. Develop and stay with a concentration as soon as possible.
6. Focus on what you want to get from this class.
7. Produce few, finished quality pieces over many unfinished iffy pieces.
8. Make friends. You will not believe how much they come in handy throughout the class.
9. Befriend Mrs. Bouse. Not only will this allow you to receive more personal help, but you will be making an amazing, loyal and worthwhile friend. Trust me on that one.
10. Keep a sketch book. Never know when an amazing million dollar epiphany may hit!!!
So, what should you expect from this class? Well, to humbly summarize it, you should expect the best growing experience of your life so far. Expect to make wonderful, amazing friends that share the same passion for art as you do. Expect to grow leaps and bounds in your art, and expect to have your eyes opened to the whole new world of ART. Expect to change others, and expect to be changed. Expect late nights of work, expect success, failure. Expect everything great. Because you will.
Good luck new students, I am looking forward to meeting you.
SARAH CRAWFORD: The Advanced placement art program is both an inspiring and challenging experience. What I’ve accomplished this year was to stop replicating photo images and find my own artistic voice . This class has allowed me to find my own artistic path and use my imagination more in my artwork. Although there were times where I may not have been inspired, the drive to do art is what helped me continue, even when I was bored. I kept a sketchbook and let my imagination run wild My advice is to listen to your creative instincts. Just don’t wait to be inspired. Get inspired by sketching doing artistic projects, experimenting with various media.Also challenge yourself.Not every painting or piece of artwork is not going to be perfect, but don’t let that discourage you. Think outside the box. The sky is the limit . Pace yourself, but don’t slack off and procrastinate.Deadlines are extremely crucial.I’m inspired from everything to my everyday life experiences,to fashion,music,and the underground art scene. All young artists should go and visit various galleries and art museums. Explore various artistic techniques, research artists, and stay motivated. I couldn’t have asked to be apart of a better class. Not only has this experience helped me grow as an individual,but it helped me grow as an artist. I have grown both technically and creatively. I enjoyed interacting with artists who worked in various media. Critiques are very helpful and everyone’s opinion is valid. Don’t compare yourself to other artists focus on your own work. Most importantly Plan your concentration early and have at least 10 or more, options. Don’t limit yourself. The more specific your topic is the higher the grade will be on the advanced placement test. Don’t choose anything you will get bored doing. Have a wonderful experience.
MANDY LOFTIN: You are about to enter a very exciting stage of your high school experience and possibly discover a hobby and develop a talent that will last you a life time. This class has been both challenging and leisurely, yet throughout my two years experience with AP art I can leave you with one piece of advice that got me through the past two years-always push yourself out of your comfort zone and you will produce better results. When I was accepted to AP art I felt like I had accomplished something I should be proud of. However, I admit I never felt like I was “good” enough or comparable to the other students when I first entered the class. It is best to remember that art is a completely individual experience and that each student will have his or her unique style-there is no good or bad in art.
What a lot of people don’t realize when they come into AP art is that it is an extremely individualistic class. There are no assigned projects, just due dates. Ms. Bouse never tells the whole class to draw a bicycle or to do a painting. Each week, you have the freedom to do anything you want, which is both a blessing and a burden. I learned one thing from the individualist environment of AP art and that is to stay on top of your work! If you need resources or help with directing your work, Ms. Bouse is always an excellent resource.
I have improved a tremendous amount since tenth grade and I assume that you will too because the structure of AP art provides an abundance of room for growth. I remember my piece for my first critique was a small 8x8 square with a tree in the dead center. My composition was bland, my textures were dull and my line quality was poor. Now, as a senior and ending my AP art career, I have moved on to 36x48 canvases. Though canvas size definitely does not measure greatness, I am attempting to say that AP art has given me the confidence to explore new things and stretch my work to limits I never thought I could reach such as selling some of my work.
Submitting to the AP exam is a lot of work to say the least. I submitted my first year in AP art and I admit I worked very, very hard. My concentration consisted of portraits of people whose faces were composed of many objects including shoes, cards, vegetables etc. If you plan to submit I will list below a couple of pieces of advice that helped me work my way through the process:
1. Think of your concentration in the first couple months of school and get started with it RIGHT AWAY.
2. Choose a concentration you are interested in and you can see yourself focusing on for a stretch of twelve pieces.
3. If you start your concentration early enough in the year, I recommend doing a concentration piece, then a breadth piece, then a concentration piece and so on. This will help you not get too tired of the concentration and thus allow for visible growth amongst your concentration pieces.
