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Visual Arts

Welcome

A photographer editing his work

Welcome to the Visual Arts Research Guide. 

If you need help please use the Get Help button above to get in touch with a reference librarian.

  • If you need peer reviewed articles, look under Databases/Articles. 
     
  • Search for books with the Books/eBooks tab found within the library search tool on the library's homepage.
     
  • Use the "Searching for Journal Articles" page for help on finding articles within specific journals/periodicals.
     
  • See Writing & Citing for helpful tips and citation information.

Search Strategy for Visual Arts

Getting Started

When starting to research a topic, it's often best to start with a reference source that is related to your topic, such as The Dictionary of Art  or The Encyclopedia of Art .  Search the library search tool and the eBook collection to locate this type of source or refer to the sources listed in the Backgound & General Information section found on this page.

Art is a very broad topic and can take many forms so be sure to be as specific as possible by including the artist's name, medium, or the artistic movement you want to know about.  Too broad a topic can cause you to become overwhelmed with all of the resources that come back.  You can always ask your instructor or a librarian for additional help with your research.

 

Background & General Information

Starting with background information will give you an overview of your topic, identify important people and events, and provide a time frame. Getting the basic information helps you create more effective search strategies.  However, information found in general encyclopedias such as Encyclopedia Britannica or Funk &Wagnall's New Encyclopedia cannot be cited or used as a source for your research project.