Novato Resident Earns College Credit in Advanced Placement Art Course

Shannon Sullivan Moore of Novato, a 2013 graduate of the St. Vincent High School, was among three students who received college credit for their College Board Advanced Placement Studio Art portfolio review.   

“I am so proud of how hard Shannon worked and I am delighted to see her efforts recognized in this highly competitive review process.” Says art department chair and AP Art instructor Amy Waud Reiter.  Shannon worked for two years on her portfolio.

 Each AP Studio Art course is designed for students who are seriously interested in the practical experience of art. AP Studio Art is not based on a written exam; instead, students submit portfolios for evaluation at the end of the school year. The AP Studio Art Program consists of three portfolios — 2-D Design, 3-D Design and Drawing — corresponding to the most common college foundation courses. Curriculum surveys conducted by the AP Studio Art Development Committee show that they are each equivalent to a two-semester college art course.

 AP Studio Art aims to:

●      Encourage creative and systematic investigation of formal and conceptual issues.

●      Emphasize making art as an ongoing process that involves the student in informed and critical decision making.

●      Help students develop technical skills and familiarize them with the functions of the visual elements.

●      Encourage students to become independent thinkers who will contribute inventively and critically to their culture through the making of art.

St. Vincent high School offers AP Studio Art: Drawing course along with AP Literature & Composition, AP Spanish 1V, AP French Language and Culture, AP Calculus, AP US History, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics.

The Drawing portfolio is intended to address a very broad interpretation of drawing issues and media. Line quality, light and shade, rendering of form, composition, surface manipulation, the illusion of depth and mark-making are drawing issues that can be addressed through a variety of means, which could include painting, printmaking or mixed media. Abstract and observational works may demonstrate drawing competence. The range of marks used to make drawings, the arrangement of those marks, and the materials used to make the marks are endless. There is no preferred (or unacceptable) style or content.

Portfolio must include:
Quality — Section I       Five actual works that demonstrate mastery of drawing in concept, composition and execution
Concentration — Section II         Twelve digital images; some may be details
Works describing an in-depth exploration of a particular drawing concern
Breadth — Section III          Twelve digital images; one image each of 12 different works
A variety of works demonstrating understanding of the principles of drawing issues 

 In addition to the Advanced Placement courses, St. Vincent offers Honors British Literature, Honors Spanish 1, Honors Spanish III, Honors French III, Honors Algebra II, Honors Pre-Calculus, Honors World History and Honors Chemistry.