4. Choose a unique topic that no one else will have. Don’t choose fairies, dragons, emotions etc. They have all been done before.
5. Stay motivated!
6. USE CLASSTIME!!! Many people underestimate the role of class time. However, an hour extra on a piece each day can save you many hours of work at home. Thus, you will accomplish more faster.
In all, taking this class has been one of the best choices I have made at SAMO. For me, art provided an outlet for expression and it acted as almost a sort of therapy as corny as that sounds. I never thought I would declare art as a minor in college but painting is something I can’t let go of. I hope you can find a passion in this class like I did and I’m excited for all of you who are just beginning it.
Ultimately AP Art will be an incredible learning experience, so take full advange of it. You will be great! -- Bianca Costanzo
LUKA HAYS: This past year has been a very interesting one with many trials and obstacles that took quite a bit of hard work to accomplish. However, despite how stressful doing well this year may have been, I in the end found it to be quite rewarding and incredibly satisfying to have created so much new work and developed myself as a more mature artist.I managed to create a large portfolio of a variety of different pieces, most of which I am very proud of, and by doing so, I also managed to develop a much better work ethic as an artist that involved much less procrastination when it came to finishing pieces. By having such strict deadlines and very specific requirements for the end of the year portfolio, I was forced to be kept on task and get my work done, or else I’d be subject to falling behind and having a tough time catching back up. I learned that you can’t keep things for the last minute and that you must start doing things almost right away, or you’ll just procrastinate more and more and it will simply screw you over in the end.
During the many artistic slumps I got into the year, I found that exploring other different creative mediums, such as movies, video games, other artists, etc., really helped me to get my creative brain functioning again by giving me inspirational material to build off of and make into my own, unique idea. Do whatever makes you creative side get out of a slump, but always make sure that whatever you do, you don’t give up. I assure you that if you stick to getting out of a slump long enough by brainstorming and/or asking for advice from others that you will be able to get the ball rolling again if you persevere long enough.
Considering the fact that my concentration was Hell, I was personally inspired by any sort of medium that displayed dark and evil depictions of alternate realities that mirrored our own in their own twisted and clever ways. Some examples may include the movie Jacob’s Ladder, or the video game Silent Hill, or the book Dante’s Inferno, or even some of my dreams/nightmares; this large variety of different ways of depiction in different mediums really helped me to flesh out my concentration in a more effective manner. No matter what concentration you happen to have, it is always important to expose yourself to as much stuff related to that concentration as possible, because imagination works best when it has something to build off of.
My AP Art experience, to be honest, was somewhat of a mixed bag. I had a lot of fun doing all the different pieces I needed for the portfolio, especially the concentration, but I struggled sometimes with keeping up to date with what was due and when. I should have paid more attention to the calendar that Ms. Bouse gives to the class every month. Let what happened to me be a lesson to you: always, always, always look at the calendar or you will be in for a frustrating time that will hinder the fun you can have in this class. It’ll prevent you from making stupid little mistakes that can cost you a lot of points just because you thought something was due tomorrow instead of today.
EMILY FERRO: Caution! It is a lot of work and you have to keep track of everything by yourself. Though, a really fun class, AP art is very time consuming and self-dependent. Ms. Bouse gives you a calendar each month with all your assignments that you have to keep track of on your own, so make sure you are organized and know when things are due. Make sure you keep on top of your weekly project, project records, artist reports, etc. so your grade doesn’t drop.Your weekly projects are the most important aspect of AP art. It prepares you for the AP, gets/keeps your creative juices flowing and allows you to explore different mediums/styles without jeopardizing your grade or your portfolio. If you get stuck on what to do next make sure to look at other artists’ work and try to get inspired from them. Also do something out of your norm(a completely different medium or style), that really helps.
My overall experience with AP art was pretty good. I got a lot accomplished and grew as an artist. The only thing that I really didn’t like was that I had to keep track of deadlines and dates on my own with just calendar. Good luck, have fun next year!
LAILA HASHEMI:1. I feel like I really accomplished my concentration, fabric collage, this year. It started out being a tedious chore to do, but with more practice, I began to enjoy it more and more and really took a lot of interest in it. I learned a lot about what I needed to excel in in order to be better artist. This mostly came from feedback from the class and Ms. Bouse.
2. I never really found myself in a slump, because whenever I have an idea for an art project, I write it down. I always have many things that I want to make in mind, so I would advise other students to write down whatever ideas come to mind, so they don't forget them.
3. This year, I felt really inspired by animals and their beauty and much of this inspiration contributed to my work. Animals became my concentration because of my love for them and my interest in them. I would advise other students to work with what they love and what interests them, because making art will just be a chore otherwise.
