This guide is intended to help students with their BFA thesis research. Please use this guide as a refresher for library skills shared during class, as well as for additional research guidance. Remember, if you need more help, you can always contact Karen -- see the right sidebar.
As you're moving toward graduate-level studies, it's helpful to start learning about what kinds of information tend to be found in which sources. Here's a crash course, based on your BFA Thesis class.
Background or a broad view of your topic: Usually found in books. (Sample question: What is Impressionism?)
Definitions of art terms; background; artists' biographies: (Sample questions: What is the Heidelberg School? Where did Ronald Chee grow up?)
Scholarly/peer-reviewed articles on your topic: (Sample question: Do experts believe that Van Gogh's work was influenced by the Italian Masters?)
Commentary from art critics: (Sample question: What did the New York Times' art critic think of Ronald Chee's latest gallery show?)
High-resolution images of art, along with basic information on the pieces shown: