About me

Questions to be answered...and posted with Pictures

*       Why do you like to make art?

*       What subjects do you prefer? Why?

*       What processes and techniques do you use? Why?

*       How is your work different from others?

*       What do you see in your artwork?

*       What do other people say they see?

*       What are your goals and aspirations as an artist?

*       Who or what inspires you?

Welcome to AP

This blog is where ALL information on due dates, projects, requirements will take place!

What you need to know about this class follow along here>>>Welcome to AP art presentation

* We have the NEW Photoshop and light room! With the creative cloud.. Its new to me too sooo we will learn together.


Frequently Asked Questions.. and their answers...

-Do I have to have a blog? YES this is part of acting like a professional photographer! All of your assignments need to be posted on your site for a grade! You should be used to this by now..

-Do I have to have an Instagram for my photography? YES! see above..

-Do I have to participate in art shows? YES this is a huge part of your grade! If there is a circumstance like... " Im going to state for track" there will be an alternate assignment. An excuses like " I have to work" is not acceptable. You are given art shows dates months in advance. TAKE OFF WORK ASAP!

-Do I need an expensive camera? NO! If you would like to buy a camera I can help you pick one out online that is refurbished.. no need to EVER buy brand new equipment.


-My friend has study hall now can they come in.... NO

-After turning something in late.. I turned it in now can you change my grade.. NO

DUE By Friday!
-Link to your new site or cleaned out photo two site by the end of the week-- Upload to the doc on our classroom !
-Blog Review next Wednesday!
-Start about me page on blog

This is your summer work grade!! 50 Summative point
3 blog posts 40 pts
Begin about me page 10 pts

Post One features your instagram-- must include your favorite images and have a link OR embed your instagram onto your site.. I would prefer this.. you will have more instagram assignments this year (20 photos to be posted on your insta)

Post Two: Pick 5 of your favorite images from the Sketchbook 200 photos and explain why they are your favorite and post a video describing why they are your favorite, and talk about the strengths and weakness of the images. In 90 sec's.

Post Three
Principals of design you were required to take 50-- post your top 10 and include what 10 you hit on


Post Four
Black and whites! you were required to take 25 photos! Create a post with your top 5! We will be critiquing next Wednesday and picking your TOP photo to be blown up at 8X10.

AP PHOTO SUMMER WORK

AP PHOTO SUMMER WORK

Summer work is required and is a 120pt summative grade due the first week of school-- You should come with a combined min of 145 images on the first day of school!

Summer assignments help alleviate the pressure during the school year of producing the many quality pieces needed for a successful portfolio. There are 4 assignment categories: self promotion, sketchbook, observational studies /  projects, Planning/research and “”. Completing more of these pieces than required will only put you that much further ahead when school starts.

Assignment One- (self promotion) Start ASAP-- 20 posts

INSTAGRAM AS AN ARTIST

-As a college level photographer you should be thinking, acting and creating like one. One way to act like a modern photographer is to create a instagram that showcases your photography only… not your social life..

You must have 20 new posts by the end of the summer!

I should receive a email or a instagram message displaying your art handel no later than July 4th.. I will follow you and will be checking up..

Check out some former students art instagrams

Mackenzie Freemire - mackenziediane

Hope Sayre - hopesayre

Jonathon Stasiek -stasiekphoto

Ben Sandquest- ben.sandq-

Becca Furio- rebeccagracephotos

Maggie Miller- maggie_creativeart

Assignment Two: Sketchbook: 200 photos

Because you won’t necessarily need sketches for your photographs, you must complete 10 “sketchbook assignments” and spend approximately 30 minutes per idea. Take photos of the following subject matter and take about 30 minutes per assignment. This should allow you to get more than 10 photos of each resulting in 200 photos or more. Sometimes breadth pieces come from sketchbooks.

Rust
Pile of pillows
Signs
Fabric with pattern
Roads
Draw on top of an old drawing
Bridges
Man vs. Nature
Vanishing Point
Close up of an object making it abstract
Shadows
Look up words you do not know
Curves
Negative space only
Clouds
Nonobjective
Sunsets
View from a car mirror
Urban Architecture
Social statement
Monochrome
Metallic objects
It’s Hip to be Square
Elevating the Ordinary
Flowers
It’s all about the Light
Creative Nature
Travel
Contradiction
Repetition and Repetition
what was for dinner
Ice
outside vs. inside
Water
Laundry day
Pets
Glass bottles
Bugs
Opposites
People
Plugged in
Different Perspective
Extreme light source
Summertime
Extreme perspective
After Dark
The Letter D
Color
Feet

Assignment Three: (observational studies /  projects) 50 -150 photos

Principles of Design Images

The AP portfolio requires a section of photography that focuses on 12 images that show the understanding of the elements and principles of art..This section is called the “breadth”.

Objective: To have various breadth pieces that are super strong in the Principles of Design AND show diversity for your BREADTH.  THESE ALL HAVE TO BE NEW PHOTOS!