4. I had a great experience in the class. I learned a lot about my art and the art of the world. I met so many talented students that I am pleased to call my friends. My experience was very fun and riveting.
5. I would tell incoming AP art students to just try and have as much fun as they can this year, but to work diligently.It is really important to stay organized, because there are a lot of deadlines to meet in this class.
7. We should start incorporating food into critiques! That sounds like fun to me!
KATE WONG: I accomplished completing some of my favorite pieces in this class and what made this possible was the time and effort I put forth. The best advice I can give you all in order to succeed in this class is to have good time management. If you want to use this class to further yourself as an artist, you need to dedicate a lot of time to your pieces so that in the end, you feel nothing but pride! It sucks when you put up a piece for a critique that took you less than ten minutes and you know that it doesn’t show your full potential.The class assignments are extremely helpful, especially when you need some sort of inspiration. When you really don’t know what to create, you can use the assignments as a base and build your ideas from there. The artist reports really helped to broaden my knowledge about other art. So I suggest you really try to find artists that truly interest you, not just the first artist that you find on Google.
My overall AP Art experience was awesome. The people in my class were the most interesting and unique group of people I’ve ever met and it’s great because what brought us together was our art. I loved how each of us had completely different styles and media but each week we always tried to help each other improve. The critiques on Fridays are only helpful if you are engaged and involved when it comes to your work and other artists’ work. Try your best to be constructive when you critique other pieces. Also, be as open as possible to other people’s ideas. This is when you can grow and improve as an artist, when you put forth your ideas as well as listen to others.
ELSA NARFGREN: This upcoming year is going to be challenging yet exciting. It is important to come prepared to your class in the beginning of the year with clear goals that you want to accomplish during the year. When I first came to AP art I was scared and excited. Trust me, you don’t have to be scared, as long as you do everything you are asked to do ahead of time.I managed to create an AP portfolio for the end of the year that I was pretty satisfied with. I am very proud of some of my pieces this year that I thought I could never do before. I feel that I could have been a little more successful if I had been more productive throughout the year; what I mean about this is that I could have worked harder on my concentration throughout the whole year so that I didn’t have a lot of pieces saved for the last few weeks. These pieces where my least successful because they were rushed. However, I also realized that some of my best pieces where done in class. Many like to work at home and I am one of those people, but I found that working in class is actually great because you have so much inspiration surrounding you. It is also very productive because as you get closer to the AP season and the end of the year you will probably have many other assignments you have to do for your other classes and so working in class is a good way to get some of your work out of the way.
AP art is great! You get to do exactly what you like to do which is very unusual at school. You get to show your talent and creativity and whenever you run out of ideas you observe what others do around you. From AP you learn a lot about yourself and what your capabilities are as an artist.
AMY CLARK: Congratulations on getting into AP Art! Next year will be challenging, but if you put in the work and perservere, it will be a really rewarding experience. This year, because of the deadlines and the seriousness of the class, I built a stronger portfolio and improved my skill a lot. However, even though a pice is due every week, I'm sure you'll find yourself lost for ideas or uninspired, When I felt like this, I looked through magazines and art books for inspiration. If that didn't work, then I just started doodling - often, the random things I started to draw turned into something larger than I could elaborate. Overall, though, I could usually find something to do - and often my concentration was a help when I was stuck. Speaking of, choose your concentration wisely. Twelve pieces with the same theme can get tiring, so try to pick something you'll be comfortable with working a lot on. Above all, remember not to compare yourself to other students! You are all great artists, and you're all talented enough to get into AP Art. At first it may seem a little intimidating, but remember that you're always getting better, and you just need to keep doing what you love.
JENNY BALMAGIA: By the end of this year I was able to easily compile a portfolio of 25 pieces to submit to the College Board. I know that sounds intimidating, but it’s really not so bad if you turn everything in on time and have a presentable piece each week for critique.There were definitely weeks when I didn’t have any motivation or ideas, but I found that if you just draw or doodle during class eventually a good idea will come out of that.
In this class it’s also important to not forget about gallery and artist reports since a lot of points come from those.
Probably the most important thing I learned from this class was patience, since it is a guarantee that you going to have disagreements with others. On that note, it is also important during critiques to not simply say “I like it” or “I don’t like it” since that is unconstructive and leads to unnecessary heated arguments.
Don’t stress too much about this class, although it can be very intimidating in the beginning, as long as you don’t procrastinate you will be fine.
