Arguing that the visual arts serve as the focus for potential aesthetic experience in the discipline of art education, this paper describes the influence of the sensory elements of aesthetic experience in nature and other art forms on the work of three artists--Kandinsky, Van Gogh, and Picasso--and suggests that teachers can enrich students' experience of the visual arts by relating these sensory qualities in their teaching. The work of each of these artists is considered in the context of how their contributions to the visual arts can be considered from the broader perspective of aesthetic education. Special emphasis is placed on the sensory qualities--sounds, colors, odors, tastes, and textures--because they are the most difficult to communicate, and examples illustrating the impact of other art forms on the work of these artists are provided to attest to the significance of these qualities. References and a bibliography are included. (DJR)