INJI ISSAC:Congratulations new kid! You’ve made it into AP art. This is my final year in the program and with 3 years of experience under my belt, I’d like to leave you with some advice. I have taken so much away from this class; it has been a mixture of frustrating failed attempts and stratifying success.Every time a pick up a paintbrush it brings me happiness, I mean honestly, why do anything if your not having fun? I have learned to take criticism and work on my weak points as an artist. There is nothing more wonderful then having a crazy idea in your head and then putting it on paper, making it real.
Yes, this is an AP class, so the bar is high. You might not be at that level when you begin but relax, we don’t bite (not all of us at least). Everyone has a different approach to art making and you will get the swing of it with time. Making mistakes is smiled upon if not strongly encouraged. Don’t be afraid to try things your not comfortable with, you are here to grow as an artist. Expand your horizons.
This is a fast paced class. If you slack off and miss deadlines, it is not the place for you. On the other hand, if you enjoy the freedom of being able to create the art YOU chose. And if you can work independently with out a teacher assigning projects or hanging over shoulder, then you’ll simply love this class.
Yeah, without set projects you may run out of ideas. Sometimes you hit a wall and lose your art mojo for a while. Everyone gets stumped, but don’t freak when that happens. Wander over to the shelf and flip through a couple books (Graffiti World was a great one for me), pop in your ipod and do some abstracts, or maybe look up new artists to get your creative vibes flowing again. Life goes on, and so does art making.
We are all here for the same reason. In that sense we all grow from the success of the students around us. I can’t tell how times I have been inspired by the work of the person sitting next to me. AP art kids are a strange out spoken and hilarious bunch of kids. You are talented, that’s why you got in. So with all formalities aside, welcome to the family.
JAYE CARDINAL: Something I think should be made clear right away is that Ap art is much more of a workshop than a “be taught things” class. Going into this class there are certain tools your expected to be equipped with on your first day. This class is not to teach you how to draw or paint, it’s meant to help you prepare a portfolio, grow stronger as an artist and experience appreciation for other artists work. It’s a very independent class in the sense that you’re pretty much let loose during class, expected to be working on a piece or doing something productive. What this class did for me was give me a chance to practice and explore different medias. I got a chance to use new materials I had never used before and gave me 56 minutes a day to work uninterrupted.Finding inspiration is the hardest part of doing a piece. Personally, it can take me weeks to find something I feel passionate enough about to pursue as a piece. I am very picky because I know if I am not really into the subject I wont be happy with the piece. My advice to other artists is don’t be so picky, and try to make even simple things mean something to you. When I hit a really bad slump I go on stumble upon or read books like Harry Potter.
Over all I enjoyed AP Art as an art course, but I was not dedicated enough to consistently do well. My main bit of advice before going into this class is to be sure you want it, and your ready to donate a generous amount of your time to not only doing your personal art, but doing artist reports, project records and reality checks (all things you will be familiar with if you aren’t already). I’m very proud of all the work I have completed this year and how much I have improved from all the practice and the exposure to new artists and art styles.
YURI KAWASHIMA: This past year in AP Art, I accomplished not only becoming a better artist, but I was able to learn many great things from my classmates. Each day I spent with these people I felt like I learned something new from someone, whether it was a new technique or a new outlook on things. When I was in a slump, I used my handy-dandy internet to randomly search images to look for something interesting to draw, or take a walk to seek a new inspiration. I would say when you’re in a slump, you should stop working for a while and do anything else than work. I believe that you can come up with good ideas when you’re not stressed out in trying to find good ideas. So my advice would be not to think about anything and move along with your day until an inspiration comes to mind. Some major inspirations of mine included friends, articles that I read, things that I randomly stumbled upon on the internet, and random observations. I would suggest attempting to draw anything that interests you at anytime. Although it may not become a possible subject right away, good ideas will most probably branch out from it. Overall, I would say that it was a fantastic experience in that you get so much out of it. You learn that your work is only just as good as how much effort you put in it. You also eventually find out your favorite subject, medium, and style of art, which I thought was really cool. When I first entered AP Art the number one thing I that I probably thought about the most was how much better everyone else was going to be technicality-wise. But I soon found out that everyone was on different skill levels, and that I didn’t have to worry about it. The weekly critique idea scared me a bit at first, but later on I realized I just had to improve on my own pace, and reflect upon others’ feedback, and that most of the feedback was helpful as I got other people’s views on my work. The important thing is to not freak out—just know you will do fine.
MAX RAMOS: In entering AP Art you are taking on a new responsibility. This class is very fun but can be really stressful, depending on what kind of student you are. Slacking off in this class is not a very good idea, keeping up with your work, having good work habits and being constant with it will make this class easy and stress free, trust me. From experience I can tell you that if you do not keep up with the very minimum amount of work that is given out it is easy to get stuck in that habit and end up with a bad grade. Do your work! Create and have fun. Otherwise it is a very easy going class and a good artistic environment. For me inspiration came from my classmates and just being in that room. Working with the people around you and seeing how they work will help you in many ways. The AP Art experience helped me grow as an artist and helped me gain the ability to give and receive critiques. Also remember to participate in giving feedback it is part of being a good artist. Congratulations and good luck!