BEN ELLETT: AP Art has helped me a lot with my photography over the last school year. It pushed me to try new things and work in different mediums. I sometimes had to think outside the box to get the weekly piece done while still keeping it within my concentration. Really the biggest help with this class is the deadlines for work. I am much more motivated to go do work when I know it’s worth points. It was inspiring to go to galleries and see photographers and artists that I had never seen before, even many styles of art I haven’t seen before. Go to the galleries, it is well worth the time. I had a very good time in AP Art and I’ve learned to manage myself better. I’m much better at choosing which shots are keepers and which will drop to the cutting room floor than I was before. If there’s anything you should know about the class it’s that you should ALWAYS do your weekly piece.The three most important things that I’ve learned from your class are to manage my time, choose which photos to keep or trash and to get myself out of a block. I like the weekly critiques, artist reports and the VERY few projects we had, like the cities one at the beginning of the year. Having critiques was almost always helpful and exploring new artists was cool. I liked that cities project because I had to think outside the box while staying on topic. I would have to say pretty much the ONLY think I didn’t like about the class was some of the kids giving me a hard time about photography, especially car photography. It’s hard to be productive when you have people telling you they can go out with their disposables and take better pictures than you, I won’t say any names but you know. Definitely more cities type projects and weekly themes for next year. I sometimes felt like I didn’t have enough 1 on 1’s, but that’s about it.
JASON REICHER: Welcome! I had a great time in AP Art this year. I met tons of new friends, and have vastly improved my art techniques. I am very proud of the work that I’ve made this past year, and I am so grateful of the flexibility that this class allows. In previous art classes, specific assignments felt limiting to me, but this year I’m glad that we have critiques every Friday, on any work that we have been currently working on. It can be in any medium too. I mostly work in Photoshop on a tablet, and I was happy to finally feel acceptance that Photoshop itself is a medium much like paint or pastel.My previous work was character observational, focusing on specific emotions in cartoonish characters. Now that I look back on it, I can sense a sketchy, unsure feeling to it with a limited or hardly any background at all. Through critiques and one on ones with Ms. Bouse, I have learned to use a solid clean line to let viewers know that whatever I have drawn is there for a reason, and I have learned to incorporate my characters into an environment. My work today is still character based, but I feel like I have majorly improved my technique and the thought process that goes along with creating it.
Whenever I hit brick walls, I find it best to be inspired. My inspiration comes from reading animation books, artist interviews, travel guides, watching old movies, watching animated films, and from the world I observe around me.
This year, you will be required to create a concentration- a series of twelve pieces that relate to each other that will eventually be turned in for AP grading in the beginning of May. I suggest that you think of it soon after you enter this class, because May comes a lot faster that it would seem. Many people in my class this year had great concentrations- like photography of architectural landscapes/ designs, or animals with human parts and vice versa. A few were story driven, like mine. I created two sailors that traveled the world, only to have their ship destroyed, and floated through many adventures on a small plank of wood.
I guarantee you will have a good time in AP Art. Even if you don’t particularly enjoy the artist and gallery reports, you will make some new friends that will be fun to be around. Remember that everyone is in this together- we all love art, and are creative people. Have a fun year ahead of you; don’t worry about the little things.
BLAKEY WILKINS: My name is Blakey Wilkins, and I was n AP art for two years. I learned how to make art on a timely fashion, and as a result created a lot of art pieces.Experimenting with different mediums is a good way to get out of slumps, (try wood burning or work with black ink), but I eventually settled on digital collage work, where I used primarily Photoshop. If you get good at a certain medium it will help you create work faster.
I would also recommend looking at art books a lot, because you can get lots of ideas from past artists. Looking at a lot of my dad's art books inspired me a lot, and helped me find my concentration, so use all your immediate resources.
I had a good time in art class over the two years. You will definitely make friends with the people at your table, at least. Just do the gallery reports and artist reports, even if you don’t want to. Don’t be afraid to criticize people at the critiques. Also if you carry your portfolio case around school, people will hate you. Good luck.
