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Course & Subject Guides

Studio Arts: Materials & Process Research @ Pitt: Materials Research

A library guide created to assist Studio Arts students at Pitt with materials and process research.

Finding Resources on Material


In this example, we will search for "gold leaf" in PittCat

1. Start at PittCat
3. Enter "gold leaf" in the search box and search

The results are limited, however, clicking on the result Gilding & the making of gold leaf shows the Library of Congress subject headings 'Bookbinding --Gilding" and "Gold Leaf." You can follow either of those subject headings, or return to starting a new search with a different keyword. The term gilding has come up in the search for gold leaf, which is an indicator it may also be a good search term. Repeating these steps for gilding, we now receive a greater number of relevant results.  

You can also do a similar search in WorldCat to find books worldwide on your topic: 

Photography

Keyword Examples
  • Photography AND cameras 
  • Photography AND technology 
  • Photography AND ink 
  • Video AND art AND material

Printmaking

Helpful Keyword Searches
  • Printmaking AND materials 
  • Printmaking AND ink 
  • Printmaking AND paper 
  • Printmaking AND chemicals

Sculpture

Helpful Keyword Searches
  • Sculpture AND marble
  • Sculpture AND paper 
  • Sculpture AND clay 
  • Sculpture AND modeling materials 
  • Sculpture AND wood

Painting

Helpful Keyword Searches:
  • Painting AND materials 
  • Watercolor AND paints
  • Acrylics AND paints
  • Oil paint AND materials