HOW MANY PHOTOS: 18 photos that showcase the Principles of Design and can be used for BREADTH.  AT LEAST 5 HAVE TO BE FROM AN INTERESTING ANGLE!!!!!!

• Portraits
• Landscapes (cityscapes count)
• Balance (radial or symmetrical)
• Street Photography or Interesting Animal Photo
• Worm’s Eye View
• Bird’s Eye View
• Architecture
• Interesting Lighting

NOTES:

Interesting perspective (worm’s eye and bird’s eye) *5 required Unity by proximity (space) Unity with variety Emphasis by isolation Emphasis by focal point Emphasis by placement Emphasis by one element Contrast by intensity Contrast by color Perspective

Exaggerated scale Symmetrical balance Line conveys mood Positive and Negative space Illusion of space Overlap Contrast by shapes Rhythm by pattern Color Dominance Monochromatic Colors (all colors are the same or similar in your photograph)

Assignment Four: 25 - 50 photos

BLACK AND WHITE

This will be part of a Art Display at the start of the year!

Objective: Create a photograph, digital illustration, or graphic design that is ONLY Black and White.  You may use any APP or program you wish to create a black and white effect.

HOW MANY PHOTOS: 12 Images total OR 1 AMAZING GRAPHIC DESIGN OR DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION PIECE

THESE SHOULD BE YOUR MAIN FOCUSES:

• Street Photography
• Worm’s Eye View
• Bird’s Eye View
• Architecture
• Interesting Lighting

Assignment Five: Get out!- 50 photos!

Objective: Go to somewhere unique and different!  Chicago DEFINITELY counts! You need to concentrate on interesting angle and the principles of design!!!  Find interesting juxtapositions as well!

HOW MANY IMAGES: 50 PHOTOS concentrating on the principles of design

THINK ABOUT ART

(50 pt Summative when you return)

>Reading/Research:  See https://apgatorphoto.blogspot.com/

1. You must devote 5 -10 posts/ pages of your Blog to journal/reflection/research/doodling/sketching in regards to the Contemporary Art research you do this summer (see attached list of options).
2. You must devote posts in your blog - sketchbook to research on 5-10 artists (of your choice, current or past; written or visual)
3. Concentration thinking- make a list of possible concentration concepts, based on exploration you did over the summer in your sketchbook and in your head.
4. Consider the recommended reading options. Explore the books and find one or two that inspires you. No need to purchase; some have websites to accompany the idea.

LOOK AT ART

>Go find Art: See https://apgatorphoto.blogspot.com/  for links to resources

Try to attend at least TWO Museums, Art Fair/Festivals or Galleries.

Write about the experience in your Blog. Include the date, time, place and a short paragraph recording your reaction to what you witnessed. You may want to include links or promotional materials you collect or sketches you create.

Or record the visit on Instagram with your reactions.

Learn about Lightroom/photoshop

Find 5 - 10 tutorials / tools experiential lightroom / photoshop tutorial and try it out. Write about the experience in your Blog. Include the date, time, place and a short paragraph recording your reaction to what you tried. You may want to include links or promotional materials you collect or sketches you create.  Or record the outcome on your Instagram.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Welcome to AP Senior Portfolio, Senior Design Productions and Senior Portfolio!

All meetings are required!

If you are reading this letter, it means that you have been accepted into Senior Portfolio, AP Senior Portfolio, and Senior Design Management starting May 21st,  2018 and going into the fall and spring school year. These courses starts now.

I hope you are as excited as I am for the upcoming journey you will take during this challenging & rewarding course. Many previous graduates, myself & the Art Dept have worked very hard to make this opportunity available to you. I look forward to working with you as you work to achieve your goals for high school & beyond.

This letter is meant to remind you of the serious nature of the course, and more specifically, of the intense focus and workload expected of you in the year to come and this summer. Each of you comes from a variety of artistic experiences, and has different artistic intentions for your future. This course is created to help you become the best visual creator you can be and help you understand how & why you make art. These realizations, along with sketchbook formulation, writing, help from your peers in SP, AP, SDP , and the creation of a strong portfolio. This will serve as a visual narrative of who you are artistically & may help you to be accepted into Art or Design schools &/or possibly earn you scholarship money.

SP, AP, and SDP are a custom created courses based on enrollment and he approved district/AP syllabus.  YOU will follow an approved Syllabus with assigned projects for the summer with tutorials, research, technology requirements and new projects in the fall. Then in November if on track each student will develop a path of concentration projects. With approval students will choose their direction, media in order to develop a body of work, amounts depending on media choice. This will be accomplished with the help of the course syllabi's throughout the year.

Your media will need to predetermine prior the second meeting with Mrs. Kidd, please pick up an application from Mrs. Kidd. However, I also advise you to choose the purpose of you taking S.P/ (AP).  What do you want this course to do for you? This is a course of self exploration and I will act as a guide through the projects.