ANDREW DERKACH: Over the past year in AP art I’ve learned that the best work is made only after compiling many sketches of an idea and piecing something attractive about each one of those together. Doing sketches and storyboards helps achieve the best work of a student. Also kids who sit at your table will always be nice enough to give constructive feedback and tell you what they would prefer. Putting together your sketches, ideas and students opinions will generate your best work. There is a lot of down time in the class and a lot of time given for you to work on your pieces. However, many of you will find yourself doing other homework and just chatting. There’s nothing wrong with that, just make sure you that either 1. You acknowledge that you’ll be spending a long time Thursday night on that acrylic piece you never started or 2. You’re going to come to class on Friday with a crappy piece of work that wish you could have spent more time on. The best way to deal with these problems is simply by working a little bit everyday and talking while working or working on your piece at home and talking in class. The most inspiring things found in the AP art room are found in the closet behind Ms. Bouses desk. These items include: the hot glue gun, fun little canvases, microns and other fun little material. I suggest for every student to make a piece using the hot glue gun because it’s a great way to try something new. My overall AP art experience was good except for the fact that I never knew when things were due because the monthly paper gets lost really easily, I suggest putting it somewhere where you can easily find it. My favorite part of the class was the demos and the collaboration drawings, if you make good friends at your table you’re guaranteed to have fun. Have fun in AP art and remember to check your sheet for what’s due because if you don’t you’ll probably lose a lot of points.
SABRINA KORMAN: Congrats! Next year will be a great learning experience and a lot of fun but be sure not to forget that as an AP class it also requires a lot of work and time. During these past two years I’ve developed my own unique style and voice. At the same time I’ve learned to appreciate the materials I use and experiment with new medias. All the materials you could dream of are available within the classroom. The required projects during the summer and at the start of the year force you to form your own style. (So be sure to do them!) Even if you are stuck or are lacking creative juices do your weekly pieces. Often times even the roughest ideas are of assistance in the future. If you really have no ideas it may be a good idea to look at other artists on the internet or in galleries and such. At the same time, don’t be afraid to be inspired from those around you. Ask for concentration ideas or advice in composition and color. As the class has progressed I have been able to develop a strong work ethic and also the ability to build off of ideas over a long period of time. Have a great year! Not only will you come out as a better artist, but you will be a more well rounded person as well.
LINDSAY RENO: That first day is going to shock you, I guarantee it. Whether you completely blew off your summer projects or took the greatest care to make each one beautiful, that person next to you will have done more, and it’s going to be scary. Not unlike the feeling of being underdressed for a party, it’s completely natural to feel underprepared or overwhelmed by your classmates’ talent during the beginning of the school year.You will worry that your work is being judged in comparison with theirs, or that all eyes are on you; don’t worry, the one thing you’ll realize quickly is that almost everyone is friendly, helpful, and also too absorbed in their own art to care too deeply about your mistakes or inadequacies.
The other thing you’ll learn is that it’s fun to be surrounded by artists who truly love art, and who are truly good at art. It makes for one of the most unique and rewarding classroom experiences I’ve ever had, once I got past the intimidation. What begins to happen is each artist settles into their own niche – while your specialty as an artist might never be clear cut, you will establish or expand your personal style, and it will be something that your classmates develop an appreciation for.
Because that’s the coolest thing about AP Art: your classmates inevitably influence your work. I sat at a table with a group of boys who drew evil clowns, hellish figures and armor-plated warriors, and my work definitely developed a hint of darkness because of this. Embrace everything your classmates have to offer, because each of them can teach you a new direction to take your art, or even paths to avoid. Sometimes this is subconscious influence, and sometimes it takes the more straightforward form of advice given during Critiques, which – I promise! – really aren’t scary after the first couple of times.
The final thing I would tell you is that AP Art is a class. Sometimes the carefree atmosphere and freeform discussions make it easy to forget this, but there are still due dates and assignments that must be followed to get an A in the class. Talent alone does not guarantee a good grade; in fact, it has very little to do with your grade. Do your artist reports, do your gallery reports, check your calendar (this is one tip to help you avoid Mrs. Bouse’s bad side) and have fun!
GRETCHEN GRUNDLACH: First off, congratulations on getting into AP Art! You will be spending the next year with amazing people but know that it will be a lot of work. The most important thing to remember is to be yourself and embrace your inner art nerd. Seriously though, the more creative you allow yourself to be, the easier it will be to find a concentration. Try to think outside the box with concentration topics. I mean really really outside the box; the weirder and more random the idea the better.AP Art will be your favorite class. You will meet amazing people that will become your best friends and inspiration. Whenever you are stuck and don’t know what to do for next weeks critique, ask them. They will have ideas for you. A lot of weeks you will feel pressured for critique. Producing one piece a week isn’t easy, it’s not supposed to be. This class will teach you how to produce work at the speed of a college course. Remember, it is an AP class. One way to relieve some of this pressure is by doing the summer projects. Do them. They prepare you for the fast pace of the class and give you pieces to show when you’re in a crunch. Also, getting behind before you start is a bad idea. You will have plenty of opportunities for that when you get into the swing of things.
