Welcome to the Morgan School Visual Arts Website!

All students have the potential to be great artists! Whether you are constantly creating and exploring new materials, or you haven’t touched a paintbrush and clay in years, you all can succeed in Art. 
Learning about art establishes the skills needed for a wide range of career options, such as interior designer, video game designer, medical illustrator, printmaker, photographer, makeup artist, marketing illustrator, painter, muralist, set designer, jeweler, architect, toy designer, fashion designer, costume designer, film director, curator, graphic designer, animator, art historian, florist, hair stylist, product designer, potter, art therapist, art teacher, and much more.

Department Overview: With six different courses in both 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional art, there are opportunities for students of all skill levels, interests, and artistic goals. In addition to stepping back from screens to work with your hands, many students find that art strengthens their emotional health, their imagination, and their ability to problem solve when challenges arise.

Curriculum and Courses:

Drawing & Painting I | .5 Credit

Prerequisite: None

Grades 9-12

Drawing & Painting I will be a wide overview of various 2-dimensional artistic styles and media. Students will explore tonal value, color value, mixed-media, acrylic paint, and watercolor paint. This class will begin building talent, skill, and understanding to create a stronger artist, critical thinker, and problem solver.

Drawing & Painting II | .5 Credit

Prerequisite: Students must pass Drawing & Painting I. 

Grades 9-12

Drawing & Painting II will be a wide overview of various 2-dimensional artistic styles and media. Students will explore tonal value, color value, mixed-media, acrylic paint, and watercolor paint. This class will build upon prior knowledge to develop advanced talent, skill, and understanding to create a stronger artist, critical thinker, and problem solver.

Sculpture I | .5 Credit

Prerequisite: None 

Grades 9-12

Sculpture I will be a wide overview of various 3-dimensional artistic styles and media.  Students will explore ceramics, paper mache, metal, assemblages, and printmaking.  This class will begin building talent, skill, and understanding to create a stronger artist, critical thinker, and problem solver.

Sculpture II | .5 Credit

Prerequisite: Students must pass Sculpture I. 

Grades 9-12

Sculpture II will be a wide overview of various 3-dimensional artistic styles and media.  Students will explore ceramics, paper mache, metal, assemblages, and printmaking.  This class will build upon previously learned knowledge to develop advanced talent, skill, and understanding to create a stronger artist, critical thinker, and problem solver.

Jewelry Design & Metalsmithing | .5 Credit

Prerequisite: None

Grades 9-12

In Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing, students will learn how to create jewelry and forge mini sculptures from semi-precious metals and gemstones. Students will be introduced to tools and techniques to manipulate copper, brass, aluminum, steel, and other metals. Jewelry techniques will cover wire wrapping, beading, polishing, stamping, braiding, and resin casting. Students will learn how to make key chains, pendants, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings, and jewelry displays. The students will also learn how to effectively market their artwork for sale to consumers.

Advanced Art Portfolio | .5 Credit

Prerequisite: A grade of 90 or above in Drawing & Painting II or Sculpture II

Grades 11-12

Advanced Art Portfolio is a course designed to accommodate students planning to pursue higher education in the fine arts. Students will be developing and refining a body of work to present to art schools which represents the best of their capabilities, their personal creative style, and their interests in a future art career. Such areas might include commercial art, graphic design, fashion design, make-up artist, or interior design. College portfolios will be prepared for students who are continuing in art after high school.

Faculty and Staff:

Justin Sylvia, Visual Arts Teacher: [email protected]

Keri Hagness, Department Supervisor/Principal

The Morgan School

71 Killingworth Turnpike

Clinton, CT 06413

[email protected]

860-664-6504

The Visual Arts Education Philosophy 

An education in the Clinton Public Schools is not complete without active involvement and knowledge of the arts. An arts education is a process of lifelong learning that enables students to make informed, aesthetic choices and is crucial to fulfilling one’s human development. These experiences prepare students to recognize and value quality, while nurturing their sensitivities and feelings. Responding, performing, and creating in the arts generates informed audiences and participants of the future. As part of the core curriculum, the arts foster creativity and independence, develop self-discipline and focus, and enhance self-esteem and knowledge. In addition, the arts teach critical thinking, problem solving, risk taking, collaboration and communication, all of which are integral components for success in the 21st century. The arts link the heritage of our past to the cultures of the present and the future. Our diverse society is continually enriched by the arts.

We further believe that:

The inclusion of the arts in the school curriculum is vital to produce well-rounded students who are prepared for the 21st century. Art promotes awareness and understanding of the connections between visual art and other disciplines through the study of other cultures and historical periods. Through art we learn that seeking a creative approach to life is a meaningful, significant and valued human endeavor.