GABRIELA CURIEL: Congratulations! I have accomplished about 40 pieces during the year. The deadline of having an art piece done every week has helped me be organized. What made it possible? I used my time wisely and I wrote ideas to help me choose what can I do for my next projects. I have learned that artists need to be determined in finishing arts projects that have a meaning. In addition, I learned that art books help because they demonstrate different styles and techniques.Advice:
Treat your art with respect
Have quality paper that does not wrinkle fast.
Talk during critiques
and Have Fun!
What inspires me is anything, like books, galleries, or people that influence me. If you want to succeed in AP Art class, then you need to turn things when they are DUE and build a strong portfolio. Enjoy the class!
AMANDA BOTFELD: Congratulations on your acceptance! I hope you are excited, because you have an excellent opportunity next year. AP Art is a class that you get as much out of as you put in. I have had weeks where I procrastinated and just tried to skid by, but the weeks where I really committed myself I saw a lot of improvement. The way this class works is that by doing a high quantity or work your quality improves. I agree with this system, it really has helped me, but if you do a high quantity of sloppy work you are not going to get very far. The critics are not nearly as intimidating as people make them out to be, and they are a good motivator to do high quality pieces because they give you the opportunity to show them off. The class really pays attention when you show your pieces. I was surprised by this at first, as the other students really do care about your work and want to see improvement. That environment helped me take my work more seriously. This is one of those classes you have to apply yourself to, but once I did, I was blown away by the results. It was exciting. As I said before, the bottom line is this: you get as much out of it as you put in.
ANNIE VOLOVIK: I would like to start off by saying, congratulations on making it into AP art! That is an accomplishment on its own.This previous year, I really stretched my artistic abilities to its limit. I came into AP art as a (mostly) landscape photographer who hated modeling photography. But now as I evolved as an artist, I have tried many different styles.
My word of advice is don’t get procrastinate. It WILL come back to haunt you. In this class you really need to push yourself and keep working hard no matter how fed up you might be. There are critiques every Friday, which does not mean doing it the day before. For those who are entering this class for photography; when you go out to shoot, take as many photographs as you can because it will be a lifesaver later when you have no inspiration.
My overall art experience was helpful. I was able to get the feedback I have always wanted and needed to improve my pieces. You will be able to hear various opinions within one class.
Have fun this year and DON’T FORGET TO LOOK AT THE CALENDAR!
ARMANDO SEPULVEDA: When I first entered AP Art I was excited to have the opportunity to get better at art. In the class I was able to learn new art mediums and improve my art skills. Learning new mediums helped vary my art from being just paintings to a wide range of mediums. My art usually consisted of people I admired or things I like so most of the times I had an idea for future artworks. However, when I didn’t have any ideas I would take a canvas and paint it with my hands and then add different colors using a palette knife. This would give me a piece for that week and sometimes a new idea for a future project. Additionally, palette knife paintings are fun to make. AP Art is a good place to learn since there are a lot of talented people in the class and you receive good advice on how to improve.The three most important things I learned this year is how to use charcoal, shading, and how to make a stretched canvas. The three things I like most about the class is that you can do whatever you want, the artist reports since you can learn about new artists and styles, the grace period since sometimes I forget to do artist reports and gallery reports. The three things I like least about the class are the gallery reports since they require going to a gallery, critiques since they are long, and not having enough time to paint since the next day finding the exact mixture of colors I was using is hard so this usually messes it up. For next year, I would make critiques shorter. I wouldn’t add anything. I have no other comments.
AMY DICKEY: When I first started AP art I was very intimidated by all the older and more advanced students in the class. I was afraid to turn in my artwork because I thought everyone was better than me and that they would make fun of my work. Over time I learned to be more confident with my work and realized that the people in class are there to help you improve and give you suggestions to work on. Some advice is to not leave your work until the last minute and to always give feedback to others in the class so others will do the same for your pieces. At the beginning of the year I was kind of lost and disorganized with the class but towards the end of the year I finally got the hang of the class. I started turning more pieces in and wasn’t so intimidated. I would advise you to really work hard, don’t be afraid, and to have fun! 
AMORETTE MUZINGO: Welcome! You’re about to meet some insanely talented and fun loving people. This isn’t your typical art class. AP Art is by far my favorite class of my entire high school experience. You’re about to experience the greatest year of growth. This year, you will grow as an artist and a person.My overall experience was amazing. It really was. Whenever I felt like I was in a slump, I’d collaborate with other kids, or we’d all feed off each other’s ideas and a new creation would be born. I feel like I’ve accomplished so much within a year. Before AP Art, ironically, I never drew. Ever. You’re going to try new medias of art that you’ve probably never heard of, or never thought you could do. AP Art is all about the experience and the creation.
You’re going to meet people that may become your best friends, or your best partner to collab with. You’ll learn all about different areas of art and artists that’ll blow your mind. Enter AP Art with an open mind and dedication and never ever lose your calendar. Always always always take jpegs of your work right after you do them (trust me-if you do this, you’ll save yourself an incredible amount of stress). Always keep up with your project record and it’ll probably save your life. I was diligent about that and it really saved me at the end when I sent my work off to the AP. Always be conscience of your work and the effort you put into it. And the huge one-always participate in class and critiques. It’s perceived as disrespectful to not participate. Critiques aren’t that scary-we promise. Have fun, and enjoy your year.