My motto is, “You get out what you put in.” Your outcome is dependent entirely on you. During Summer Semester of your junior/senior year, I want you to do some soul searching. The summer work should set you up to what is expected for this year.

If you choose not to put in the time, you will be removed from the Senior Portfolio,Senior Design Productions  and/ or AP program. The art department is looking for the students that want to better themselves and have a positive attitude to support each other and them self’s.

Look forward…do you see yourself at an Art School, Four Year, Two Year, trade school? Where? What do you want to achieve in a year? Or four years? What do you NOT want? What is your financial situation for college? It may seem early – but having a plan will help you decide what S.P. and AP will be for you.

If you intend to go to Art School or major in Art, I suggest you do the following before fall 2015:

1. Gather your work from this year & keep it in a safe place. It may be used in an application portfolio and A.P. ALL WORK!!!! No more given it away or framing it! From this moment it is not for sale, not for friends or family, it stays put with you in a safe place. I am not joking, they can buy or have it after May 8th 2016.

2. Research schools & majors. Where? What? Talk to your family regarding the reality of college. Visit the Career Center to make an appointment with Mrs. Audette for assistance.

3. If you took Drawing & Painting your sophomore year, much of that work is outdated for a portfolio - spend some time out of class re-creating it. Draw from LIFE! Not photos (even your own). Concentrate on skill. You will need portraits, still life, and basic life studies.

Jobs and basic expectations for all students enrolled:

• Have all of you work that you created this summer ready to go day one!  
• Have your blog updated, every second and fourth Fridays by 12:01 am every week all summer long.
• You will be setting up a display case, for the whole school to see! See Blog/binder, Google Drive, and google Community site.
• You will have good amount projects that need to be completed during the summer and new ones starting the first week of school.
• We will have a sharing critique the first week of school to view what you have done over the summer.
• Think about enrolling in a workshop or summer course if you can. (example; see MCC courses or Park District, Dole Manson)
• Make sure you read ALL handouts for projects and jobs that need to be accomplished this summer. Ask questions!
• Again – if you need a scholarship or want acceptance to an Art program focus your work on observational Drawing/Painting.
• See me if you need suggestions for projects or establishments/studios to take classes at.
• The work and preparation you do now and this summer are only the beginning of a very rigorous year for you- rigorous but rewarding as well.  You will be astonished by the end of the year!

Bear in mind that the amount of work you do and art you make will be more than you’ve ever done.  You will be pushed to your limits and asked to expand your mind beyond what you think you know.

For example, your experience will consist of:

• Group, Partner and Individual critiques.  You MUST share and talk about your work.
• Everything being posted.
• 10 - 20 hours of tutorials.
• Required certification for Light room, photo shop, in-design, and or other depends on media.
• Progress and Final critiques. You will receive feedback on your progress and finished work. in individual meetings. May be outside of class time.
• Choosing and following a “theme” or area of “concentration”.  This is what your work is about- NOT a media theme.  You will follow it for the second semester or once you have finished expectations from the fall.
• Multiple projects.  You will be expected to make a minimum of 12 – 16 projects/series.  That amounts to a project complete every one per week, and SP every two weeks.  In previous courses, we usually take 3 to 4 weeks to complete a major project- from prep to reflection.  You will need to double your work time.

• Sketchbook creation / documentation.  Document your experience. Note taking, inspiration, creation, journals.  You will be expected to maintain one, digital or print. Many art schools have great interest in this. Its about the process of thought, and working out ideas.

• Creation of a Portfolio, traditional based and digital based. Your work will be showcased in a digital and/or hard-copy portfolio.  

• Creation of an Artist Statement.  You will need to verbally express what you do & why.

• Single Artist Showcase.  At year’s end, you will be in control of creating your own showcase here at South.  It will spotlight your individuality as the artist you have become. This is part of your grade and you are required to be present.

• Required to be present at the spring art show, showcasing all of your work! In May. Set-up will be from 3 - 4. Show will be 5-8:30, take down 8:10 - to 9 pm
• Participation in Art Shows & competitions.  Usually in spring and one in the fall.

• Field trips to Art museums and other places of interest in school and out.

• Summer fun field trips will be provided, through out the summer for you. Come join us if you would like.  

I am very excited to work with you as a new group starting now and into the fall.  It gets better and more rewarding every year.  I’m here to help you- that is my main role in SP, SDP, and AP. Feel free to visit or ask questions.  I can advise you on your schedule, work to do this summer, schools for you to visit.  This is just as a reminder each of you should be enrolled or already been enrolled in Art and Media Techniques (even photo) and then Senior Portfolio/AP/Design.

So think, talk, research, and work: work: work!  

Sincerely,

Mrs. Michelle Kidd

Visual Art Instructor

Industry and Careers Divisional Leader

Crystal Lake South High School

mkidd@d155.org