The objective of this study was to develop a library of taped interviews with contemporary American painters, sculptors and graphic artists. Seventy-nine interviews were collected, their value being based on the assumptions that the medium of the taped interview would increase the quality and frequency of contact between art student and accomplished artist and develop a reusable teaching resource that would provide more of these in-depth contacts. Questions dealt with the artist's background and training, societal identifications, work patterns, interests, influences, teaching experiences and opinions of contemporary trends. To evaluate the interviews, 150 art students gave verbal responses to a scaled questionnaire. Results indicated that the tapes contributed to informational backgrounds, were a stimuli to further experiences, provided an insight into one's own problems as an art student, into one's work patterns, motivations, and the rule of the artist in contemporary society. (CS)