DOREEN FARAHDEL: I entered AP Art my junior year extremely frightened of other people judging my art. But, I have gotten so much out of this year-from weekly critics, to gallery reports. Every event shaped me to the artist I am today and the artist I am growing into. I learned about my strengths and weaknesses as an artist. To listen to the advice other people had to say, truly gave me ideas for new art pieces. Through trial and error, I learned what media and subject matter suits me the best. I was strongly inspired by the artists around me every day. They pushed me to put in a lot of effort in my art. When I was in a slump, I would look at other artists work online and seek inspiration. Music also played a big role in my art. I think artist and gallery reports were a great and fun way to get introduced to different styles of art. I recommend that every artist should begin their piece on Monday and work on it through out the week, instead of cramming on Thursday nights. It really does make a big difference for your finished piece. I had an amazing time this year in AP Art, and I’m sure you all will too!
LEAH POMERANTZ: This past school year was my second year in AP Art, and I loved it just as much, if not more, than my first year in the class. Everyone involved in AP Art are always inclusive and happy and downright nice kids. We all have a common bond, and that bond is a love for art. The class might be a lot of work at times, but it's extremely rewarding, and I assure that you'll love it. The first year I took AP Art, I was a junior, so I had a lot of work throughout the year. However, I always found enough time to draw and paint. I luckily thought of a concentration for my portfolio early in the year (which is one of the most difficult decisions you will have to make! You must do 12 pieces focusing around your concentration, and it's really important that you choose a good one or you'll surely lose interest after the first few pieces.) My theme was "People I Know As Zombies," which was highly enjoyable. (However, after completing it, I refuse to draw any more zombies.) I finished my entire portfolio in time to turn it in May, and ended up scoring a 5. But coming in to AP Art for a second year and not having to finish another portfolio was quite a relief. I still did weekly projects and made a lot of pieces, but could experiment all I wanted on all the subjects and mediums my heart desired. Over the year I almost never knew what I wanted to draw and had major art block, but I decided I would draw flowers just to keep myself productive. There is a book that Ms. Bouse has in her room full of flower reference pictures that I ended up using extensively. I also attended some figure drawing workshops at the YWCA with other members of my AP Art class which were really useful. Overall, I have to say that I adored both my years in the advanced art class. Especially during my second year, everyone became like a family, and going to class was a pleasure every day. My suggestion to next year's class is to cherish the hour you get while taking this course to be as artistic and creative as you want; actually use your time to develop your art and be expressive and open. Talk during critiques, and develop your style and voice as an artist to new heights.ALBA KANE: First of all, take a deep breath. There’s no need to begin stressing now because there’s plenty of room for that later. Second of all, congratulations! You’re officially part of an elite club of the best artists, thinkers, and people at Samohi! (Might be a slight exaggeration, but still, you should be very proud of yourself!)
The thought of AP Art does seem very daunting, but I’ve found (and I’m sure any other AP Artist would agree) that there are a few things you can be sure to do in order to ensure a smooth and as-stress-free-as-possible AP Art year. As you set off into this venture remember these things:
- 1. Meet the deadlines. Not only will Ms. Bouse love you forever, but it just makes your life that much easier and stress free, trust me. Getting behind on projects and assignments is not a place you want to be in a class as demanding as AP Art.
- 2. Start your weekly pieces early in the week. Honestly, who wants to be up at 3 am on Thursday night flipping out about not having anything for critique tomorrow? Nobody. Just try no to let that happen because we’ve all been there and it’s not a pretty place.
- 3. Establish a concentration ASAP. The sooner the better with this one because then you can get a head start on the daunting portfolio for the college board submission in May.
- 4. Take good Jpegs! That honestly can’t be stressed any greater- take good jpegs from the start and your life will be so much better, trust us.
- 5. JUST DO ART. Anything. Any type. Try new things. Just do something. Don’t waste class time doing your Chemistry homework, it’s not worth it in the long run. You’ve been given a gift of a whole hour to do art everyday so don’t give that up!!
LISA PARKER: In AP Art I expanded my work of photography much more than I though I would. In the beginning of the year I would only take landscape photos in places other than Los Angeles. Finally I started taking more and more domestic photos. This was made possible by just going out and taking photos, it was as simple as that. During a slump I would go out and look for interesting subject matter. For students who are stuck in a slump just look at the world around you or create art on subject matter you really enjoy. Other photographers would always inspire me to try new things. Young artists should look at other artist's work to try something new. AP Art was an overall positive experience. My art received criticism I knew others in AP Art could not give. For new AP Art students I would recommend on just loving art and if you do not people will notice.
BRYANNA VARGAS: First of all congratulations on making it into the AP Art program. It is a very fun class as I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did. At first I was scared to be working with so many extremely talented people, but I learned that it's not scary at all. Working with so many different artists caused me to practice and work harder and my talents. I was exposed to many different styles of art that inspired me to experiment and move out of my comfort zone. This year I feel like I progressed a lot and you will too, as long as you stay focused and work hard. It is not an easy class if you plan on slacking. It will be fun and beneficial to you if you stay organized and turn in all your assignments on time. But overall the class is great and you will definetly enjoy it!