Remember to always stay focused, work hard, have fun, and push yourself outside. If you do, this class will be the most fun you have in high school.
RACHELLE OPPEL: I accomplished a lot this year. Making a piece every week and learning about new artists all of the time was a great experience. Myself is what made this possible, I had to make sure that I didn’t slack off and make sure all of my pieces were there in time for each critique.When I was in my slump, I would either try easy things that almost worked but the best thing that I did was try something new which helped sometimes. I would advise you to think of what your piece is going to be for the next critique coming up so everything will be a lot smoother, you can take your time and not be messy. Also do your gallery and artist reports. Most of the time they are fun and they are worth some good points.
What inspired me was what I loved, wolves. I also tried a lot of new things that I tried to capture the fur with, such as airbrush and collage. Those were semi new to me and when I tried them I used them all of the time. My suggestion is to try and find your happy medium.
My AP Art experience was fun. The class could get a little intense but some of the time it was like a “family.” It was a great experience for me and my art, I loved how I kept up my art in this class which will help me to keep up with me art in the future.
When you come to class ready to work it makes Ms. Bouse happy, which will also make you happy. Class time can be very affective but it is also very easy to not do anything so you will have to keep yourself in check. Also make sure you are always up to date with the calendar Ms. Bouse gives you, it really helps. Good luck for next year.
BEN YURA: This year I became a more confident artist and found my own style. Wrestling made this possible for me because it taught me to be confident and inspired me in my artwork (my concentration was wrestling). I learned how to use more values in my art and how to draw the figure much more accurately.
During my slump I continued to draw and doodle. Even though I didn’t really accomplish much I never stopped drawing, or looking for new ideas. The best advice I have for new students is not to procrastinate, never be afraid to ask for, help and do work that you love and do work that represents you.
As an artist I used wrestling as a lot of my inspiration. The best advice I can give is to choose you work wisely and make sure it has some important inner value to you.
Overall, my AP Art experience was pretty frustrating. It was very repetitive to go through the same process every week, but in the end it was worth it because it taught me to be independent in my artwork and studies.
The only thing I can tell you is to do something that has meaning to you. Definitely do not stress out, this class is a lot more related, easy, and accepting than you would expect from walking into class on the first day. Just be confident in your work and yourself and you’ll be fine. If your behind or confused with anything at all make sure you talk to a returning student who knows what to do. You’ll be fine, it’s not that hard.
HOLLY ELANDER: Welcome to the best class ever!! AP Art is a time and place where you can be who you are and express yourself through your own creative process. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity and time in your hectic day to be adventurous and really explore the world of art. Most of you may believe that you already know all there is to know about art, and some of you may feel that you don't have a clue. AP Art is a time to learn and to grow. Never ever be complacent! This is your time to discover new styles and techniques for working. Last year, I painted skeletons on wood, this year I have done photography, ink drawings and unstretched canvas paintings. You never know how much your art will adapt and transform over the span of next year. Go with it! Don't be afraid to take risks and to realize that some techniques are not for you. Some of you may be blown away by other's work of art, but do not worry, there is a reason why you have been selected to join this class. Admire others' work, but do not envy it. There are a lot of assignments in this class. This is not a free period to do nothing. It's hard work and you have to stay on top of due dates. Be responsible and you will be more than fine. I can't wait to see everyone's work! Have fun!!
EVELYN KIM: In this AP Art class, there will be some difficulties and easiness. For me, coming up with ideas have become an accomplishment. It was really hard in the beginning, but as I researched new artists and explored galleries, I was able to use my observations in some of my pieces. Forming new ideas isn’t the easiest thing to do and I still have some difficulty with it, but I do believe that my imagination has grown compared to when I first started AP Art. The most difficult thing that I still haven’t gotten over is my laziness. At first, keeping up with the weekly pieces seemed easy, but as time went by, I started slacking off and pushing pieces to the next week. I know a lot of you guys will go through this procrastinating stage, but I suggest that you guys try to keep a goal and remember to reach the goal by the end of the year. My goal was to try finishing my concentration on time for my AP Art portfolio, and it really helped me to do my weekly pieces since I knew it was a big part of my grade. AP Art overall was a helpful experience for me in knowing what I need to do in order to be an artist.
ZOYA PANG: Hello friend. You are about to embark on a wonderful journey in A103. I have to say that being in AP art is one of the best things that has happened to me and it will easily be your favorite class. You will meet people that you love and people that you may hate but I have to say that at the end everyone is family.I will give you words of advice, do not slack off in this class. You will be tempted to, you will most likely will slack off but the potential to grow and develop as an artist in this class is tremendous.
