Ap Studio Art Classroom Observation

As I walked into the AP Studio Art classroom on the first day of my field study, I was taken aback by the vivid colors and distinct decorations that fought for my attention. Before studying the class, my perception of art had always been that it was sporadic, messy, and wild yet organized beautifully by an artist to make something for everyone to enjoy. This description fit the art classroom exactly. The walls were obviously originally painted white, but over the years have been transformed into landscapes of masterpieces by art students enrolled in the courses. Pictures of human eyes, dragons, mountains, and other shapes stole my attention as I attempted to take in the scenery. On top of the amazing artwork displayed on the walls, about …show more content…
The next site visit, a similar mood occurred and even more so because it was the day before a large break. The last site visit I completed was several days after spring break and there was a sense of urgency in the art room. When I entered the class, instead of sitting quietly in their groups, students were moving around to find supplies and conversing with the instructor about their pieces. Ms. Compton, the instructor, was also making her rounds to check in with each student and inquiring about how much progress they had made over spring break. Also, the group that sits at the center table normally tended to be easily distractible and social, but this was not the case on the day I visited. The body language of all the students was tense as they hunched over their works looking for flaws that might cost them precious points on their AP exam. When I commented on the stressed atmosphere of the class, one student stated, “I love this class and the people and the atmosphere, but I hate the pace.” Art is a way for many students to express emotion such as anger, sadness, or to achieve a sense of peace and relaxation. These looming deadlines that determine their success in the course detract from the enjoyment that art provides for many of the students. When people think of art, myself included, the thought is that art should be a free and uncontainable concept that flows from the creator of the works not confined by any restricting deadlines. Inspiration is often a key tool that is used to create the best pieces and cannot be rushed. Unfortunately, students are not able to take all the time in the world and therefore must comply to the uncomfortable deadlines to the best of their artistic