AP Studio Art
AP 2-D Art and Design portfolios are scored on a 1 to 5 scale based on a Sustained Investigation (60%) and Selected Works (40%), where evaluators look for a clear connection between your theme, materials, technical skills, and visible artistic growth. The course is highly demanding because it requires building a massive, cohesive portfolio over many months rather than cramming for a single test. However, students who successfully finish and submit their work see strong results: in the 2025–2026 school year, out of roughly 50,000 students, a combined 42% earned top marks, with 12% receiving a 5 and 30% receiving a 4.
My Sustained Investigation
Sustained Investigation:
Explain the Unexplainable through a Teen's Mind
In my senior year of high school, I took the AP Studio course. In this course, I needed a main idea and to follow that idea through 15 pieces. This is my AP Studio Art Project. Scroll for my sustained investigation and piece titles.
My investigation stemmed from the phrase that all teenagers say, "my parents just don't understand me". My thought was, "what if I could express my feelings through my art instead of my words"? My pieces are self-portraits because they express the inner workings of my mind and emotions. These thoughts and feelings are, like I said, personal to me but are also widely shared by my generation. All these pieces are displays of real lived experiences in my life. Because so many people share the same feelings as me, I wanted my work to be like a window to our souls. So many people overlook the small details of our lives as teenagers, and I want to accentuate that through my AP Project. My project allows you to walk alongside me throughout my life experiences.
Many people ask why I do not add paragraphs explaining my art. This is because art is subjective, and I want you to pull your own thoughts and ideas from my facial expressions, lighting, body language, and color use. It is important to me that you draw your own conclusion from my work rather than telling you what you should see.
1
1
Who am I?
2
Forget
3
Teen Critic
4
Burn
5
Dress Up
6
Doll Time
7
Graduation
8
Spiraling
9
Twist the Knife
10
Faith
11
Game Over, Start Again
12
Falling Off
13
Hoarder
14
Social Media
15
Word Shower
In the end, I was awarded a score of 5. I was one of the 12% of all students in the country to take the class to earn this score. I am grateful to my teachers, Mrs. Mann and Mr. Letitia, for always encouraging me to pursue art and to believe in not only myself but also my pieces, and that both myself and my pieces would achieve great things. I am also grateful to my parents, who have funded and supported me throughout my school and business art careers.
Remember to always be unapologetically you and that you are never alone in what you are feeling.