SEEMA PEJMAN: Be prepared to have an awesome year and learn a lot! Personally, this class taught me to fully appreciate different mediums. Being a photographer I would never go out of my comfort zone, but this year I was introduced to watercolor and was able to experiment a lot. Also, remember to do your gallery/artist reports when they are due, they can really bring your grade down. Even if you can't draw and are a photographer don't be discouraged, practice makes perfect - or just decent, but it's good to try new things. I was really inspired by the other artists around me and their talent. We were all able to give each other new ideas, when someone was suffering from artist block. Critiques were very fun, most of the time it's really helpful. Overall, Ap art was one of the best experiences I've had though out SAMO. P.S. & most importantly: Be nice to Ms. Bouse!MAY CLAIRE La PLANTE: Welcome aboard! Your decision to join AP art is definitely a good one. Unlike other art classes that focus on one subject or medium, AP art allows you the creativity and freedom to experiment and develop your own preferences, ideas, and style. This was very refreshing to me, and after two years of painting class I was ready to branch out and try new things. Coming into this class with skills and motivation, AP art can provide the next step towards reaching your full potential. The structure of this class is just enough to keep you on track, while allowing you room to grow and do your own thing. Even if you come in with doubts about the class, you’ll soon discover that the atmosphere allows you to thrive as an artist, and it will surely be a highlight to your day rather than just adding to your workload. What you put in is what you get out, so while your piece every week does not always have to be your absolute best, you still have to commit yourself to your work and allow yourself the time to let it reflect what you really want If you’re ever at a loss for ideas, it can be helpful just to look through magazines or even just to look more closely at the world around you. I find myself seeing things in a different way, and finding inspiration in unexpected places. You can also learn from and be inspired by others around you and the art they create. Because everyone else shares your passion for art, it’s a very supportive environment and things like Friday critiques can provide new points of view and helpful feedback. One issue that I had going into AP art was how to choose a concentration; it seemed to be sort of a final thing and I didn’t particularly know where to begin. My advice to you would be to see where your work is going and try to at least think of one early on. Even if you decide to do something completely different for the AP, you can still try something out. Your idea is bound to change and evolve over time anyway. If there is one artwork you do or idea you find that seems to draw you in or interest you, don’t be afraid to pursue it further! Never lose sight of why you joined this class—because you love to create and enjoy art. Let your creativity and artistic spirit sustain you through this wonderful journey of a class! Looking forward to seeing you all next year!
NICK SARDO: First off, if you like making art, you will enjoy the hell out of this class. That may sound like an obvious statement, but too often people join AP Art looking for an easy-A class without any real work. In reality, AP Art is a lot of work. But the difference between this and another AP class, say, AP Bio (unless you strive to become a biologist), is that if you are passionate about art, you will always love the work that you do. Over this year, I got used to making art consistently, and got to explore different projects that I wouldn’t normally have thought of doing. This class helped me to push the limits of where I thought my boundaries were, and expand my artistic endeavors. Although every artist has a source for inspiration, the assigned pieces you do (though they are always optional) will provide great new subjects for your work. Every week when you bring in your piece, you present it to either the whole class or a group. It is, at first, a strange experience to have your work looked at and critiqued by your peers, but the constructive criticism you will receive is invaluable in making your pieces better. The comments and suggestions you get from classmates can make a piece good, and make a good piece great. Besides the actual art, keep close track of any gallery reports or artists reports that you have to turn. They are really, really, really easy to forget to do. Figure out your concentration early, and do lot’s of pieces before you get tired of it. Get inspired if there are people who you think are better then you at art in the class, as we are all friends here. It is important to note that this class will only be fun if you do the things you have to do and turn in stuff on time. In other words: LOOK AT THE CALENDAR. In AP Art, you will open your eyes to things you never thought you’d do, and you’ll be producing an impressive volume of work at the same time. I had an awesome experience this year, and I’m sure you will too.KINA ABE: When I first enrolled into the AP Art class and heard that 24 pieces needed to be completed by the end of the year I wasn’t sure if I could finish in time since I usually spent a lot longer than a week on a piece. The pace is fast in this class but as the year goes on, you will learn to draw at a faster more efficient rate. This class’ pace pushes you to draw more frequently and to me the fast pace helped me improve on my technical skills. As simple and obvious as this might seem, practice does lead you to improve on your skills. But on the other hand procrastination will hurt you in this class. I am the type that leaves work till the last minute and from my experience this habit did not help. Stressing yourself over the amount of time per week you spend on art is not necessary, but a good sense of time control is key.
Choosing a concentration is probably the most important thing in this class. My concentration was too broad of a topic, and for the first couple months I did not know what I wanted to settle on. It is very important to start thinking of your concentration at an early point in the year since half the pieces you will work on throughout the year will be related to this topic. When I was stuck on deciding my concentration I found that talking to Ms. Bouse helped a lot.
What inspired me the most in this class was being able to see all the different styles that my friends and classmates expressed themselves in and seeing how each person’s subject matter and the message they conveyed differed. This is a class where many talented artists come each with a unique sense and for me seeing all their pieces on the Friday critiques were very interesting to me. If you see something that intrigues you in someone else’s piece, it is good to incorporate that aspect in your own way into your pieces. This helped me develop as an artist throughout the year.
I overall really enjoyed the AP Art class this year. I felt that I was able to complete a lot more pieces and explore different medias and techniques that I probably wouldn’t have touched on my own. But most of all this was a really fun class. Through this class you will meet many people who have the same interests as you and share the same dreams you have. Enjoy and make the most out of the AP Art class.