Everyone is in this class because they want to be. Do your work, show that you want to be in AP art and don't just take it for granted. Critiques will be harsh especially on my part but just know it's for your own good.
That's pretty much all I can tell you...welcome to the AP art family!
LORI DINSMORE: Over the past year of AP Art, I’ve accomplished a lot, learned volumes, and explored in numerous realms of art that I’ve only thought about in the past. As a painter and photographer, it was exciting to use media that I’ve never worked with before in a helpful environment where experimentation is encouraged; take advantage of this. I’ve made some amazing friends by bonding over our weird art nerdiness on levels that we could never have reached in a stricter classroom setting. Talk to the people around you! Bounce ideas off of each other. Our table had fun designating days when we would all draw moose or rabbits or only with our non-dexterous hand. It sounds silly, but it actually did help a lot, especially when we were feeling slumpy or like we had run out of ideas or didn’t want to work. Doodling together is lots of fun, and you get a lot more accomplished than you’d expect.
Just being able to see the amazing work other students around you create on a weekly basis is inspiring to me. I mean, there are people who will always surprise you with something amazing and make you think of ways to expand on your own work. We did a switch style assignment this year of trying to meld another artists’ style from the class with your own. I found this assignment really fun and interesting, especially because you got to build off your own work with the inspiration of an extremely talented peer. So if you ever feel bored by your own work or don’t feel inspired to create, see what other artists in the class are creating. They’ve inspired me all year.
So basically, AP Art was an amazing experience. I had so much fun, I met great friends, and my art expanded and developed surprisingly quickly. I worked myself harder than I thought I could; pumping out a piece a week can sometimes be a struggle, but it definitely pays off. Besides actually fulfilling the requirements for the class, submitting for the AP, all that jazz, I do really feel like I’ve accomplished something impressive by being involved in this class.
ELI LINNETZ: This year has been an incredible as I really dove into my subconscious and expressed myself fully in my art. While I once focused on overall composition and which colors matched and correct shading, I really just listened to myself and acted on intuition and impulse. While the fundamentals are important, i feel once you have those down, the best part of AP art is experimenting with your own techniques. I think I really took a risk and realized that this is MY art and MY name is going on it. I really just had faith in myself and I think this made my work stronger then ever.There is always a time called ‘The Slump’ and you feel very unproductive and distracted. I think this is healthy and natural. Take this time of ‘slumpness’ and really explore your thoughts and ideas. For me, I starting keeping a journal/sketchbook where I glued stuff in and drew whatever was on my mind. I was inspired by a lot of stuff in my English classes.
When it comes down to it I really inspired myself. I realized that there is not enough time to sit down and think about what material to use, or what colors to use. I came up with kind of my own philosophy and that was to forget about everything that happened that day and when I would step into the art room, I would just take that little time I had in the day to be free.
The people in the class with you, are experiencing the same things so talk to them. Ask their opinion. They are there to help. This class is truly a community and it is important you treat it that way. take care of your materials and treat the classroom like your own house- if not better.
DIEGO RUDOMIN: Welcome to AP art, and congratulations on making it in. This past year, AP art was easily the most fun class I had. It was great having a class in which I could just relax and paint or draw, or whatever I felt on working on at the time. Although i had a slow start and fell behind in my projects/concentration, I finally got it together at the end of the year- mostly thanks to J.B., an artist who started coming in to our class once a week and giving demonstrations in certain media. (I'm not sure if J.B.'s visits will continue next year, but if they do they are definitely something you have to look forward to because they are always incredibly fun). If there is anything i have learned and would like to recommend to everyone, it's that you have to treat your work for this class the same way that you would treat work from other classes- don't think that because it's "just art" you can put it off until right before it's due, because you will fall behind and possible never redeem yourself. But aside from the workload which can get a little daunting, the class is amazing and I strongly suggest you get all the fun and experimentation you can out of it.
CAER FERGUSON: You are in for a treat. In AP Art you will grow as an artist and as a person. What you must realize is this is indeed an AP class; it is as serious and as much work as many of your other classes. Generally, the more you put into it the more you will get out of the class. The most difficult aspect of this class would most likely be it’s freedom. Of course, this does depend on what kind of person you are. If you can keep yourself motivated and working, this class will me an amazing experience. If you can’t, my only hope is that your love for art can keep you on task.The level of work in this class is very impressive. There will be students who have been in the class before and knowing a few of them myself, you are guaranteed very talented peers. They will inspire you to do great work and give you ideas you would of never naturally thought of on your own. Use them to your advantage for they are a great resource.
