AP Art Show Exhibits Students’ Concentrations

I've always been amazed by the beauty and complexity of the human body. After being introduced to the photography of Edward Weston, I understood that the human figure had more to offer than what first meets the eye. Rather than approach the figure conventionally, my concentration explores the abstract possibilities inherent in the human form. I decided to use charcoal as my medium because of the...

My concentration consists of multiple exposure charcoal drawings of the human face and body. Although multiple exposure is a photography term, I felt compelled to translate it into drawings. I was inspired by Francis Picabia, an Italian painter from the early 20th century, and particularly by his Transparencies series of the human face and body, which resemble multiple exposure. I was also inspired...

Art has always been a therapeutic release for me; so naturally when I was presented with an opportunity to do art every day, it needed to explore an idea that could serve as this emotional release. I quickly decided my own struggles with mental illness to be the muse of my art. This concept of bringing even my darkest feelings into light through the artistic process quickly became the central theme...

At the start, I knew that I wanted to draw portraits, but I also knew that I wanted to do something different — to approach portraiture in an unconventional way. After some experimentation, I decided to focus on a part of the portrait that is often unnoticed and unconsidered. The drawings in my concentration all focus on the area below the facial features — on the upper chest, shoulders, and neck...

I chose to make my concentration about science with a specific focus on biology. Although biology is distinct subset within science, it is still incredibly broad and complex. While this may be a disadvantage. I found that my concentration allowed for some much needed creative freedom. I could draw cells one week, and a disemboweled rat the next. There is so much to appreciate within biology, because...

My concentration explores the human face and how the interplay of color and light impact our perception, understanding and reaction to faces. Faces capture our humanity and vulnerability; they represent the most vivid image of who we are and how the world sees us. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the value of a portrait is even more, a portrait represents a lifetime. By studying others, we learn...

My concentration explores the different ranges of emotion that can be conveyed by the placement of hands on the face. Both the physical placement of the hands and face and the resulting interplay of shadows combine to create a fascinating picture of someone's emotional state. Initially, I intended to only explore the positioning of hands, but I became increasingly drawn to the shadows they cast, particularly...

Ever since was a young child, I have loved playing and watching sports. I am fascinated by the tremendous amount of determination and passion that competitive athletes display regardless of their sport. My concentration celebrates the unique moments of focus visible on athletes faces and also highlights the connection between an athlete and the tools of their sport. My works are intended to he a window...

My concentration aims to explore mankind's destructive relationship with nature. Each piece evaluates a specific relationship dynamic between humanity and the natural world. These typically harmful dynamics are investigated by the collections of intentionally and carefully chosen imagery in each piece. Some of the themes I explore include oceanic pollution, mass extinction, over consumption of resources,...

My concentration examines the ways people experience art on emotional, spiritual, and intellectual levels. The people I draw have unique and personal interactions with art. But, the shared experience of connecting with art, regardless of its meaning and style, unites them. Appreciating art is a shared experience that cuts across time, culture, age, gender, race and religion. As art gives us windows...

For my AP concentration I choose to draw fish eggs and marine life. I have lived on a lake my whole life, and have always loved looking at aquatic creatures. However, I had seen a lot of fish based concentrations, and wanted to make sure that I was doing something different. I decided on fish eggs because they allowed me to explore aquatic life in a new and original way. I wanted to be able to take...

Two months ago I was asked the question: What is the definition of a portrait? At first, I thought about giving the obvious answer: a portrayal of a person's physical features, but I found that this was a limited definition. To me, a portrait represents more than just a person's likeness, but also a representation of personality. My concentration attempts to go beyond the conventional surface of portraiture...