CHARLIE GIANNETTI: Ap art is really about finding yourself as an artist. You will be surrounded by people with all different styles and throughout the year your own style will change tremendously because of it. I personally accomplished finding my own style and what I liked this year an I think that is really important because it is what separates me from every other artist in the world. Doing the pieces every week is really the best way to figure out who you are as an artist, even if you do will wait till thursday night like nearly every other person in AP Art. I learned though that it us actually more about the process than it is about the result. Make sure that you enjoy what you are doing early on because the AP requires you to do a lot of one specific thing for your concentration so use the first part of the year to really explore what your strength and weaknesses are. I never really had a slump to be honest. The main thing I had problems with was my concentration and when that happened I just kind of explored the internet. If you pick a concentration revolving around an interest of your then you can get inspired while you are browsing or learning about that interest which I think is really important. I loved AP not really the AP part but you really learn just so much about yourself as an artist and I think you would never be able to do that without the pressure of an AP class. I think that it just needs to be said that it is extremely important to stay organized. What you should do is after you finish a piece take it home and scan it or take a picture of it and put it in a folder on your computer called ap art. Then store the piece nicely in your room. THen you are done. ITs honestly the biggest pain going back and getting good pictures of all your stuff. Just do it first. PLEASE!!. Thank you and have an amazing year in AP art.
SOPHIE CROWLEY: This year I have grown immensely as an artist. There are so many talented artists around me in AP Art. It is because of them that I have grown so quickly. Seeing all their different techniques and styles has made me experiment and gain a greater idea of my own style. This year I have been working a great deal with acrylic paint. Most of my concentration pieces were acrylic on wood. It took me almost the whole year to figure out what my concentration was. It ended up being denim, because I realized I love painting fabric. By the time I figured out my concentration though, I had to knock ten pieces in two weeks. My advice to other students is to get yourself out of slumps during the year as soon as possible so you can figure out your concentration, because before you know it the AP will be only a few weeks away. However, I think the best advice I can give to the incoming AP students is to use your summer time wisely. You need to use that time to figure out the medium you love to use and start to develop ideas for your pieces. During the school year it can be difficult to develop a solid concentration idea with all the other things you have going on. So, the summer time is very essential to getting an early start on a concentration idea you can stick with throughout the year. This class is very enjoyable, but it its not low maintenance. There is a great deal of pieces you have to create. So, you can’t take this class on lightly, you have to be willing to put in the effort just like any AP class. This class and the experiences you get out of it are definitely worth it. This class has inspired me to continue improving as an artist and to maybe even pursue a future career track in art.
RACHEL RODINOFF: Congratulations on being admitted into AP Art! I’m guessing that not only are you skilled at art, but that more importantly, you enjoy doing it. If so, then AP Art should be a fun and challenging experience. I’d advise you to be open to observing and adapting new styles and techniques, and never letting yourself grow discouraged or pessimistic…in general. Be open to critique, accept other people’s comments and perspectives without feeling the obligation to follow their advice. I encourage you to experiment with the new media that this class provides you with, and ask your classmates for instructions on techniques. Stay on top of the schedule and remember that it’s your sole responsibility to stay on top of dates and instructions. I guarantee if you keep an open spirit, an optimistic perspective on art and life, and keep working hard and practicing, you will have one of your best years of art class!
GENESIS GARMAKANI: I didn't know Ap Art was going to be so exciting and tough. I guess you learn to be on top of things, but even I wasn't. I strongly recommend for each and every incoming artist to really focus, and do what you are asked to do. Once you fall behind, I promise you it is almost impossible to climb back up again because it starts becoming a habit. You sort of start blowing things off thinking you'll have time later on to do it. You really don't have time! You need to make time, and when you do just give your undivided attention to your work. When your looking for inspiration focus on what makes you happy. Look around, go for a walk. Oh and carry a sketchbook with you! It doesn't have to be big, it's just incase something pops up you can keep note of it or sketch when your at the bus stop. Best of luck in a year full of creativeness and adventures!
CHASE KUMASAKA: When I first entered Ap art I was pretty lost and felt a little out of place. Make sure you listen to Ms.Bouse when she is talking, because it will always be useful information. I didn’t listen that well in the beginning and was always confused, so you should listen all the time! During this class I got to try out a whole bunch of different mediums, and I developed my own style. Whenever I was in a lack of ideas…I would just start piling paint or something on to canvases and try to figure out something I could be inspired by. My advice to other students beside to listen, is to ask for help from Ms.Bouse or any veteran student. Also make sure to get your concentration idea together as soon as possible!!! Please, do yourself a favor and get that together right away. That’s something that I definitely should have started to figure out earlier, it will make the ap exam a lot less stressful. It will also make Ms.Bouse a lot happier. I was inspired by a lot of different styles and just the simple fact of messing around. So my advice for young students that need inspiration, you should just get a blank sheet of anything and just get to work. Even if you don’t have an idea, just throw colors onto a blank sheet of paper and see if you can get an idea. I loved this experience in Ap art and will be back next year! I luckily made a lot of new friends and once I got comfortable, the class became a very enjoyable class! I think that I got a new way to look at art, and I feel that I have improved in my art and can live with it. I also now understand concentration.To all the incoming students, don’t be afraid to experiment with your pieces because they might come out better than you expected! Try to have as much fun with art as you can, and try not to procrastinate!! Don’t be afraid to ask me questions about the class, I can be of some help…hahaha.
