15 Project Ideas to Develop Your AP Art Portfolio

Whether applying for our fashion design, fashion styling, or fashion business courses, our goal is for a student’s talent to shine through at Istituto Marangoni Miami. But a student’s talents are to be shown before they even get accepted to any art, design, or fashion school. The Advanced Placement (AP) Art Portfolio is crucial to any high school art student’s journey. It allows students to showcase their artistic skills and creativity while demonstrating their dedication and passion for the arts. Choosing the right direction for an AP art portfolio is probably the most important and the most difficult part, as the artists should focus on one theme or related elements that will show their full potential and capabilities.

Regardless of taking AP photography, AP painting, or AP drawing, the following are just a number of art ideas to consider when laying down your own organization for your AP art portfolio:

1. Art and Technology Project: Explores the relationship between art and technology – may use digital tools like Photoshop or Illustrator to create a series of digital artworks that reflect the impact of technology on our daily lives in different aspects.

2. Recycled Art Project: Create a sculpture or a series of artworks using recycled materials. This showcases artistic skills in unique and creative ways and highlights concern for the environment.

3. Self-Portrait Project: Self-portraits that reflect your personal journey and evolution as an artist – can also be an opportunity to experiment with different styles and techniques.

4. Architecture and Design Project: Directly showcase your interest in architecture and design and explore different architectural styles, materials, and textures to create a visually stunning portfolio.

5. Cultural Identity Project: Artworks that reflect your cultural identity. This method allows you to explore and showcase your heritage and traditions through your art.

6. Mixed Media Project: Combining different mediums like paint, collage, and digital art allows you to experiment with different techniques and materials.

7. Nature and Wildlife Project: Reflect on your love for nature and wildlife using different mediums like pencil, charcoal, or paint to show your technical skills.

8. Abstract Art Project: Abstract artworks showcase your creativity and imagination and provide a way to explore different techniques like drips, splatters, and pours.

9. Typography Project: This type of artwork demonstrates typography skills by experimenting with different fonts, colors, and layouts to create a larger visual piece of art.

10. Political and Social Justice Project: Displays concern for political and social justice issues and can be used to raise awareness and start conversations about important issues.

11. Still Life Project: Highlights technical skills and attention to detail with the use of different objects like fruits, flowers, and household items to create compositions.

12. Pop Art Project: Express your interest in pop culture in different mediums like paint or digital art to demonstrate your creativity and imagination.

13. Fantasy and Science Fiction Project: Based on an interest in fantasy and science fiction with various medium options whether digitally or hand drawn.

14. Music and Dance Project: Capture the energy of rhythm and dance by reflecting a passion for music and dance through art. Mediums like paint, charcoal, or digital art can be used to convert one creative field into another.

15. Film and Photography Project: Highlight an interest in film and photography via various mediums to create artworks that capture or incorporate the essence of your favorite films and photographs.

Your Talent in Artform

Although a challenge and requires hard work and perseverance, compiling an art portfolio is your main tool to show off what you can do as an artist. Regardless of the theme and medium chosen, any type of creative should have a collection of their works that demonstrates their abilities, whether as a digital submission or physical portfolio. By exploring these AP art ideas, think of what inspires you to create, and don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone in order to extend your creativity toward new techniques, themes, or mediums. An art portfolio should display not just your creative works, but your overall passion and the talents that stem from it.