If you ask their art teachers, the New London High and Waterford High students exhibiting at the 5th Whalers and Lancers Exhibit at Hygienic Art this month certainly are prolific.

But 400 entries?

In terms of the sheer number of pieces, longtime Hygienic worker Jim Stidfole, who helped the art teachers from both schools hang the show last Thursday, said there's only one comparison that works.

"The only thing that compares to this is the annual Hygienic Art show," Stidfole said, "and this is only one semester of work."

Students at both of the schools, located roughly one mile apart, spent the past semester in their respective art classes working on a range of pieces in anticipation of the exhibit at the Hygenic.

"It's a great experience for the kids," Andrea Aron, an art teacher at New London High said. "We told them that their work is going to be in a famous nationally known gallery."

Sabrina Przygoda, 15, a New London student from Preston whose painting represents the Whalers on the exhibit's promotional material, said the show is the first time she's put her work out in public.

"It gives me goose bumps," Pryzgoda said.

Ruben Johnson, 16, of New London, who offered some 1980s inspired prints, was excited about seeing his work at the gallery.

"I don't think there's another place like Hygienic around here," Johnson said. "Or anywhere."

Kevin Schlink, 17, of Waterford, said he often goes to shows at Hygienic and other galleries in downtown New London.

"It's pretty cool that we can show off some of our talent here," Schlink said.

The show, which opened on Saturday and runs to Jan. 22, isn't much different than a professionally done exhibit. The students submit their work, but they also must price it, keeping in mind that the gallery will take a 30 percent commission.

"It teaches them about the business side of art," Aron said. "Art can be a career path."

But these are, after all, teenagers, and the painting done in Intro to Art, or the bowl spun in a ceramics class, hold some sentimental, if not monetary, value.

Miguel Martinez, 17, of New London said he couldn't part with the candle holder he made in a pottery class.

"It's a memory of what we were doing in classes," Martinez said.

The students also reflected on the role that art classes play as they take their compulsory course load of English, math, and science.

"It's relaxing and gets my mind off of the other classes," John Napier, 17, of New London, said.

Schlink, who has two of his landscape paintings in the show, said his art classes at Waterford are an important part of his education.

"Art makes up a lot of who I am," Schlink said.