SAMANTHA CASALE: Personally, I tried out for AP Art on a complete last minute decision and I couldn’t be happier that I made that decision. This class, although frustrating at times, has been one of my most enjoyable classes in my 4 years of being at Samohi. You get to experiment with just about every type of art that your heart desires (and our available supplies will allow) even if it is finger painting. Not only is this a fabulous class to try new things, it is also a great opportunity to meet new people. It is a very safe and friendly environment; you get to know pretty much everyone in the class, which gives the class a relaxed feel. I was personally rather "artistically intimidated" the first week, I felt like everyone would judge my work in a harsh manner, but I was very wrong. You will come to find that everyone focuses on something different, everyone has his or her strengths and weaknesses and this is something most of your classmates will understand, enabling everyone to respect each other’s work. This brings me to the subject of critiques, these are scary at first but you WILL get used to them. The first thing you will learn is that terms like "It's good" or "I hate it" are not welcome in the discussion (Although I can pretty much guarantee you no one will ever say they hate your work). Give constructive criticism because it really is helpful to artists and don't be afraid to throw in your input, if you aren't used to talking in class discussion, this is the class to get used to it in. Now if you haven't noticed there is an AP in AP Art so YES you do have to do an AP type assessment for it, there is not test don't worry but it is a difficult task unless you manage your time well. As you will know from the beginning of the year your AP is to turn in a total of 29 pieces by about May, it may or may not sounds simple but it can be a burden. With this being said take the time in class that you have to work on pieces and work on them outside of class as much as you can. you will have to balance artwork with homework, but know you will have one piece due every Friday so think ahead about your schedule for the week and find time to do artwork so you aren't going insane by the time the AP comes around (trust me it isn't fun if you do that to yourself). This is the only stressful thing about the class, but it's only stressful if you make it that way. Overall this is a very enjoyable class for endless reasons, a few of them, you make wonderful friends, there is food every Friday during critiques, art experiments with JB once a week, and Art Shows are loads of fun! Like I said there are endless things that make this class wonderful so enjoy it and have a fabulous year!!
DANNY DRESCHER: This coming year is definitely the time to branch out. You will certainly have the freedom to do so. I really got into a lot of brand new ideas and unique mediums in which to express these ideas. Simply by being forced to create a lot of art allows for improvement. For me, the most valuable thing I learned was how to improve through mistakes. I was allowed to do this because of the volume of work that each student creates over the many weeks in the semester. With that much time to work with, progression can be seen over the weeks. Basically I found that the more work I did, the easier it became to look back on previous works and see what would have made them more successful.
But, eventually everyone goes into a slump. For me, I find that doing observational drawings is a good place to start when nothing else seems to be working well. I like to start with a rough media, like charcoal, and do really fast drawings that try to focus more on the emotion of whatever it is I am trying to draw than on a blind execution of what it looks like. This does not allows turn out good pieces, but it is a good way to loosen up and not be afraid to keep working on something that you don’t think is good enough. Art was definitely my favorite class this year. Although it requires a commitment to actually work, that work consists of either creating or talking about art. I have found this class to be very easy to get excited and passionate about. Ms. Bouse is an excellent teacher and facilitator. Also her knowledge of resources can be really helpful in formulating and refining ideas. Have fun and remember you have the freedom to try something new.
CHRISTINA GAO: This year in AP Art class was definitely a new experience for me. I was able to complete new pieces and learn new techniques such as sketch crossing and works with watercolor. If I never took this class I probably would have never learn sketch crossing or watercolor until later on. Although AP Art class is one of the easiest AP class to earn a A's or B's,but there are a lot of deadlines and it's very time consuming. What I did to avoid doing all those deadlines on the same day is make sure to finish or start the projects and the homework on the day that is assign. My inspiration comes from my past interest in drawing animals,landscapes, and buildings. If you plan to do AP Art profolio,make sure to have an idea of what you going to do before school starts next year.My overall AP Art experience is great since every Fridays, you will receive criticisms on your work,thus you could improve your art to the next level.
Good Luck Next Year
ELLA ROGERS-FETT: This class is an opportunity to not only extend yourself, push your limits, and expand as an artist but also a time where you can participate in something you truly love with wonderful, interesting people. It is not an "easy" class and if you think this is a get out of academics free class you are sadly mistaken. I guarantee you will be having fun and participating in some crazy art class antics but you will be doing WORK as well. If your not up to that, this class isn't for you. This year I was really able to find a whole new style and depth to my work but that was only because I was forced to be prolific, to meet deadlines, and to not do half hearted work. Just like any other AP class, your going to feel stress associated with the demands and due dates, and there will be times when you will feel overwhelmed, but just like any other class if you stay on top of things and don't slack off these feelings will eventually pass. You'll notice very quickly that the people around you are amazing and have so much to offer as artists and people and if your smart they will be your inspirations and muses for the next coming year. Every single piece of knowledge that comes out of their mouths whether it be during critique or simply a casual suggestion made on a lazy monday morning--listen to it, eat it up, use their eyes and look at your pieces in a new light. ALWAYS speak during a critique, whether it comes easily or difficultly to you. The amount of passion and energy you get back from your classmates towards your art really depends on the effort you give towards giving them an honest and thoughtful opinion. What you get out of this class will depend a lot on what you put into it. As a student coming away from a year of ap art, I feel that I have a gained a greater artists' vocabulary to express my opinion, a more mature perception of my work, and a clear understanding of my next step as an artist. If you take this class seriously it can be the tool that takes you from simply creating to really thinking about the roots and meaning behind your work. I hope you take this to heart and I honestly can't wait to see the breathtaking talent and inspiring new styles and points of view you bring to our class. Welcome incoming ap art class of 2011-2011!!!! Looking forward to a great year with you al!l
AVERY HILL: This year I've accomplished learning my stance as an artist. What made this possible was doing my own thing, and not caring what other people think. I think its important to love what you do, because if your just trying to please others, no real emotion will be present in your pieces. During my slumps i experience with different mediums, and try to go in a direction i wouldn't normally go in. If your having fun, its more easy to get inspired by a new medium or topic. My inspiration comes from my ancestors and the beautiful things in life. My advice for other young artists is to find something you love, are interested in, or curious about, and to really explore it through your art. My overall AP Art experience was a good one. It really showed me how challenging art could be, and how much inspiration and passion is needed to really be successful. It also showed me how it can be just as hard as any other AP, and made me realize that having a talent for art is just as good as if not better than having getting good test scores or being 'book smart' and i feel like AP Art recognizes and praises the kids whose talent is art.
