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AP Art

Mentoring Notes
1. Review your best work and successful
techniques. Consider your talents, strengths
and interests (passions). Create a plan that
will provide for the selection of 12 pieces for
your Breadth.
-Produce 2 to 3 pieces per week, and you must
complete all your 12 Breadth works before the
deadline.
2. You should always be working on several
pieces at a time. Students are also encouraged
to help each other in development and growth
of the concepts and ideas.
3. Have a plan for a direction of growth and
development.
- You are expected to work independently; each
working on your own assignments. Students
should be able to take initiative and work on
your research, sketching and development of
your ideas.
4. Work with references and research, but
remember – best results come from your
observations and views of subjects.
-Work that is based on photographs of work of
artists other than their own must move beyond
duplication to illustrate an original idea of
development within their own work.
5. Be prepared to do 6 to 10 hours (or more)
each week – this is in addition to what you do
during class time!
6. Use materials/processes you are already
skilled and successful with.
7. Quality work must be no larger than 18” x 24”

However, you can work at any size (small and


large) for other work.
Make each piece interesting and
progressive – use the elements of art
and principles of design
8.
-Show a full range of value. High contrast will
photograph best.
-Have a variety of shapes
-Avoid too much similarity between artwork
-Use image development strategies (this was
discussed in class)
9. Think about composition techniques–
-Asymmetrical balance – movement to lead
towards an emphasis (diagonals usually help)
-Radial balance
-Avoid putting emphasis in the geometric centre
or corners
-Avoid the same composition in each piece
-Work with positive and negative space
10. Plan your work in your sketchbook and use
your sketchbook a lot!
-It’s important to plan two steps ahead.
11. Work in layers!
- You can try unconventional surfaces (maps,
pages from books, …)
12. Avoid teenage stereotypes –
For example: blood dripping, moisture from eyes
(crying), any stars (rock, rap, actors/actresses …),
large eyes, fashion models, muscle men, comic
book style drawing (unless expertly done), comic
strip characters, rays of sunshine in the corner, …
13. Avoid clichés –
For example: palm trees/sunset, sun and
sunrays in the corner, sunset with mountain,
lollipop trees, rainbow and clouds, sad clowns,
tears/eyes, …
14. Explore a variety of styles –
For example: abstraction, realism, surrealism,
cubism, impressionism, cultural influences,
primitivism, modern, dynamism, fauvism, …
15. Have interesting subject matter –

It’s important to show student voice in your


work. Bring your own experiences, values and
beliefs into your artwork in an innovative way.
This is isn’t easy, but it’s so important.

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