Skip to Main Content
CCAD

Library & Information Technology

How to Research an Artist

An introduction to finding information about artists.

Find books, articles, movies, music, and more

Limit Your Results

Search the Library’s online catalog to see if the library has any books on your artist of interest. Books are good sources for well-known artists, but may not be available for artists that are more obscure. Do not discount non-English language sources since they cover artists of all nationalities and may be the only sources containing information. 

There are different ways to search for books on individual artists:

  • The best way is to search under “Subject” (Last Name, First Name)

    • This search will find material about the artist such as biographies, criticisms, interpretations and analysis about an artist's life and body of work.

  • Artists can also be searched for as “Author” (Last Name, First Name)

    • This search will find writings by an artist, artists' books, collaborations with other artists and writers, and exhibition catalogs. 

  • You can also do a “Keyword” search If your subject and author searches provide you with little or no results.

If our library doesn't have anything, try OhioLINK or SearchOhio. You can request items in their catalogs to be sent to CCAD for you to check out.

Find books, movies, & more from the CCAD Library

Advanced Search | My Account 

Use these search tips in our catalog:   

  • Use the Title or Author searches for known items from a citation or bibliography.
  • If you're browsing, try a Keyword search.
  • Note location, call number, and status to find book in the library.
  • The front desk staff will happily answer any questions you have--that's why we're here!

If you want to check your account or renew books, click here.

Can't find anything in CCAD's catalog?  Try the OhioLink or SearchOhio catalogs!

Borrow from Ohio Academic Libraries

  • CCAD is part of the OhioLink consortium, which allows students and faculty access to the collections of over 90 academic libraries in the state of Ohio.
  • Requesting items via OhioLink is easy!
    • When you find an item you want, click on "Request Item"
    • Select CCAD from the drop-down menu and click "Submit Above Information"
    • Enter your FirstName LastName
    • Enter your CCAD ID number, including 2CCAD and all zeroes
    • Click on "Submit"
    • Books requested via OhioLink usually take 2-4 days to arrive
    • You will receive an email when the requested item arrives
    • Fines are 50 cents/day. OhioLink books are not renewable if they are overdue.
    • If you want to check your account or renew books, click here.

  • SearchOhio is a consortium of Ohio public libraries.
  • It does not include the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
  • Requesting items via SearchOhio is easy!
    • When you find an item you want, click on "Request Item"
    • Select CCAD from the drop-down menu and click "Submit Above Information"
    • Enter your FirstName LastName
    • Enter your CCAD ID number, including 2CCAD and all zeroes
    • Click on "Submit"
    • Books requested via SearchOhio usually take 3-5 days to arrive
    • You will receive an email when the requested item arrives
My Library Account

Online Art Books & Exhibition Catalogs

Online Art History Bibliographies

Catalogues Raisonnés

What is a catalogue raisonné?

"All the works of an artist".  A scholar or a group of scholars documents every work of an artist's career.  Each work is pictured, with scholarly opinions, provenance (where the work has been), literature about the work, and forgeries. Not all artists have catalogues raisonnés, and some catalogues raisonnés are limited to a particular medium, like all the paintings or prints of an artist. 

When searching the CCAD catalog for catalogues raisonnés, just type catalogue raisonne in one keyword box and the artist's name in the next one. Don't bother the the é character. In fact, you can ignore all non-English letters like, ä ë ñ ó ü, when you search the catalog. Just type the letter without the extra bits.

International Foundation for Art Research Catalogue Raisonné Index