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Art enriches our lives in myriad ways. If you're like most people who enjoy viewing art, you'll come to recognize - sooner or later - the importance of having art enliven and enhance your home.

When the day arrives that you just can't pass up that unique porcelain teapot at a local craft show, or when you realize that a small watercolor in the window of your hometown gallery magically transports you back in time to a delightful summer afternoon on your grandfather's porch, you're getting "The Message." If that reverie also enables you to actually taste the watermelon and feel the sun on your back, don't hesitate - take that sunlight home with you! And congratulations - you've just become an art collector!

Art enriches our lives in myriad ways. If you're like most people who enjoy viewing art, you'll come to recognize - sooner or later - the importance of having art enliven and enhance your home. Fine art and craft personalize your living space and create an attractive environment that, among other things, can insulate you from the stresses of modern life. It can lift your spirits and provide a warm, human touch to your world.

Don't be intimidated by the notion of being "an art collector." In fact, it's probably better in the beginning not to even think of it that way. All that's important is to recognize something that touches you and to decide you want to live with it. There are really no rules, responsibilities, or obligations for being a collector. (If you arrive home with a giant moose-head lamp, however, your spouse may have something to say about it.)

Getting Started
Just as the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, so your art collection can begin with the purchase of one humble piece. Consider it a footstep. You can start small. By just viewing art you will expand your aesthetic horizons, so seek out as much as you can. Read art magazines. Visit art museums, local galleries, libraries, and bookstores. Attend lectures. Above all, exercise your fingertips: You can now find (and purchase!) more art on the Internet within 20 minutes, than was possible to even see in your last 100 lifetimes. So take in as much as you can hold; art contains absolutely no calories!

One of the joys of collecting art is that it comes in a virtually unlimited range of styles, sizes, and prices. Start with what you can afford. Buy what you love (I know, that's trite, but it's sensible). Whether you're just looking for a poster, or want to amass a major collection of paintings by an established artist, you have more choices available now than ever before. There's definitely something for every taste and budget. You can be as deliberate or as impulsive as you like about your purchases. Remember: there are no rules! And best of all, you don't have to be an "expert" to collect art.

Making Connections
After you've familiarized yourself somewhat with the art world, seek out some of the newer venues that artists are using to share their work. Contact local art associations. Many communities offer studio tours of artists' workplaces. These events are excellent opportunities to become acquainted with artists and their tools, ideas, media, and methods. Talk with them and find out what makes them tick, why they create art. Take a class in art appreciation, or study a technique you admire. Learn how it's done by trying it yourself! There's no better way to learn about a subject than by immersing yourself in it from the inside. But most important, enjoy everything the world of art has to offer.

Copyright 2004, Michael Cook
The author has been totally hypnotized by art for as long as he can remember. He is a painter, living and working in New York City.

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