As an professional artist, I meet people all the time who think they can't afford to, or can't trust themselves, to choose good art. Even prints are quite and investment these days, once you count the matte and frame, so many of these principles apply to buying prints as well.

My first piece of advice is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you truly love a piece, and it is within your means, then there is no reason why it shouldn't be in the first piece of your collection. My second piece of advice is to ask them to consider what they want to do with the art. Generally, when you put money into art you want to enjoy it daily in your home or office. This brings the art of design into it, and by asking the following questions, you should come up with a pretty good idea of whether the piece is for you or not.

Something a lot of people don't realize is that most serious collectors are quite ecclectic in their choice of art. Paul Allen, one of the founders of Microsoft, just put on a show in Seattle and he put old masters right next to wild modern pieces. He collects everything! You shouldn't focus on collecting one genre of art, such as all oils, or all landscapes. Like the stock market, your "art portfolio" should be diverse. Collecting art is an opportunity to be creative. The most important thing you can ask yourself when buying art is to ask if the piece "speaks to you". Does it remind you of something?  Do the colors or the image give you pleasure? Or does it simply make you think. Sometimes a piece that simply makes you think, that you can't quite figure out, can be quite inspiring to own. Unless you're a serious collector, or planning on spending thousands, relax! Let your heart, and of course your pocketbook, guide your decision.

There are some things you should probably check out if you are buying original art. Most serious artists have a website, and if it is not given on e-bay, it would be wise to Google the artist to see what information is available online, or ask the artist if they have a website. Sometimes you might run into a negative review. Remember that Picasso was negatively reviewed and never really made a living of his art until he was dead. Artist websites are fun to explore because they offer the full range of works, and often, information about the artist. Never be shy of asking questions of artists. I have been working shows with my own art for awhile now and I have never been asked a question that I thought was dumb. You might want to find out where the artist paints, ask for an artists statement on the piece, or how long they've been painting. You might ask what inspired the painting you are interested in. Most artists are thrilled to talk about themselves and their art. We work alone in studios all day long and enjoy the company!

Be wary of art that promises to be from well-known artists. These works should be checked by an expert for verification before they are purchased, and if the seller is not willing to let you do that, it probably isn't an original.

You will want to consider framing. If the piece is unframed, framing will add quite a bit more (sometimes hundreds) to your final cost before you get it on the wall. Some artists paint on 1" thick canvases with painted sides that do not require framing. As for medium, it is really a matter of what the artist finds most inspiring to use. Oils are great to paint with because they dry very slowly, which allows for a lot of "open" time when the artist can blend colors softly, or add color on top of color. Acrylics are great because they dry quickly, are thick and can be used to build up texture, and require little use of caustic chemicals.  Mixed medium means the artist employed several different techniques. There are many other mediums. Don't be shy about asking how the artist acheived the final work if you don't understand the medium that is listed.

And finally, a note on price. I can tell you from experience that pricing art is a very difficult job for most artists. Don't think that a piece that you love, that is selling for only $100.00 isn't a great piece. It may be that the artist is inexperienced in pricing, or is an emerging artist, or simply needs the money. If you love the piece, buy it! Earning a living as an artist is difficult, and sometimes artists part with some great pieces at low prices because they are simply trying to pay the studio rent for another month! On the same token, just because a piece is priced in the thousands doesn't mean it is a great work of art. Sometimes artists overprice, and sometimes they underprice, and often it has nothing to do with the quality of the work. But be warned: If you are about to lay down a couple of thousand dollars for a piece you will need to research the artist. Check to make sure they are established, meaning that they have been painting professionally for some time. They should probably have had some gallery shows at that point or have an advanced arts education, and if not that, a long list of experience as a professional artist or designer. These credentials can be checked by both looking at their website and by Googling the name of the artist. Ask questions. Be sure to communicate with the seller, be sure you know what you're getting.

It's always enjoyable to read arts magazines. They are usuallly not directed at artists, but at collectors. They have all kinds on interesting stories on artists, inspiration, and what is available. It's fun to see what you could buy if "your rich uncle died and left you all his money". Get an art history book so you can understand the flow of inspiration over the ages, or read about the era you are interested in. Visit museums. You don't even need to leave your chair. Most of the great museums around the world can be visited on-line.

Collecting art is fun. It can all start with a hundered dollar piece you fall in love with, or fifty dollar print, or, if your wallet affords, something more expensive. The point is to follow your heart and to trust your eye. Believe it or not, you already know what your looking for!