A research paper, first of all, requires a writer to gather information. Art research papers are not an exception. You should collect available evidence; this might also include the opinion of the earlier investigators, the information from past research papers, etc.
 
Art refers to a various range of human activities and artefacts, and may be used to cover all or any of the arts, including literature, music, and other forms.
 
First of all, you will have to decide on a topic of your art research paper. This will be a very hard task, if you have no idea or special interest in any field of art.
 
Here are some tips that might help you choose a topic:

• Art research papers may cover any artist, medium, or period.
• These are some art forms that might be useful for art research papers. These forms are focused on the creation of works, which are primarily visual in nature: painting, drawing, dance, acting, choreography, architecture, sculpture, photography, printmaking, ceramics, digital art, poetry, theatre, cinema, graphic design, cartooning, digital art, graffiti and others.
• You may need to know the types of art to write art research papers: architecture, cinematography, drawing, music, painting, poetry, and sculpture.
• Different art concepts may give you a hint in what direction you should write art research papers: abstract art, applied art, art collector, art dealer, art gallery, art criticism, art groups, art history, art museum, art styles, periods and movements, art techniques and materials, artist, artwork, esthetics (a philosophical field, related to art), drawing, figurative art, fine art, modern art, museum, nudity in art, painting, sculpture, women in art.

You may cover the following points in your art research papers:

• Historical background
• Important discoveries
• Main personalities
• Development
• Nowadays’ situation

Try to keep in mind that a paper is a process of combining collected data, your class discussions, and your own research. Do not include your own dislikes and likes or anecdotes in art research papers.
 
An art research paper is a thoughtful evaluation of the available evidence, an expression of what the writer thinks, but not a presentation of what a dozen academics have already written about a topic.