CHUM ALVAREZ-ZAKSON: Taking AP art this past year has helped me develop so much, as both an artist and an observer, and I bet that anyone else coming in to this class can accomplish the same. Simply having the in class time to work with yourself and others really opens a lot of opportunities to discover and develop yourself. I have learned how nice it is to be surrounded by other people who are just as passionate about something as you are, and how easy it is to progress when your watching everyone do the same. The most important advice I could give anyone in this class would be to just stay on top of your business. Remember that you will have more work than just art to manage, but if you keep a level head and good time management skills then you're going to be alright. When your in a slump, it's always going to suck, no matter what. But when you do get stuck it helps not to dwell too much on it, otherwise you'll just freak yourself out and get yourself more stuck. As long as you stay cool and collected, you'll be able to work yourself out of the slump soon enough. One last thing, you're in this class because you rock. Don't let it get to your head how excellent you are and will become, but don't forget it ether. I cant wait to see you all next year, we all have a lot to look foreward too.
ZOE MAESTU:
Let me just begin this letter by saying:
1. Take this class seriously! Seriously.
2. It's more work than you would think!
3. The people are amazing; respect their art and what they do.
4. Have fun.
When I first entered the class myself, I had no idea what I was doing or my style. If it weren’t for this class I probably would not have discovered what I love to do and what I hate to do. I still don’t know one hundred percent, but I am sure all lot better off than I used to be. Make sure to ask other students for help, that’s what they are there for. And you are there for them too don’t forget that. I mean it! Do not be selfish in that class, its totally rude. We are all there for each other. We become a huge happy (sometimes not so happy) family.
I get into slumps all the time and do not have any idea what I should draw. Sometimes I cry about how lame I am. It happens to everyone. I hope. Well, if it happens to you, then don’t worry, it happens to me to. Just breath. A few more times. Look around and see what inspires you. Maybe go for a walk if your room is just too stuffy. Watch a movie! Or maybe call a friend and talk about your weirdest dream, which always helps. If nothing helps, then stop drawing (or painting or scratch boarding or taking pictures or sculpting). Do something else all together, maybe even sleep! Sometimes all you need is to stop doing art! It sounds weird, I know…
If you step back, and do something else and then go back to your piece tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, then you’ll have a whole new perspective and it will be totally refreshing.
AP art is amazing. It was my source of calamity during the crazy stressful year. When I was totally pissed off at administration, parents, lack of a license, doing what people tell me to do, acne, bad haircuts, boys, being a teenager, then AP art was there for me like a mute best friend with a really great shoulder to cry on. And the shoulder was a piece of paper. And I had a pen.
My point is, this class is worth all the time you give it.
Don’t slack off.
Don’t be rude.
Don’t eat all the food on Fridays.
And please, make some totally awesome art pieces!
AMY CLARK: Welcome, and congratulations on getting into AP Studio Art! Next year you will join a group of talented, dedicated artists, each with their own specific style. If you let it, this class will allow you to grow as an artist more than you would expect from a public school art class. Of course, the benefit of the class for you depends on your and your classmates' continued passion and dedication towards creating art. Throughout the year, you should aim to try a lot of new things, learn (and borrow) from your peers, and get involved with the shows and other class activities! AP Art will become a large, dysfunctional family if you want it to -- and believe me, a friendly environment leads to better art-making.
Try to focus on everyone else's work. In my three years of AP Art, I've always managed to adapt my style -- consciously or not -- to borrow elements from those sitting around me. They've done the same with my style. You're going to be sitting next to someone painting realistically while you make graffiti, so why not steal a technique, or even subject matter? After all, good artists borrow. Great artists steal. This is a great trick to try in a slump: change up your style, medium or subject matter and see what happens. Don't be afraid to experiment, and definitely don't be afraid to fail.
What I love about AP Art is the fact that the class is a conglomeration of weird kids, impossibly different in so many ways but one: they love to make art. You'll meet and befriend people you've never seen before. You'll create ridiculously close friendships with people because you bonded over a mutual love of Microns. If you work hard and work during class, you will benefit immensely.
