Personal Curriculum

Guidance for those who are planning their art history personal curriculum. Here, you’ll find advice about choosing books and other learning materials, tips for studying art history on your own, related topics to consider, and some inspiration about why studying art history is so great in the first place.

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Understand and interpret art with The Art Museum Insider

Here’s how my book, The Art Museum Insider, will teach you how to understand art, interpret art, and feel confident in art museums – all without years of study.
How to Research Art – A Guide

It’s back to school time, and that makes me feel even more scholarly than usual. So, I thought it would be nice to talk about a school-type subject – researching art. This guide gives advice about types of sources, choosing good sources, thinking critically, tackling challenging topics, and more.
Surprising Places You Can See Art in Person

When you want to see art in person, art museums are the most obvious place to go. But they aren’t your only option. Here are some surprising alternatives.
The Best Books for Learning Art History

Looking for some reading material for your art history adventure? Let me recommend some great books (and a few online alternatives).
Five subjects to help you understand art (besides art history)

For the avid learners among my readers, discover five subject areas (besides art history) you can study to help you better understand art and architecture.
Visual Literacy: Art Appreciation in Everyday Life

Visual literacy, the ability to think critically about images, is one of the most important life skills you can get by looking at art.
Active Looking: the Most Important Skill for Every Art Lover

In my opinion, active looking is the most important skill any art lover can possibly cultivate. Find out why it’s important and how to practice it.
Nine Tips for Studying Art History on Your Own

There are many resources but little guidance for those studying art history on their own. If art history is part of your personal curriculum, here’s how to get the most out of your study.
Seven Reasons to Study Art History

I stumbled upon art history by accident and loved it, but here are some much better reasons to study this fascinating subject.
Tour Great Architecture from Anywhere

While you can never truly experience a place from a screen, it’s nice to have the option to see great architecture in 360 degrees from your couch.
Enjoy and Learn About Art from Anywhere

There’s no question that art is best viewed in person, but that’s not always easy or even possible. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives.
How to See Art In Person on a Budget

A tight budget doesn’t have to mean a life without art. There are some places that you can enjoy works of art in person for free or at least at a discount. Includes a list of free art museums in the United States.