Obtain a physical copy of the poem and the painting under research. If the copy of the painting comes from a book, make a color photocopy. If from the Internet, print a color copy. The poem should also be on a separate sheet of paper, apart from any other poetry or written material.
Read through the poem closely. Each time you read the words, write down images in the margins which come to mind. Even the seemingly most disparate thought should find its way to the margin. Highlight words or phrases which are particularly descriptive.
Look to the painting. Locate images in the painting that match themes or phrases from the poem. There may be clear connections, as in John William Waterhouses's "The Lady of Shalott." Based upon Alfred Tennyson's poem of the same title, the painting depicts the final moments of the poem in vivid detail. See what connections you can find between the poem's imagery and that in the painting.
Find academics or art critics who have made similar connections that can lend legitimacy to your analysis. The Tate Collection in London provides a brief description of how "The Lady of Shalott" is inherently connected to Tennyson's poem. Similarly, the Blake Archive provides detailed information about William Blake's illuminated printing process; Blake created prints based upon poetry ranging from his own works to Dante's Inferno. To find resources concerning the artist or poem, try museums, art databases or anthologies published on either medium.
Use the research performed to create direct connections between the painting and the poem. You may choose to take the analysis further than what has been stated by art or literary critiques, basing the analysis on the conclusion drawn in the earlier stages. You may also choose to disagree with a critic, basing your analysis on the prewriting process.