IVY HAHN: You should feel very honored to have made it into AP Art. AP Art is a class you have to work very hard in but it is also a class where you feel at home. Throughout this year I have met many other amazing artists and have been very inspired by their work. Another really awesome thing is all the supplies they provide for us and in the beginning of the year we can even make supply requests. Though it can be a lot of work at times we are always getting support and getting inspired by other students. Between them and Mrs. Bouse they'll keep you going! Something I've learned this year is always finish your work and finish it ON TIME. The way Mrs.Bouse grades things your grade can either drop fast or stay high all year. One of the biggest mistakes you could make in this class is to just give up when you hit a slump, this is something I sorta did during this year.... Never slack off! When or if you ever hit a slump always be sure to not give up, just keep drawing. You can draw anything and it will spark an idea for a new piece, even ask the people at your table what you could draw. Being in AP Art this year I have changed my style a bit, between critiques, seeing other students art, and trying out new mediums you may too. A few things I suggest is that you stay on top of your weekly critiques, artist and gallery reports, project record, giving advice to others and asking questions during your critiques. This will help you with your work, grade, and other peoples art. AP Art is one of my favorite classes. It gives you a chance to get ahead if you want to go to an art college and you get to hear about all the different art colleges, have your work out in the hallway on display, and have constant help, advice, and friendly people around you. I love this class and I'm sure you will too! See you next year!
KADAR VERNES: This year I got to learn some new techniques (like crosshatching) and develop more of a style in my art. I was able to do this because of certain seminars that a student or assistant teacher would give occasionally, and also by having to consistently draw making it so that I had no choice but to develop certain techniques that I like and discover styles that suit me.
When I was in a slump, I would just keep drawing despite my lack of inspiration. Even if the stuff I drew was subjectless and even crap, I would keep drawing things until I discovered something, like a character or potential story. I advise you guys to do the same sort of thing.
I was inspired by my imagination and weird ideas when I drew a lot of my pieces. I feel like other artists should rely on their own imagination as well for their pieces, rather than references or others, because then the work you create is cooler to you and a true expression of yourself.
My overall AP Art experience has been really relaxed, and it helped me grow with my art. It was cool to put on the art show, and I do actually feel like my art has developed greatly because of the class.
Incoming AP students, make sure to learn from the people around you so that you can make your own art better. Use the resources that Ms. Bouse provides for us to help us in our artistic life. Have fun.
JOE HELLER: When I first got into AP art I was pretty scared but there was nothing to fear. Because of this class I’ve experienced one of my best artistic years. It’s a really easy class is you love doing art and a great environment with other kids that also care about art.
If you ever run out of ideas for a weekly project it’s good if you have a sketch book that you add to regularly because then you can just recycle sketches. I got a good sense of community from this class and for incoming students if you’re positive and do your best you’ll get a lot out of the class.
MARIA REYES:The point of this letter is to really scare you for next year. Its not that scary but I have to prove my point. The first advice that I have to give you is that you cannot procrastinate at all!! You may think that it is easy to complete one piece a week, but it is not. You have to be creative with all that is around you. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new medium because that is what helps you find your concentration and it also helps you become stronger as an artist.
Now when it comes to Gallery Reports, please go to an actual gallery. I didn’t take the advantage of going and of course I missed out on all the interesting galleries around LA. These also hurt your grade if you don’t go see them, so keep that in mind. Just go to see them for fun and trust me on this your going to like it anyway, because what artists doesn’t like to go to a gallery.
The importance of Artist Reports is just as important as Gallery Reports. You compare two different artists; one that is still around and one that was around years ago. You draw three different pieces of each and answer a few questions. These don’t take that much time of your day, so just do them and try to turn them in before the one week grace period ends. Now the ONE WEEK GRACE PERIOD is going to be one of the things that you are going to love in AP Art. The lovely Ms. Bouse gives you one week after the due date to turn in your gallery report and Artist Report and still gives you full credit!! So please take advantage of that as well.
Last but not least, the class Critiques. Many students don’t like these because you have to step it up and speak to the whole class. Although you might think that they are useless, they end up being really helpful. The class gives good comments, but also not so well comments either. The good ones motivate you to continue what you’re doing and the harsh ones help you think outside of the box and become more open minded. The class critiques also make the whole class bond, which is what makes you a family and the best part is that at the end of the year you recognize each other’s work.
Well future AP Art student please stay on top of things and turn everything in, don’t procrastinate. Try to find your concentration as soon as you can. It is okay if you don’t know what it is yet because you will find it soon. Good luck and hope that you stay on top of things.
GUS GRAEF: you're in for the most fun, most challenging, most stressful and most care free class yo will ever take in high school but you have to make it that way. This class will be what you make of it. it can be the class where you come in do youre homework never turn in any work and end up failing but you dont give a damn because its just art class. or it can be the place you come to connect with people share your ideas on art and life and everything and get great feedback from other fantastic artists. that is the most important thing to remember. this class is what you make it. if you choose to make this class important to you then you will accomplish more than you can imagine. you will develop more than you can think. when i look back at the work i produced earlier i am amazed by how much i developed without even realizing it. Ive realized that everything is inspirational and everything affects the work you produce. if youre like me then ideas and inspiration will be constantly rushing through youre brain. all the time, even when you dont even realize that they are ideas. do what i have been bad at. record them. record them. record them. a sketch book isnt always to trace the wrinkles in the old mans face while you sit on the bus but also to write down that you think gold fish dipped in nutella sound like a delicious snack (trust me, it is). i can tell you that my ap art experience over the last 2 years has been awesome. i always look forward to the class. i cant tell you how your experience will be because this class is what you make of it and what you put into it. you have to ask yourself if you are ready for this kind of class.
ADVICE LETTER ARCHIVES
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