The thing which you will hear most is get your concentration started very quickly. If you want to submit this year it is very important that you do so. Experiment with your work and defiantly use this goal to help you reach a much more important goal of becoming a greater artist.
Also, immerse your whole life with art. Go to museums with friends to see shows for your gallery reports. It will be fun and productive; I promise. You can even get a “NexGen” pass from LACMA and go for free. The entire collection there is great. I particularly recommend BCAM and the Japanese Pavilion. If you are in this class you obviously have an appreciation for the arts so embrace it.
For the few of you who are considering art school, think about participating in as many art related activities as possible. There are after school classes all over the place and if you can afford them, they are a great resource. Really work on creating a strong and varied portfolio. They also like to see series. Just make sure you visit the school and look up the work of the professors. Each school is different and you want to find the right one for you.
Like I said before, this class really is a treat. I don’t know any class as Samo which is really quite like it. Good luck and Enjoy yourself.
TYCHO HORAN: My main piece of advice would be to plan your time efficiently, because there are many deadlines in this class. Use the reality check forms, because they are what they claim to be, a reality check. They keep you on track by dividing this massive amount of work into small installments.Being open to new media, new ideas, and new everything is really important in this class as well. It may not be important grade-wise, but it is important if you want to get anything out of this class. The good news is that you can be well-organized and keep track of timing and yet also be open. This will allow you to absorb critiques and take your work in new directions to end up with a good portfolio at the end of the class.
Take advantage of any opportunity to get feedback in AP Art. However, you should not take critiques personally, even if the criticism gets intense as it sometimes will. It is all meant to be constructive.
Finally, remember that it is not all about you. The class is a community, and it is vital to give feedback as well as take it. Good feedback should be specific. Vapid “I likes” and “I loves” and “That’s nices” without any elaboration aren’t helpful. It is not as important to tell another artist what to change and how to change it as it is to point out specific places where the piece is and is not working. This allows the artist to figure it out for him or herself when it comes to changes.
Have fun. Your fellow students are there to support you.
VICTORIA DARLINGTON: One thing I highly recommend is to start contemplating a concentration during the summer, since people tend to struggle most with creating a theme based work that they are interested in. Also, avoid a concentration that is too complex and therefore difficult to render. Of course you don't want it to be too simplistic, but something rather that you find intriguing and want to flesh out, experiment with, and study is often the most successful. My inspiration started with the human form, where emotion is derived from subtleties in posture, which I expanded into through the use of line to create various textures and values. I tend to look at my work as an ongoing study, a type of documentation or collection of subjects that trigger general human connection through it's inherent physical communication. Probably the most successful aspect of my work this year was my increasing familiarity with anatomy and expression, where line and ink work comprised my overall style as an "artist". Keep in mind that your upcoming year in AP Art is an opportunity to develop, to experiment with various mediums, surfaces, subjects, and styles. Use your time effectively and don't take advantage of the independent structure of the class. This is the time to learn about other artists within your community and abroad, to come to terms with your present abilities and future possibilities. Ap Art is, overall, a support system for your growth not only as an artist, but an individual- so take advantage of it.
KYLE DeHOVITZ: Welcome! Welcome to a totally new AP experience. You need not worry about AP prep books with this class. No, sir. This class is all about being creative, effective, innovative, cooperative, and a whole lot of other adjectives that end with ‘-ive.’ Your in control of how productive you are in this class - there are no lectures or heavy sessions of note-taking. It’s up to you to make your own decisions. This freedom, however, comes with certain responsibilities. To quote Uncle Ben from Spiderman, “Great power comes with great responsibility.” Seriously, those were his dying words. Look it up.But seriously, watch those deadlines. Gotta meet ‘em. What, you thought you could get away with doing nothing? Or turning it in at your leisure? No, sir. Hopefully you’re a little familiar with the class structure - enough so that I shouldn’t have to tell you about the project a week thing - and know that you’re expected to have a project ready for critique in class on Friday. Fear not, though! You have enough time in and out of class to at least throw some ideas together.Before I finish, I’d just like to impart a word of advice. AP Art isn’t a free period. Don’t treat it that way. It’s bad for you, it’s bad for Ms. Bouse, it’s bad for your classmates. Be nice, be productive, and don’t leave crap on the desks. Please.And if you guys are lucky enough to have J.B. come by, treat her like the Queen of freaking England. She gave us a computer. And a camera. And a ton of paint. And these really cool brushes. And a crap-load of other stuff. ADVICE LETTER ARCHIVES
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